The first day of the first Test match between Australia and India at the Optus Stadium in Perth saw India winning the toss and choosing to bat first. The Indian team, led by Jasprit Bumrah, faced a strong Australian bowling attack that included seasoned players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. The match began with Starc bowling a fiery first over, resulting in four byes for India.
Despite losing an early wicket, India managed to put up a total of 20 runs for the loss of two wickets at the end of the 14th over. Key players like KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal struggled against the Australian pace attack, with Padikkal departing without scoring any runs. Washington Sundar was a surprise selection in the Indian lineup over more established spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
The match also marked the debut of Nathan McSweeney for Australia, who won the Great Australian Bat Off to open alongside Usman Khawaja in the absence of regular opener David Warner. The rivalry between Australia and India, often considered the premier red-ball battle in international cricket, has generated excitement and anticipation among fans.
With India aiming to maintain their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Australia seeking to reclaim it, the first day of the Test match set the stage for what promises to be a closely contested series between two cricketing powerhouses. The presence of established stars and emerging talents on both sides adds to the intrigue and excitement surrounding the series.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
