The ongoing Test between India and Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium has unfolded as a thrilling fast-bowling showcase, with the pitch offering exceptional assistance to the pacers. Among the standout moments, debutant Harshit Rana made a stunning impact, claiming his maiden international wicket by dismissing the dangerous Travis Head in the second innings. The breakthrough came in the 11th over, when Rana, with composure and skill, bowled a gem of a delivery to remove Head. What a way to get your maiden Test wicket! โก๏ธ#DeliveredwithSpeed | #AUSvIND | @NBN_Australia pic.twitter.com/IkykgwUEWW — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024 Coming round the wicket, Rana delivered a good-length ball that angled in towards the off stump. The ball pitched on a probing line and, after hitting the surface, straightened just enough to leave Head with no room for error. It was a nearly perfect delivery, one that even the most seasoned batsmen would have struggled to deal with. Also Read: Bumrah's unplayable peach sends Cummins packing in epic captain’s battle: WATCH Head, known for his aggressive stroke play, found himself caught in two minds. Rooted to the crease, he made the critical error of failing to move his feet to adjust to the line. As he attempted a defensive shot, he completely misjudged the ball, which narrowly evaded his bat and struck him in front of the stumps. The appeal was immediate, and the umpire wasted no time in raising his finger, sending Head back for a disappointing dismissal. For Rana, it was a memorable moment in his debut match, showcasing his poise under pressure and the promise he holds as a bowler. His exquisite delivery not only earned him his first international wicket but also highlighted the growing depth of India's pace attack on foreign soil. Meanwhile, India roared back into the first Test against Australia on Friday after being skittled for 150, taking seven wickets in the final session to put themselves in the box seat after a riveting opening day in Perth. Also Read: Bumrah sends Smith packing for golden duck, fans recall ODI World Cup final At the close, the hosts were in disarray on 67-7 after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah demolished the Australian top order in a devastating spell to end the day with 4-17. Alex Carey was unbeaten on 19 and Mitchell Starc not out six. After opting to bat the visitors were blown away in their innings, no match for the hosts' lethal pace attack with Josh Hazlewood taking 4-29. Impressive debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) and flamboyant Rishabh Pant (37) showed some spirit but once again superstar Virat Kohli flopped, out for five.
22 November,2024 06:21 PM IST | Perth | mid-day online correspondentIndia stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah delivered an exceptional performance with the ball, showcasing his class and skill in the first Test against Australia at Perth Stadium. Opening the bowling for India, Bumrah unleashed a brilliant spell that completely dismantled Australia’s top-order. He claimed the prized scalps of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, and Steve Smith, before returning to dismiss Australian captain Pat Cummins with a delivery that left spectators in awe. This dramatic moment occurred in the 25th over of Australia’s first innings, when Cummins was at the crease, attempting to build a partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey. Also Read: Australia 67/7 at stumps in reply to India's 150 on Day 1 of opening Test Bumrah, after a brief spell off the attack, returned to bowl and delivered a sensational ball to get rid of his opposite number. From over the wicket, Bumrah bowled a full-length delivery that shaped away from Cummins after pitching just outside the off-stump. As Cummins tried to play a defensive shot, the ball kissed the outside edge of his bat, flying straight to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who made no mistake in taking the catch. It was a significant moment, with both captains of the teams facing off in a rather unexpected manner. pic.twitter.com/3r40Q95oUz — Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskar_theman) November 22, 2024 The sight of two fast bowlers captaining their respective teams in a Test series is a rarity, as historically, there has been a perception that fast bowling can be a hindrance to leadership. One of the most recent instances of two such highly rated quicks leading their teams came in 1997 when Pakistan’s Wasim Akram (ranked second in the world at the time) captained his side against West Indies under Courtney Walsh (ranked seventh). Also Read: Virat Kohli drops a dolly in the slips, will Labuschagne punish India? Fast-forward to the present day, Bumrah and Cummins, both 31, are the epitome of modern-day fast bowling excellence. Their bowling statistics are remarkably similar, with Cummins boasting a Test average of 22.53, while Bumrah's is slightly better at 20.57. Both bowlers possess near-identical strike rates and economy rates, making them dominant forces in the game. Bumrah's ascension to the role of captain is an intriguing development in Indian cricket, as he becomes just the second fast bowler to lead the team in Tests, following the legendary all-rounder and World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev. His unique and unorthodox stiff-arm bowling action has long defied conventional norms, and his leadership is no exception.
