Australia’s seamers had a day to remember as they limited the dangerous Indian batting lineup to a meager 150 on the first day of the first test in Perth. However, they couldn’t have anticipated the carnage that would ensue when they stepped onto the field to bat.
At the end of the day, Australia’s scoreboard read a dismal 67-7, with Jasprit Bumrah doing the most damage. The Indian speedster picked up four wickets in a scintillating display of seam bowling, leaving the Australian batting lineup in tatters.
The match looked like it was going to be a one-sided affair when India’s batsmen struggled to cope with the swinging and seaming Australian attack. The hosts’ bowlers, led by a rejuvenated Mitchell Starc, kept peppering the Indian batsmen with short balls, making it difficult for them to score runs freely.
Despite a valiant effort by the Indian middle order, the damage had already been done, and they were eventually bowled out for 150. However, the Indians were determined to make a strong comeback and put the pressure back on the Australians.
Bumrah, in particular, was clinical in his approach as he made the most of the conditions on offer. His ability to swing the ball late and generate pace made him almost unplayable at times. The Australians, who were so dominant just hours ago, found themselves on the back foot as they struggled to deal with the Indian pace attack.
With just 67 runs on the board and seven wickets down, Australia needs a miraculous recovery to salvage something out of the first day. The match is precariously poised, and it remains to be seen how the Australians respond to the predicament they find themselves in.