A Test Series down under is very challenging and honestly, how many of us expected this on day 1 at Perth. Before you read or comment – what would have happened in Aussie / English media, had they been on tour to India and 17 wickets tumble on day 1 of test 2561.
· Curse the under prepared pitch
· Criticize Indians for presenting a rank turner
· State in strongest terms that this will kill Test cricket
· Claim on top of voice and Team India cannot perform outside !
Today at Perth there were debuts - much spoken of Nathan McSweeney & for India Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy – Jasprit Bumrah leading the Nation for the first time. Besides the debutants, the immature Indian Team had Devdutt Padikkal (1 test); Dhruv Jurel (3) & Washington Sundar (6).
Heard of Sam Jogajski, a Maths teacher from Hutchins School in Hobart, Tasmania, established in 1846.
Perth Stadium, currently known as Optus Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Perth, Western Australia, located in the suburb of Burswood. It was officially opened on 21 January 2018. The stadium's total capacity is 61,266, including standing room, making it the third-largest stadium in Australia (after the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Stadium Australia)
Remember that Friday, January 13, 2012 – at Perth, not here but at WACA – it was 8’O clock Indian time as we anxiously watched the start of the Test. Gambhir was hit on the ribs off the first ball – Indians off to another dreaded start – Virender Sehwag out for a duck and Dravid – the Wall’s defence breached again – bowled once again off a Siddle delivery.
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city. Perth became to be known worldwide as the "City of Light" when city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronautJohn Glenn passed overhead while orbiting the earth on Friendship 7 in 1962. The majority of the metropolitan area of Perth is located on the Swan Coastal Plain, a narrow strip between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp, a low coastal escarpment. Perth was originally founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 as the administrative center of the Swan River Colony, and gained city status in 1856.
By 2012, India had played 3 times at WACA – Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth known for its pace and bounce. Indians had lost twice and won the previous time under Anil Kumble. In Jan 2008, Indians were in a similar 0-2 and in walked Virender Sehwag with Wasim Jaffer. India scored 330 – Dravid making 93 and Sachin Tendulkar making 71. Bret Lee took 3 and Michael Johnson 4 – before the match, there was so much hype about Indians likely to get wiped out in a session by the pace of Shaun Tait who was preserved and protected to play at the grassy Perth. The fate thought different. He was ineffective bowled 13 overs gave 59 runs without looking like taking a wicket. Andre Symonds and Gilchrist were the ones to fight some fight as Australians folded for 212. Rudra Pratap Singh taking 4; Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma and Anil Kumble all chipping with two a piece.
In the second essay, Sehwag, Pathan, Laxman (79) made runs taking the total to 294. Clarke (4) and Lee (3) sharing the spoils. Shaun Tait went wicketless again. Chasing an improbable 413, Aussie made 340 with some hitting around by tail enders.
Today on day 1, it was more of a dreaded start as Indians kept falling and ended up a total of 150 but what followed was perhaps not according to the script of Aussie Cricket scribes. The card reads : Australia 67 for 7 (Carey 19*, Bumrah 4-17, Siraj 2-17) trail India 150 (Reddy 41, Pant 37, Hazlewood 4-29, Marsh 2-12, Starc 2-14) by 83 runs.
Befitting the rivalry between Australia and India, the latest tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy started in eventful fashion with wild momentum swings and a DRS controversy as pace bowlers from both attacks thoroughly dominated in favourable conditions at Optus Stadium. It was madmax day as stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah tore through Australia's top-order with spectacular seam bowling. He finished with 4 for 17 from 10 overs today. He claimed debutant Nathan McSweeney for 10 in the third over before dismissing Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith with consecutive balls in the seventh over to turn a fast-moving first Test on its head.
Earlier Yashasvi Jaiswal failed open his account. With captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unavailable, Devdutt Padikkal got an unexpected opportunity at No.3 but failed miserably as he could not open his account after a painful stay of 23 balls. All eyes were on Virat Kohli, who walked to thundering applause but failed. Jurel and Washington Sundar too failed. India's hopes rested with a counterattacking Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who combined for 48 runs - the biggest partnership of the innings.
Pant was adventurous, marked by an audacious typical scoop for six off a full delivery from Cummins, while Reddy mixed orthodox drives with reverse sweeps to thwart offspinner Nathan Lyon. If India could polish the tail tomorrow early and have a lead of around 60+, it could mean a lot for the team.
Sam J Nogajski is the reserve Umpire today, with TV Umpire being Richard Illingworth. Nogajski had stood as an umpire in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy in India and is a qualified Match teacher.
Matches were earlier played at WACA Ground in Perth. WACA has been referred to as Western Australia's "home of cricket" since the early 1890s, with Test cricket played at the ground since the 1970–71 season. The pitch at the WACA had been regarded as one of the quickest and bounciest in the world. Australian batsman Tony Mann scored 108 against India coming in as nightwatchman in 1977 series, captained by Bishan Bedi. On 9 December 1980, ODI was played at the ground for the first time, between India and New Zealand, India won by 5 runs
Hope tomorrow dawns favourably for Team IndiaRegards – S Sampathkumar
22.11.2024
Pic credit : Twitter of BCCI
