India vs Australia 1st Test, Day 2 highlights
India finished day one of the Nagpur Test at 77/1 after 24 overs of batting. Captain Rohit Sharma led the proceedings with the bat as he scored a 15th Test fifty, an innings laden with nine boundaries and one maximum. Earlier, the hosts had managed to bundle Australia out for 177.
Ravindra Jadeja marked his comeback in India's whites for the first time since July 2022 by picking a fifer that included the all-important wickets of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, both of whom he dismissed after Lunch on day one. Ravichandran Ashwin picked three wickets, his first making him the quickest Indian and second overall to cross the 450 dismissals mark.
Read more Stories from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ahead of the day two's action:
After Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma ensures India seizes control of Nagpur Test on Day 1
Cream Ravindra Jadeja was spotted applying was just ‘ointment for callused finger’
How Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne thwarted the Indian spinners
Coming into the game, I was sort of hoping to get one wicket at least. To finish the day with five on debut is a special day. It's been a pretty surreal week, it's all happened quite fast. From the moment I found out I'll be playing until now, just tried to embrace it and enjoy everything that come with it. I try to make sure that my body language is quite good and I believe in myself. The message I got from a lot of guys was don't change anything that I've been doing in state cricket. I looked at Jadeja, Ashwin and Axar, they were so consistent with what they were doing. They didn't go searching for too much. That was something I was looking at - putting enough balls in that area to ask questions for long enough. It's awesome to have them (family) here, I found out two nights before, it was mad rush for them. They had a 2 AM leave from home to get to the airport. they're really grateful that they had the opportunity to get in here.
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Have been doing well with the bat for the last one year. That confidence is coming in handy. My technique - I always knew it was good. I work on it when I get a break. Work with the coaching staff. They tell me that I have the ability, so I try to contribute. When you go in to bat you find some difficulty (on that pitch), but it gets easier after spending some time. The talk with Jadeja was to not lose focus. Till the time we bat tomorrow the pitch will play well, and when we get the chance to bowl - we'll find help (laughs).
Steve Smith drops a simple catch of Ravindra Jadeja in the final over of the day of Nathan Lyon's bowling. This is what Test cricket is all about. It looked like nothing was happening for a long time and then came a chance that they did not take. Austalia and Smith would be hoping that it would not cost them much tomorrow. (India is 321 for 7 after 114 overs)
Nathan Lyon has now bowled over 35 overs just for one wicket. He has not looked threatening at all in this first innings. In the conditions that aid spin and being the bowler with so much experience he has let his skipper down. His bowling against India has not been great in the last few series and another Test match added to the list. (India is 321 for 7 after 113.4 overs)
50 for Axar Patel. This is his second Test half-century. He has been a thorn in the flesh of the Aussies in this final session. The Australian openers would have been thinking of their batting approach on this surface after the wicket of Rohit. Thanks to Axar's matured innings they have to wait a little longer. Aussies have now employed Matt Renshaw to bowl. (India is 314 for 7 after 110.5 overs)
Axar Patel has looked solid in his defence in this innings so far. He has frustrated the bowlers with his technique and pounced on anything that was loose. Both the batters are not allowing the Australian skipper to give respite to his main bowlers by using Marnus for a short spell as the batters are pouncing anything that is loose from him. (India is 312 for 7 after 110 overs)
Marnus Labuschange has been employed by the Australian skipper for a spell. He is bowling a few full tosses and short balls for the batters to feast upon. The bowling looks tired now. Axar Patel has now reached closer to his 50. After Rohit's wicket post tea it looked like Australia had a chance to get back into the game however, courtesy of this duo it looks unlikely. (India is 311 for 7 after 107.4 overs)
300 up for India. Despite there having been a lot of talk about the pitches prior to the game and after day one. The Indian batters have shown how to bat on these wickets. The surface has held up nicely with out a lot of dust coming out of it. Rohit's innings at the top has been top notch and now Jadeja showing the way if you apply yourself there are no demons in the surface. (India is 302 for 7 after 104.2 overs)
