Twitter Reacts As Australia Dominate India On A Rain-Curtailed Day 01

Australia have asserted themselves into a position of strength against India on what has turned out to be a pretty flat track at the SCG, finishing the day at 2/165.

Batting first, Australia got off to a disastrous start as they lost experienced opener, David Warner, for an eight ball-5 while chasing a wide delivery from Mohammed Siraj.

Warner showed intent from the very first ball he played, scampering for quick singles regularly. However, the southpaw did not look 100% fit while running those quick singles, giving a clear indication that he may not have recovered completely from his groin injury, he suffered earlier in the summer.

Just 7.1 overs were possible in the morning session as intermittent showers washed out the remainder of the first two hours. Debutant Will Pucovski enjoyed a charmed life when play did get underway in the afternoon session.

The right-hander was dropped by Rishabh Pant twice. twice. The first instance came off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin, who set-up the youngster brilliantly, drawing him forward to induce a thickish outside edge, only for Pant to drop it.

Moments later, Pant shelled another opportunity, this time a rather tough chance off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj, who had induced a top-edge off Will Pucovski’s bat thanks to a well-directed bumper. Pucovski made full use of the twin opportunities and went on to stroke his maiden Test fifty on debut.

However, his luck finally ran out as India:s ploy of attacking his stumps finally paid dividends after debutant Navdeep Saini trapped him a plumb leg-before wicket.

On what was a pretty flat SCG track, both Marnus Labuschagne and especially Steve Smith came out with positive intent. Labuschagne looked pretty solid right from the outset as did Smith, who came out with attacking intent as he smashed five boundaries in his first 25 deliveries.

Labuschagne was imperious in the manner in which he drove the cricket ball. He got to his half-century with another brilliant drive off Mohammed Siraj in the 42nd over as the duo took control of the proceedings by adding 42 runs in a mere 53 deliveries.

The duo completed a fine 50-run-stand and ensured that Australia did not lose any more wickets, finishing the day in a strong position.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

50 partnership up between Labuschagne and Smith ? #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->y<!---->5<!---->5<!---->x<!---->l<!---->S<!---->p<!---->I<!---->N

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Steve Smith loves shadow batting ?#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->c<!---->K<!---->K<!---->F<!---->z<!---->7<!---->q<!---->U<!---->D<!---->p

— ICC (@ICC) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Smith means business!

Live #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D: h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->x<!---->d<!---->D<!---->a<!---->e<!---->d<!---->Y<!---->1<!---->0<!---->F p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->D<!---->v<!---->T<!---->f<!---->L<!---->c<!---->M<!---->S<!---->7<!---->a

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

smith appears to be just carrying on from where he left off in his hotel room #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->s<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Steve Smith smashing the pitch with such force he could be Ijaz Ahmed

— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Since the start of 2018, Rishabh Pant averages 0.86 dropped catches per Test played.

Of all keepers to play 10 matches in that time, Pant's drops-per-Test record is the worst.#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Pant might be a slightly better bat than Saha and a louder voice but not even a comparison with the gloves. Costly misses here as well as the ones in Melbourne. Average against spin with stiff hands / poor technique. Feel for Saha deeply

— Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Every time Saha does not score runs, we want Pant, and each time Pant drops a sitter, we want Saha back.

— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Feel for Ashwin. Pant needs to up his keeping to keep Saha out of the team, 30 aggressive runs Vs Safe keeping a call India needs to take. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Pucovski is making it Australia'ss best batting day in the series so far. Nervy start for Saini, the other debutant

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Pant drops Pucovski off Ashwin. Then manages to drop Pucovski twice off the same ball from Siraj. When you pick keepers on batting you can't expect different. #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Rishabh Pant catch success percentage in Tests:

v Pace – 93%
v Spin – 56%#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

R Ashwin has conceded 24 runs in 4 overs since Pucovski's drop off his bowling#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— JSK (@imjsk27) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

*Rishabh Pant drops a catch*

Wriddhiman Saha : p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->8<!---->E<!---->2<!---->b<!---->d<!---->m<!---->R<!---->f<!---->P

— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Rishabh Pant Today p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->y<!---->g<!---->x<!---->5<!---->8<!---->k<!---->D<!---->t<!---->i<!---->8

— Sanket (@sanket7262) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Rishabh Pant drops Will Pucovski on 26, unlucky Ashwin. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->5<!---->r<!---->M<!---->g<!---->W<!---->O<!---->M<!---->W<!---->e<!---->9

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

5 – David Warner today. First time in 25 home innings (over four years) that he has been dismissed for less than 10. #<!---->R<!---->a<!---->i<!---->n #<!---->A<!---->u<!---->s<!---->v<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Australia's opening partnerships this series: 16, 70, 10, 4, 6.
(Completed) innings by Australian openers this series: 8, 8, 33, 51*, 0, 30, 40, 4, 5.
The only opener to have reached 50? Joe Burns. #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

I know he's not 100% and what not, but India getting Warner for 5 at the ground at which he's scored 111*, 45, 56, 55, 113, 122*, 4 and 101 before this is one big step towards winning at the SCG. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S

— Jamie Alter ? ?? (@alter_jamie) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Mohammed Siraj's tears swelling up and falling over for the Indian national anthem is already my moment of the day. #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Ananthasubramanian (@_chinmusic) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Poor cricket by David Warner and he is out.

He won't be happy with himself.

Flashed at one and missed, flashed at another and it floated gently to slips.

Australia 1-6

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

David Warner returns to the Australian line-up. He averages 66.54 in Tests at the SCG, with four tons in eight matches. His Test match scoring rate of 5.4rpo at this venue is his highest at any venue (min 3 matches). #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1