Twitter Erupts As India Takes Ascendency In The Boxing Day Test After Dismissing Australia For 195
Updated - 26 Dec 2020, 01:39 PM
A brilliant all-round bowling effort led by Jasprit Bumrah [4/56] and Ravichandran Ashwin [3/35] has helped India take an upper-hand in the Boxing Day Test at stumps on day 01 as they knocked over Australia for 195 before finishing the day at 1/36.
Having lost the toss and being forced to field first, India needed their bowlers to be right on the money to ensure that Australia did not run away with the game by posting a bit first innings score.
And, that is exactly what they got from not only their bowlers but also from their captain, who was absolutely outstanding in the way he set-up his fields or rotated his bowlers.
Jasprit Bumrah consistently bowled full and got the ball to swing and after numerous play and misses he finally got one that kissed the outer blade of Joe Burns bat who once failed to make the most of his opportunity, falling for a 10-ball duck.
Umesh Yadav once again struggled with consistency as he followed up two peaches with four wayward deliveries consistently, this wasting the new ball.
One might have thought that Rahane would bring the debutant Mohammed Siraj in the attack in place of inconsistent Umesh Yadav but instead, he opted to go with his ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The introduction of spin in just the 10th over of the innings on the first morning would have baffled a few but once Ashwin landed a few deliveries, one could clearly realize the reason behind the ploy. With the pitch boasting of moisture underneath, Ashwin got considerable turn and bounce. Rahane had a FSL, silly point, leg slip, conventional slip in place for Ashwin, and for once it looked like the Test match was taking place at Chepauk not Melbourne.
Matthew Wade, who had looked to attack the Indians with his enterprising strokeplay, had a brain fade moment, when he in an attempt to hit Ashwin out of the attack, ran down the wicket, only to get a top-edge with Ravindra Jadeja completing the catch despite a near collision with Shubman Gill.
Marnus Labuschabge, just like the first game, continued to ride his luck as he survived plenty of close LBW calls, including the one against Ashwin where the extra bounce of the track helped him get the on-field call overturned.
With the score reading 3/65 at Lunch, one might have felt that India was on top but Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne’s 114-run-stand for the 4th wicket brought the home side back in the contest.
However, just as it looked that the duo was in for a long haul, Jasprit Bumrah once again came to the party to dismiss Head (38) and trigger a collapse, one that saw Australia lose their last 7 wickets for a mere 71 runs.
Jadeja dismissed Pat Cummins shortly afterward as Australia folded for a mere 195- their fifth-lowest score while batting first in a Boxing Day Test.
India needed to negotiate the initial burst by Australian bowler at the fag end of the day and even though they lost Mayank Agarwal in the very first over, Shubman Gill’s punchy drives and brilliant footwork ensured that they ended the day in the ascendency with the score reading 1/36.
Here’s how Twitter reacted-
Gill has some really admirable skills….a little more time and lovely hands. #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 26, 2020
Shubman Gill, well begun and thank you for your runs. #AUSvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) December 26, 2020
Salami khiladi jab khele overseas pitches pe tab baaki ballebaazo ko Ye lagna chahiye ki pitch mein sab kuch SHUBH Hai. Yehi lag raha Hai GILL ko khelte hue dekh kar? #AUSvIND #goodstart #ShubmanGill
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 26, 2020
Very surprised that Tim Paine survived that run out review ! I had him on his bike & thought there was no part of his bat behind the line ! Should have been out in my opinion
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 26, 2020
Third umpire watching the replay before pressing Not out.?♂️ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VUuee69Zfn
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 26, 2020
Superb bowling display @ashwinravi99 @Jaspritbumrah93 #mohammadsiraj backing our boys to get 300 runs on board .. Go well team India @BCCI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 26, 2020
Siraj In IPL Siraj In Test Cricket#AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/G9eenJqGD8
— Jethalal (@Jethiya_lal) December 26, 2020
Well Done Captain Ajinkya Rahane ? #AUSvIND
— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) December 26, 2020
Outstanding bowling changes and really smart fielding placements from Rahane.
