India’s batting order collapsed under strain, all out on 150 on the opening day of the first Test match against Australia in Perth on Friday,
India chose to bat after winning the toss, but their top order quickly fell apart as Australia’s pacers skillfully took advantage of the seam-friendly conditions.
By lunchtime, India was down to 51/4 because to the outstanding performances of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the eighth over by Starc, who made the early breakthrough. Nathan McSweeney, making his debut, collected the youthful opener’s mistimed off-drive at gully.
As Devdutt Padikkal quickly followed, again for a duck, caught behind off Hazlewood, the strain increased.
Virat Kohli was dismissed for just five minutes while trying to calm the situation. Hazlewood’s delivery took the edge and flew to first slip after climbing awkwardly.
Rishabh Pant (37) and KL Rahul (26) both briefly resisted, but Rahul was controversially sent off after a review revealed he had edged a Starc ball to goalkeeper Alex Carey.
Early in the game, Australia’s bowlers, headed by Starc (2/14) and Hazlewood (2/17), had placed India behind.
Given the challenging batting conditions and the formidable task confronting India’s remaining lower-order batsmen, Australia will want to take advantage of their advantageous position and end the Indian innings in the second session.
While the outcome is still up in the mix, India’s ability to bounce back from this early setback will be essential to their potential to compete in this first Test.