Pat Cummins has willed himsefl back on to bowl one final burst for the day. However, he is continuing to spray the ball all over the place. Apart from one spell after taking the second new ball where he cleaned Rohit Pat Cummins with the ball has been way off-colour in the Test match. Axar has now raced into the '30s. The Australian shoulders are dropping in the field with the lead going over 120 runs. (India is 297 for 7 after 104 overs)
A 50-run partnership between Jadeja and Axar Patel. Just when the Australian bowlers had a glimpse of bowling India out. This pair has slammed the door in their faces. Afte the floury of wickets with the second new ball it looked like a matter of time for the Indians. However, this pairing continues to pile on runs. (India is 288 for 7 after 101.2 overs)
Todd Murphy is having a debut to remember. He has been the most effective bowler of the Australian attack. He has picked up five wickets. Axar and Jadeja despite attacking the other bowlers have shown respect to Murphy for defending him properly. It is fair to say he has bowled better than Lyon so far in the game. (India is 288 for 7 after 101.2 overs)
India's lead has now gone past 100. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are batting brilliantly and are showing no signs of any trouble. If India can see through the day adding another 50-60 runs. It would be more of a batting practice for the Aussies for the remainder of the Test match than anything else as winning would be out of the equation. (India is 282 for 7 after 99 overs)
“Do you know this was the first time in 99 Tests that Pujara got out playing a sweep. That too he played it was well outside leg stump. Now what year is this? 2023? Forget him sweeping till 2025.. Bhool jao! (Forget about it),” Shastri jested with a smile on Star Sports Hindi. (India is 277 for 7 after 98 overs)
Axar Patel's batting in recent times has been brilliant. He has made some useful contributions to the team when they needed the most. His cameo here will only add further misery to the Australian side and give him confidence bowling in the second innings. The left-arm spinner was invisible in the first innings. If he can get back into a good rhythm it will be a long test and series for the Aussie batters. (India is 273 for 7 after 97.4 overs)
Australia has decided to drop Travis Head who is a handy off-spinner. With only two spinners in the side, the Australians are struggling a bit now for the ideas to dismiss the batters. Both the spinners have bowled plenty of overs and are now looking tired. This game seems to be drifting from the Aussies very quickly. This is going to be difficult for Aussie batters coming back to bat in the second innings and go past India's lead and make them bat again. (India is 267 for 7 after 96.2 overs)
India contiunes to pile on the lead. Australians after picking a few quick wickets are now leaking a few runs here. Jadeja and Axar Patel are slowly starting to open up with their batting. This is where Indian batting is showing its depth. This has been the strength of this Indian Test side in recent years the contributions from the lower orders. (India is 265for 7 after 95 overs)
50 for Ravindra Jadeja. Brilliant knock by the left-hander. After picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings he is showing his class with the bat. Jabs the ball for a single and does his sword celebration. He has been phenomenal for India churning up this runs lower down the order. (India is 257 for 7 after 92.4 overs)
Scott Boland has been brought back into the attack by the skipper Cummins. Boland despite not picking a wicket has kept it tight throughout his spell. He has been a bankable bowler for the captain. However, Australia now needs wickets in clusters as India's lead has now gone past 70 runs and the pitch continues to detirorate quickly it becomes imperative for the Aussies to clean out the Indian tail. (India is 251 for 7 after 91.2 overs)
Since the new ball has been taken the Australian bowlers have been troubling the Indian batters. Two left-handers in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are batting in the middle. Pat Cummins in his spell with the new ball reminded everyone why is he the best bowler in the Test format currently. He alongside Todd Murphy has been brilliant with their bowling post-tea. (India is 250 for 7 after 90 overs)
250 is up for India. The lead is 72. India would love to have the lead of at least 100 runs. With Jadeja and Axar in the middle, India would be looking to add more runs to their total. (India are 250 for 7 after 87.4 overs)
In his debut Test, Todd Murphy has already claimed five wickets. Here is our profile of the youngster with insights into his bowling and his psyche from former Australian spinner Steve Keefe and spin coach Craig Howard, who is a contemporary of Shane Warne and currently the spin coach of New Zealand women's team.