22 November,2024 05:35 PM IST | Perth | mid-day online correspondentIndia’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah delivered a masterclass with the ball in the first Test against Australia at Perth Stadium, underlining his ability and skill. Opening the bowling for India, Bumrah unleashed a devastating spell that dismantled Australia’s top order. He claimed the key wickets of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, and Australian captain Pat Cummins. The wicket of Smith, however, was particularly noteworthy. As one of Australia’s premier batters, sending him back for a golden duck was a significant achievement. The manner of his dismissal also drew comparisons to Bumrah’s performance in the 2023 World Cup final. Bumrah’s delivery to Smith was a perfect example of his craft—he bowled a good-length delivery that nipped back sharply. Smith, attempting to get across the line, tried to defend it but completely missed the ball, which hit his pad with a resounding thud. "I ONLY BELIEVE IN JASSI BHAI, BECAUSE GAME-CHANGER PLAYER IS ONLY ONE ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐" - all of ๐ฎ๐ณ rn! โ Usman Khawajaโ Steve SmithWatch #AUSvINDonStar ๐ LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1! #ToughestRivalry pic.twitter.com/9TdBbs3T8J — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 22, 2024 The appeal was immediate, and the umpire’s finger went up without hesitation. It was a clear and dead-plumb decision, and Smith knew it instantly as he walked off the field in disappointment. This marked only the second golden duck of Smith’s Test career, the first coming against South Africa in 2014. Also Read: Bumrah's unplayable peach sends Cummins packing in epic captain’s battle: WATCH During the World Cup 2023 final, Bumrah’s wicket of Smith gave India a glimmer of hope after a dismal first-innings total. In this Test, India found themselves in a similar position, with a modest first-inning score. However, Bumrah’s dismissal of Smith provided a ray of optimism, with India left hoping that this key breakthrough could trigger a collapse in the Australian ranks. Meanwhile, India roared back into the first Test against Australia on Friday after being skittled for 150, taking seven wickets in the final session to put themselves in the box seat after a riveting opening day in Perth. At the close, the hosts were in disarray on 67-7 after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah demolished the Australian top order in a devastating spell to end the day with 4-17.
22 November,2024 05:34 PM IST | Perth | mid-day online correspondentTeam India equalled their lowest first-innings total in Australia following a shambolic performance with the bat during the first two sessions of the match at Perth's Optus Stadium. Big names like KL Rahul (26), Virat Kohli (5) and Rishabh Pant (37) failed to get big scores. Youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), Dhruv Jurel (11), Washington Sundar (4), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) could not do much either. Australia bundled out India for 150 runs in 49.4 overs. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/29 while skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc got two wickets each. This is the lowest total by India in the first innings against Australia, tying with the 150 scored against Aussies in Sydney back in 2000. Sachin Tendulkar top scored in that inning with 45 runs and India lost the match by an innings and 141 runs. Also Read: Bumrah's unplayable peach sends Cummins packing in epic captain’s battle: WATCH India had also scored 161 runs against the Aussies at Perth in 2012 and with this 150, they have registered their lowest first-innings total at Perth. Virat top scored in that inning with 44 runs and Australia won that match by an innings and 37 runs. Also, in 1967, they scored 173 in their first innings at Melbourne, with skipper Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi top-scoring with 75. Australia won the match by an innings and four runs. Coming to the ongoing Perth Test, Australia is struggling with the bat, having lost half their side before crossing 50 runs. India won the toss and elected to bat first. India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj. Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. (With ANI inputs)
