IND vs AUS First Test Day 1 Summary: On the opening day of the series, Perth Stadium saw a full day of action. Seamers kept probing the batters, and it was a very challenging day for them, with 17 wickets falling in a single day. India decided to bat first but was dismissed for 150. Australia was then struggling at 67/7 by the end of the day, still 83 runs behind.
India’s Innings: Fighting Odds
India did not have a great idea by batting first either. The ball was swinging and seaming much. Australia’s bowling arrangement made the most of it. Josh Hazlewood won the day with 4 wickets for 29 runs. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins also chipped in with crucial dismissals.
The pressure proved too much for the Indian top-order. KL Rahul scored 26 runs, while Rishabh Pant fought hard for his 37. In fact, the debutant Nitish Reddy was a revelation with an attacking 41. His 48-run partnership with Pant helped India get back from 73/6 to a total of 150.
Australia’s Struggles: Bumrah Shines
India struck back well with the bowling. The captain, Jasprit Bumrah, bowled a fiery spell, taking 4 wickets for 17 runs. The Indian bowler dismissed some of the key players, including Usman Khawaja (8) and Steven Smith (0). Mohammed Siraj took 2 wickets, and Harshit Rana added another.
Australian batsmen also saw some very frustrating times. Marnus Labuschagne was given 52 balls and only managed to score 2 runs. Travis Head scored 11 runs. The rest of the batters could not handle India’s precision. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc were fighting hard at the stumps, ending their day with 19* and 6* respectively.
It Was a Bowler’s Day
The pitch was a dream for any bowler. Seam movement was the highest ever seen in Australia since 1952, rendering it very difficult for batters to settle. The combined batting average for the day is just 10.64, suggesting the pitch conditions heavily favored the bowlers. Many compared the conditions to the 2022 Brisbane Test between Australia and South Africa, which went down in history books for its tough pitch.
As Day 2 approaches, India will aim to finish Australia’s innings quickly. Australia would expect some runs to bridge the deficit. Another exciting day of cricket is ahead!