It was just yesterday that Ian Healy was talking about how picking the young spinner into the team for the first Test and handing him a debut against India was a bad move. “In my eyes, probably not the right selection call,” Healy said.
“I think he can bowl extremely well and he’s right in the shadow of Nathan Lyon for whenever he’s needed, but for me, we’ve left on the bench our most experienced spinners in Ashton Agar and Mitch Swepson. If we’re not going to use them yesterday they might as well pack their Baggy Greens away. I think we needed more variety and more experience,” he added.
The spinner has played seven first class games, but he has NEVER taken a five-wicket haul. He has taken five wickets in his debut Test for Australia, a haul which includes the prized scalps of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin and fellow debutant KS Bharat.
KS Bharat departs for 8. Five-wicket haul for Todd Murphy on debut. Around the wicket on the leg stump line. Bharat strides forward and plays for the angle but gets beaten. Huge appeal. Not given out by the umpire. Australia, go upstairs. Fair delivery. No bat is involved. And guess what? Three reds and Bharat goes for just eight runs. Axar Patel walks into bat at No 8. India lead by 69 runs. (India are 246 for 7 in 84.2 overs)
Pat Cummins strikes for Australia. Rohit Sharma departs after scoring 120. What a delivery to get rid of the skipper!!! Good length ball with a hint of away movement. Rohit stands tall and plays the wrong line as the ball sneaks past the bat and rattles the off stump. The off-stump goes cartwheeling. Good seam position from Cummins. India lead by 53 runs. (India are 229 for 6 in 81 overs)
At the tea break, India are 226 for 5. Jadeja has found the boundaries at regular intervals and has contributed the majority of the 50-run stand so far. India's lead begins to grow gradually. 75 runs have been scored in 28 overs of the session. Two wickets have fell in the form of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. India lead by 49 runs. (India are 226 for 5 in 80 overs)
Ravindra Jadeja survives a close LBW call. Earlier in the session, Dinesh Karthik explained why Jadeja could be a candidate for LBW as he employs the old-fashioned technique where the bat and pad are close to each other while defending against spinners. Though it ensures there is no gap between bat and pad, in case the ball straightens it could end up hitting the pads and bring LBW into equation. What is helping Jadeja is that he is taking long strides. That is bound to work with him, but with DRS in place, there is always a chance for the spinners, writes Venkat Krishna B.
It's likely you may have noticed that the pitch behaved differently in the second session over the two days. India cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has a simple explanation for why the pitch's behaviour on Day 1's second session, when the Australians were on the crease, and Day 2's 2nd session, when the Indians are batting, is different. Read our piece which has bonus insights about the time Virat Kohli's tactics backfired and the time Sachin Tendulkar opted for caution.
Read our piece which has bonus insights about the time Virat Kohli's tactics backfired and the time Sachin Tendulkar opted for caution.
Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja brought up a timely 50-run stand for the sixth wicket. India is leading by 41 runs. (India are 218 for 5 in 76.2 overs)
Sachin Tendulkar lauds the trio of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
India lead by 33 runs. (India are 210 for 5 in 73.5 overs)
Virat Kohli getting out to a bowler making his Test debut is a script we have seen playing out far too often. Since Kohli's debut in 2011, 24 opposition players on their debut have bowled against India in matches involving him and nine of them dismissed him, Todd Murphy of Australia being the latest.