22 November,2024 04:41 PM IST | Perth | mid-day online correspondentAustralia suffered a stunning batting collapse as they managed 67 for 7 at stumps in reply to India's 150 in the first innings on Day 1 of the first Test on Friday. India, who were all out for 150 from 49.4 overs at the stroke of tea, grabbed seven Australian wickets in 27 overs in the day's final session. Alex Carey (19 batting) and Mitchell Starc (6 batting) were at the crease at stumps, as Australia trail by 83 runs. Seventeen wickets fell on the day on a lively pitch at the Perth Stadium. Australia's abject surrender could be seen from the fact that Carey was their highest scorer while Travis Head and debutant Nathan McSweeney made 11 and 10 respectively. All the other Australian batters could not reach double-digit figures. Also Read: Virat Kohli drops a dolly in the slips, will Labuschagne punish India? For India, captain Jasprit Bumrah (4/17) was the pick of the bowlers while Mohammed Siraj (2/17) and debutant Harshit Rana (1/33) also chipped in. Earlier, electing to bat, India lost six wickets in the second session to be all out for 150. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 41 off 59 balls while Rishabh Pant chipped in with 37. Opene KL Rahul got out to a controversial caught behind decision just before lunch after scoring 26 off 74 balls. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood (4/29), Mitchell Starc (2/14), Mitchell Marsh (2/12) and captain Pat Cummins (2/67) were the wicket-takers. Brief Scores: India: 150 all out in 49.4 overs (KL Rahul 26, Rishabh Pant 37, Nitish Kumar Reddy 41; Josh Hazlewood 4/29). Australia: 67 for 7 in 27 overs (Alex Carey batting 19; Jasprit Bumrah 4/17). More updates to follow...
22 November,2024 03:47 PM IST | Perth | mid-day online correspondentDuring the IND vs AUS 1st Test, Indian stalwart Virat Kohli dropped a catch of Marnus Labuschagne in the slips. It was Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah who set Labuschagne for the edge. The Aussies had just arrived at the crease and would have departed on a duck if Kohli had managed to take the catch. At first, everyone came celebrating, but soon they realized that the ball had slipped out of Virat Kohli's hand. Taking to X: One of the more extraordinary drops you'll see! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LdxmEYeWQx — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024 Also Read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: Australia's Cummins-Starc-Hazlewood-Lyon become first quartet to... India were all out for 150 at tea on the first day of the IND vs AUS 1st Test. India, who elected to bat, lost six wickets in the second session which had 24.4 overs. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 41 off 59 balls. Rishabh Pant (37), Dhruv Jurel (11), Washington Sundar (4), another debutant Harshit Rana and captain Jasprit Bumrah (8) were the other five Indian batters to be dismissed in the post-lunch session. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood (4/29), Mitchell Starc (2/14), Mitchell Marsh (2/12) and captain Pat Cummins (2/67) were the wicket-takers. Earlier, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and one-down Devdutt Padikkal failed to open accounts in their first Test outings in Australia while star batter Virat Kohli was dismissed for 5 after facing 12 balls. The other opener, KL Rahul, got out to a controversial caught-behind decision just before lunch after scoring 26 off 74 balls. Australian quartet Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon also completed 500 wickets in Test cricket, the first quartet to achieve the milestone. Brief Scores:India: 150 all out in 49.4 overs (KL Rahul 26, Rishabh Pant 37, Nitish Kumar Reddy 41; Josh Hazlewood 4/29).