And the bowlers delivered . Ashwin, Bumrah,Siraj were absolutely brilliant. Great effort to get Australia all out for 195 on the first day. Now for the batters to get a good first innings lead #AUSvIND— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 26, 2020
Ajinkya Rahane gets Mohammad Siraj to lead the Indians off the field at the tea-break. It has been quite the session for the debutant #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/sKWTv6Yhbi
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 26, 2020
Steve Smith scores a duck after 52 Test innings and four years! #AusvInd
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 26, 2020
A moment Mohammed Siraj will never forget – his first Test wicket! #OhWhatAFeeling @Toyota_Aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1jfPJuidL4
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2020
Swing direction from Mohammed Siraj to Cameron Green in the deliveries leading to the wicket:
Away swing
Away swing
Away swing
Away swing
Away swing
No swing
In swing – wicket#AUSvIND— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 26, 2020
STATBUZZ: The last finger spinner to take three of more wickets on day one of a Test at the MCG was Ravi Shastri in 1985/86 #AUSvIND
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 26, 2020
We're only five innings into the series, and R Ashwin already has eight wickets. That's already the equal 10th highest series-wicket tally for a visiting finger spinner in Australia this century. #AUSvIND
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 26, 2020
Mohammed Siraj has been very impressive to say the least. #IndvsAus
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 26, 2020
Till now #India has not missed #ViratKohli the captain. Hope they don’t miss #virat the batsman! It will be superb considering the previous loss. #AUSvIND #BeingPositive
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) December 26, 2020
Confidence breeds a relaxed mind which results in a smooth and poetry like rhythm. @ashwinravi99 displayed that this morning at the MCG. He is at an age, where he can be like wine, that gets better & better.. Well done Ash. #INDvAUS
— W V Raman (@wvraman) December 26, 2020
Today at the MCG…
in 2003: Virender Sehwag 195 in 233 balls; 5s, 25f
in 2020: Australia 195 in 435 balls; 1s, 18f#AusvInd#IndvAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 26, 2020
Australia bowled out on opening day of Boxing Day Tests at MCG
198 (68.1) vs WI 1981/82
141 (54.4) vs Eng 1986/87
219 (74.5) vs WI 1996/97
98 (42.5) vs Eng 2010/11
195 (72.3) vs Ind 2020/21#AUSvIND— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 26, 2020
After bowling in the nets, Siraj used to spend a lot of time doing catch practice at RCB and he used to take pride in his abilities. He was never afraid to go for the ball. Not surprised he looks so calm and settled while taking catches! #AusvInd
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets) December 26, 2020
Just 35 runs conceded in 24 overs with wickets of Smith, Paine and Wade on the opening day of a Boxing Day Test. As good as a five-fer. ? #Ashwin #AUSvIND
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) December 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status/1342663073765728256?s=19
Enthralled by Ashwin's display on the first morning of the test.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 26, 2020
Just fascinating watching India exploit moisture in the pitch by using spinners. Brilliant move! #AUSvsIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 26, 2020
Howwwwww has Jadeja held onto that ???
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) December 26, 2020
Ashwin is as good a new ball bowler as any. #INDvsAUS
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) December 26, 2020
STEVE SMITH IS OUT FOR A DUCK ON THE BOXING DAY TEST!
YES, YOU ARE NOT DREAMING.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 26, 2020
Gill is lucky he isn't playing with great Mushi bhai. #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/YTC5hLqyoU
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 26, 2020
Only Jadeja can complete a calm catch when another fielder totally runs into him! #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 26, 2020
If Umesh Yadav bowls 4 good deliveries for which he should be rewarded, he will follow it up with a delivery which may get him life sentence.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 26, 2020
First change is a spinner. Change in captaincy obvious immediately. Kohli doesn't rate spin, Rahane does. #AUSvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) December 26, 2020
Excellent bowling from Bumrah to get Burns early. The ball which dismissed the opener swung and seamed a combined 1.1 degrees, more than any other delivery. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JA1FQh4Gfz
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 25, 2020
Umesh is really letting down Bumrah at the other end. Just go round the wicket, hit the stumps. Right now, this is a waste of new ball.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 25, 2020
Early wicket! Was on the cards. Burns looked shaky all along!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 25, 2020
Second consecutive year that Joe Burns has been packed off for zero on Boxing Day by a @mipaltan fast bowler. Trent Boult last year. Jasprit Bumrah today #AUSvIND
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 25, 2020