India vs Australia, 1st Test Day 1: Umesh scalps 4 but Starc's fifty frustrates India
Pune: Mitchell Starc’s fifty did not allow India to wrap up Australian innings after Indian bowlers scalped eight wickets in the final two sessions as the visitors ended day 1 at 256 for 9 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.
Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he scalped four wickets (4/32) on a pitch that favoured spinners. The Indian speedster dismissed David Warner (38), Matthew Wade (8), Stephen O’Keefe (0) and Nathan Lyon (0) while R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scalped two wickets each. Jayant Yadav (1/58), who was picked as the third spinner in the side, got a wicket of Shaun Marsh (16).
Australia, who made a solid start as the opening pair of David Warner and Matt Renshaw put up a 82-run stand, lost just a wicket in the first session as Umesh dismissed Warner for 38.
The Indian bowlers though made a solid comeback in the final two sessions on day one as Australia lost 8 wickets.
Australia 256/9 from 93 overs:
Stumps! Starc's fifty and his unbeaten 51-run stand with Josh Hazlewood has powered Australia past 250-run mark after being reduced to 205/9. On a pitch that is assisting the last-wicket stand will help Australia.
Australia 205/9 from 82 overs:
WICKETS! Umesh is on a roll and Australia are at his mercy as he scalps 2 wickets on consecutive deliveries. Top class bowling from the speedster on the pitch that is favouring the spinners. Four wickets for 25 runs and in with a chance to complete a five-wicket haul.
First he removed Stephen O'Keefe as Wriddhiman Saha flew towards his right to pluck one out of thin air. Then, on the very next ball, he send Nathan Lyon packing, trapping him before the wickets.
Australia 196/7 from 78.3 overs:
WICKET! Australia are in deep trouble, they lost their highest run-getter of the innings, Matt Renshaw. Ashwin removed Renshaw to pick his second wicket of the match.
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Australia 190/6 from 76 overs:
GONE! Another wicket for India. Umesh Yadav dismissed Matthew Wade, LBW. The wicket-keeper is dismissed for eight and Yadav has picked his second wicket of the match. Mitchell Starc has come out to bat.
The on-field umpire gave it out, but Wade wasn't sure and went for a referral. The replays showed the ball would have gone onto to hit the leg stump.
Australia 166/5 from 67.4 overs:
WICKET! Jadeja does it again for India. Mitchell Marsh is trapped before the wickets. Jadeja starts celebrating as soon as ball strikes Marsh on his pad.
Australia 153/4 from 63 overs:
Tea time! India have struck back in the second session as the spinners scalp a wicket each. Australia were doing a fine job as Smith and Handscomb started to build a partnership. But as it happens in cricket at many times, a wicket brought another wicket as India removed the two in quick succession.
Australia 149/4 from 60.1 overs:
WICKET! Big wicket! Steve Smith dances down the track off R Ashwin's bowling. Could not keep his shot down the ground and Virat Kohli makes no mistake holding onto an easy catch at the square midwicket.
Australia 149/3 from 59.2 overs:
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja traps Peter Handscomb before the wickets. Handscomb checks with Smith whether they should go for a review, Smith answers in negative.
Australia 119/2 from 46.4 overs:
WICKET! Jayant Yadav removes Shaun Marsh as Virat Kohli takes an easy catch at the leg-slip. Marsh tried to sweep one but the ball hit his pad, then kissed the glove and on its way up, touched the backside of the bat before landing into Kohli's hands.
Australia 105/1 from 40 overs:
India have lost both their reviews. Australia are making sure they did not throw away the good start provided by David Warner and Matt Renshaw.
Read: Upset stomach forces Matthew Renshaw to retire after Dave Warner’s dismissal
Australia 84/1 from 33 overs:
Lunch! Australia have done reasonably well in the first session on day one. While Warner is out and Renshaw is off the field due to upset stomach, scoring 80 plus runs and losing just a wicket holds Australia in good position.
Australia 82/1 from 27.2 overs:
WICKET! Umesh Yadav has struck in his first over as India's wait for the breakthrough comes to an end. David Warner chopped one back onto his stumps. India clearly happy to see Warner back into the dressing room.
(Matt Renshaw has also returned to the dressing room. More on that as we get any updates.)
Australia 80/0 from 26 overs:
David Warner and Matt Renshaw continue their good work as India search for a breakthrough in the first session of play.
Australia 57/0 from 21 overs:
Fifty up for Australia! Warner and Renshaw continue to hold fort on a spinner-friendly track in Pune. While some deliveries have missed the outside edges of the bat, the Australia duo is doing a fine job not to give India easy chances.
Australia 40/0 from 15 overs:
Australia have made a cautious start as David Warner and Matt Renshaw do a fine job on a track which is turning from day one. While Renshaw had a few nervous moments as India opted for a DRS, he is doing a fine job to stay in the middle.
Pune: Australia have won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.
Virat Kohli, who said that India would have liked to bat first on the wicket which is predicted to turn from ball one, have picked three spinners in the side as Jayant Yadav will accompany R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was a part of India's playing XI in the one-off Test against Bangladesh, misses out on a place in the team as Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma will take care of the pace attack.
Australia have included two pacers in the team with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh chipping in as the third pacer as the trio will accompany Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe, who will be a part of two-man spin attack.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is all in readiness to host its first ever Test as Virat Kohli-led India take on Steve Smith’s Australia here on Thursday in the first of four-Test series.
India, who have not lost a game in their last 19 Tests, will be keen to continue their unbeaten run while Australia, who are rebuilding the side, will try to get over the troubles in the sub-continent. Smith, the Australian skipper, had predicted that the Pune pitch will assist the spinners from ball one and hence, it will be interesting to see how many spinners both the teams pick in their playing XI.
While India have the likes of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav in their ranks, it is certain that Kohli, if he decides to field three spinners, will include Jayant to accompany Ashwin and Jadeja. Smith, on the other hand, may ponder to include Glenn Maxwell, who can bowl off-spin, only one from the trio of Ashton Agar, Stephen O'Keefe and Mitchell Swepson is likely to be picked to partner Nathan Lyon in the side.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper).
Match commences at 09:30 hours IST.