22 November,2024 02:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia were all out for 150 at tea on the first day of the opening Test against Australia here. India, who elected to bat, lost six wickets in the second session which had 24.4 overs. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 41 off 59 balls. Rishabh Pant (37), Dhruv Jurel (11), Washington Sundar (4), another debutant Harshit Rana and captain Jasprit Bumrah (8) were the other five Indian batters to be dismissed in the post-lunch session. Also Read: "It was a life-changing moment for me when I won my first gold", Asian Para Games gold medalist Ekta Bhyan For Australia, Josh Hazlewood (4/29), Mitchell Starc (2/14), Mitchell Marsh (2/12) and captain Pat Cummins (2/67) were the wicket-takers. Earlier, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and one-down Devdutt Padikkal failed to open accounts in their first Test outings in Australia while star batter Virat Kohli was dismissed for 5 after facing 12 balls. The other opener, KL Rahul, got out to a controversial caught-behind decision just before lunch after scoring 26 off 74 balls. Brief Scores:India: 150 all out in 49.4 overs (KL Rahul 26, Rishabh Pant 37, Nitish Kumar Reddy 41; Josh Hazlewood 4/29). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
22 November,2024 12:58 PM IST | Perth | PTIDuring the IND vs AUS 1st Test, Team India kept losing their wickets at regular intervals. KL Rahul was the only one who stood strong, despite continuous collapses. Later in the day, KL Rahul departed after garnering 26 runs in 74 balls including 3 fours. But what grabbed people's attention was Rahul's reaction after his dismissal. Taking to X: KL Rahul couldn't believe he was given! ๐ซจ #AUSvIND Watch it here:https://t.co/3NsVsbfSMl — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024 The Indian couldn't believe that he was given out. In Mitchell Starc's over, KL Rahul nicked it behind in the hands of wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey. Also Read: IND vs AUS 1st Test | "Australia Mata ki Jay", says an Australian fan after Sudhir hails India, WATCH Despite struggling to score runs in the previous matches, KL Rahul looked quite strong in the IND vs AUS 1st Test. After his dismissal, the Australian bowlers continued to showcase their prowess in the game. Stalwart Virat Kohli was dismissed for just five runs off 12 deliveries. India's wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy are still unbeaten in the middle. After winning the toss, India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah opted to bat first in the IND vs AUS 1st Test. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana have received their debut caps in the IND vs AUS 1st Test. Nathan McSweeney emerged as the debutant from the Australian dugout. This is the second time that Bumrah will captain the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma after the Edgbaston Test against England in 2022, and the 30-year-old would like to lead the team in his own way. Following the birth of his second child, Rohit will not participate in the IND vs AUS 1st Test. There are speculations that he will join the team on Sunday, on the third day of the IND vs AUS 1st Test. Shubman Gill also missed the opening Test against Australia following his injury. This time it will be a five-match affair between India and Australia. Team India needs to secure victories in four out of the five Tests in order to seal their place in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC). IND vs AUS 1st Test squads: India: Jasprit Bumrah (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj. Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
22 November,2024 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik feels Virat Kohli will be the key to India’s success in the series. However, he reckons Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be the man to watch out for along with Jasprit Bumrah in the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which kicks off in Perth on Friday. Excerpts from an interview: Part of a relentless attackHe’s always a threat when he bowls at India or just the way he bowls in Australia. He is part of an attack where there is no respite. It’s not as if a spinner is coming on to bowl only to give the pacers a break. He is a role model because of his accuracy and consistency. Lyon has the perfect action too. Not the same Australia I don't know whether you can say they are the toughest opposition on the cricket field right now. It's not the same old Australia. Also Read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: India win toss, opt to bat first The challenge of bowling on Oz tracksI played only one Test match on a very good pitch in Australia (Sydney in 2003-04). It is a question of getting used to those surfaces, but you need to bowl a lot more. Also, the Kookaburra ball is not very helpful when it gets old. That's why I admire Nathan Lyon. What he does with that ball is just really, really outstanding. Top four have the key Anything can happen, but the you are relying a lot on Jasprit Bumrah. Akash Deep looks good. It’s surprising to see Mohammed Siraj struggle slightly. It all boils down to can we restrict the opposition. Also, our Top Four need to fire. If they don't, then we are going to be under a lot of trouble because that's exactly what was happening. It's been happening for a while as well. The dangerous ones Virat Kohli is a tiger waiting to fire up. He has done well in Australia so that should be a good memory to have. I always bank on Bumrah because he is an absolute genius. He can bowl on any surface, anywhere, anytime. From Australia, the key players could be Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Hazlewood. Favourite Australian momentI have three of them. One was my world record (six for 27) when they were all out for 193 from 117 for two in the ODI at Wankhede (2007). The Mumbai Test match in 2004 when I got seven wickets (4/44 and 3/32) to win the match. In Australia, it has to be the Adelaide Test match. Those Australian spectatorsThey can get after you if you're not having a good day. Also the thing with the Australian crowd is if you're doing well they appreciate that as well. They really appreciate you as an opponent, but the thing is, they can get under your skin if you are having a slightly bad day. Missed the 2003-04 Adelaide TestTo be part of it and then to spend so many hours sitting in the Australian dressing room along with Sachin (Tendulkar) after the match was over was unforgettable.
22 November,2024 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai | AKSHAY LOKAPALLYDressed in his India whites, Test cap No. 290 firmly in place, Jasprit Bumrah emerged from the shadows to join Australian counterpart Pat Cummins on the impeccable Optus Stadium outfield. The occasion was the captains’ photo shoot before the start of the five-Test series, the fast bowler filling in for Rohit Sharma, who will miss the first game starting on Friday. Jasprit Bumrah knows all about emerging from the shadows. It was Australia where he first announced himself to the world in a ODI series in January 2016. Two years on, he played his first Test in Cape Town and by the end of that series, he was well on his way to establishing himself as potentially India’s No. 1 pacer of all time. Also Read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: Jasprit Bumrah opens up on his leadership role Players and coaching staff in a huddle during India’s practice session at Perth’s Optus Stadium recently. Pic/Getty Images Mentoring the pace attack In the intervening seven years, he hasn’t disappointed, striking telling blows at crucial moments, turning the course of a contest in the space of six deliveries, assuming not just a leadership, but also the mentoring role as the boss of a young pace attack. Bumrah will need to be at his competitive, incisive best if India are to overturn their recent abysmal run against New Zealand at home and begin this series on the right note. Without Rohit, the injured Shubman Gill and the still-unavailable Mohammed Shami, that is a tall order, but no one ever said Test cricket is child’s play. Australia are a touch rusty when it comes to Test cricket — their last five-day game was against New Zealand in Christchurch in early March — but Cummins excepted, everyone else has played at least one first-class match for their respective states in the Sheffield Shield and are as ready as ever heading into a home summer. The prospect of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the symbol of supremacy in India-Australia clashes, is an added incentive for several who have been at the receiving end of 1-2 score lines four times in the last seven and a half years. McSweeney set to debut The hosts will have one debutant in opener Nathan McSweeney, who comes in for the now-retired David Warner, while India too are expected to hand out at least one cap, to Cummins’s Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Nitish Reddy, the all-rounder who also bowls brisk fast-medium. India have an unsettled look with KL Rahul (after the first Test), Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who all didn’t play against New Zealand, set to return to Test action as they grapple with balance and combination issues. Bumrah will have a relatively inexperienced pace unit for the company, which is why perhaps senior all-rounder R Ashwin might keep his place in the XI as the solitary spinner. The presence of three left-handers in the Australian top seven could nudge Ashwin ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, coming off 10 wickets in his last Test outing, against New Zealand in Mumbai a fortnight back. Australia hold most of the aces on what is expected to be a spiced up deck at the Optus, though recent precipitation has prevented Issac McDonald from laying out a strip of entirely his choice. It will be up to India to defang them if they aspire for a hat-trick of series wins on Aussie turf.
22 November,2024 11:08 AM IST | Perth | R KaushikFormer Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan opened up on the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 and hopes that the event will take place in the country. Earlier in the month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking the reason behind India's decision of not travelling to the country, according to Geo News. India cited 'security concerns' as the reason for its decision. Further, he stated that the hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan will be beneficial for the game in the Asian region. He also opened up on the importance of regular matches between India and Pakistan to ease the tensions between the two nations. Also Read: India 51/4 at lunch on Day 1 of opening Test against Australia "I am very excited. I hope the Champions Trophy takes place and proves beneficial not only for Pakistan but also for cricket in this region. We need India and Pakistan to play regularly so that the tension diminishes. I hope India will visit Pakistan, and Pakistan will visit India," Younis Khan said during a post-match press conference at the Abu Dhabi T10. Earlier in November, the ICC informed the PCB in writing that India would not travel to Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy 2025. The trophy tour for the marquee event has taken place in Pakistan. The PCB has consulted with the Pakistani government on the issue and plans to present its stance to the ICC. The "Green Shirts" cricket board wants India to reconsider their decision, noting that their team travelled to India during the ODI World Cup 2023. Last year when Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup, all Team India matches were played in Sri Lanka. The last time, India and Pakistan played a bilateral series against each other was in 2012-13 in India. Currently, the two teams only face each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. (With ANI Inputs)
22 November,2024 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