The others are: Marco Jansen (South Africa) in Centurion 2021, Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand) in Wellington 2020, Senuran Muthusamy (South Africa) in Visakhapatnam 2019, Lungi Ngidi (South Africa) in Centurion 2018, Alzarri Joseph (West Indies) in Gros Islet 2016, Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) in Mohali 2015, Josh Hazlewood ( Australia) in Brisbane 2014 and Glenn Maxwell (Australia) in Hyderabad 2013.
We don't know whether Australia were aware of Kohli's 'weakness' against debutants when they preferred him over Ashton Agar. But he has clearly not disappointed them.
Interesting that Ravindra Jadeja has chosen to cut a few deliveries from very close to the off stump on this pitch. Usually, he wouldn’t have against the off spinners but for some reason he has been going for it here. Twice he was in trouble, and once - a four off Nathan Lyon - he just about managed to make contact just before the ball rammed in to the pad.
Perhaps, the pace off the track is still slow and it’s making Jadeja more confident of that shot. He is playing with fire though.
By Sriram Veera
India lead by 29 runs. (India are 206 for 5 in 71.4 overs)
STREAKY! This one turns in sharply. Jadeja rocks back and lats cut it to the deep backward point region, and the ball races away for a boundary in no time. 200 up for India. India lead by 24 runs. (India are 201 for 5 in 71 overs)
Cracking shot by Jadeja. Boland goes fuller outside the off. Jadeja prods forward and drives it through the covers to watch the ball race away for a boundary. No chance for the fielder. His third boundary, and he is growing in confidence with every ball. India lead by 20 runs. (India are 197 for 5 in 70 overs)
The partnership between Rohit and Jadeja just reached 23, and India's lead 15. In hindsight, there's always a threat of a collapse on this pitch. Australia will be hoping to get another one. India lead by 15 runs. (India are 192 for 5 in 69 overs)
Rohit Sharma has completed his century and will look to bat till the end of the day and take his side to a commanding position.
Couple of good boundaries by Ravindra Jadeja. Every run from here onwards is going to be gold dust for India. India lead by 12 runs. (India are 189 for 5 in 66 overs)
Rohit Sharma hits his first Test century as captain. Fuller one outside the off a bit. Sharma shimmies down the ground, reaches the pitch of the ball and lofts it over the extra cover region. Ninth Test century for Rohit Sharma. India lead by 1 run. (India are 182 for 5 in 64 overs)
Suryakumar's debut was a brief one. He departs for 8. Nathan Lyon gets his first wicket. Full, slower through the air near the off. This one turns in sharply and Surya was a bit early on the front foot to nudge it down. He played for the arm ball and the ball sneaked through to the gates. India trail Australia by 7 runs with 5 wickets remaining. (India are 171 for 5 in 60 overs)
A trademark Rohit Sharma pull and the Indian captain moves into the 90s. India trail Australia by nine runs with 6 wickets remaining. (India are 168 for 4 in 58 overs).
Virat Kohli has gone 1,174 days and 37 Test innings without a hundred.
What debut Todd Murphy is having, he bags his fourth wicket. Nothing delivery from the bowler here. Length delivery down the leg stump line, turns past and Kohli flicks and tickles at it. The keeper grabs the catch despite a bit of a fumble. And the big fish departs!! A wicket in the first ball after Lunch.
India trail Australia by 22 runs with 6 wickets remaining. (India are 156 for 4 at the end of 54 overs)
India have won the first session of Day 2. Australia took two wickets and can expose India’s inexperienced middle-order if they get one more wicket. With just 26 runs to equal Australia’s first innings total, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will hold the fort for India and will look to take the lead soon after the resumption.
Rohit Sharma looked in imperious form in the first session of the second day of the Nagpur Test to take the hosts to 151/3 at lunch on Friday. He has never scored a century as a Test captain and has already surpassed his highest score in Tests against Australia. Meanwhile, the young bowling star Todd Murphy claimed two wickets for the visitors to add to KL Rahul's scalp from Day 1 to keep things interesting. A quick recap of the first session.
Lunch Break: India trail Australia by 26 runs with 7 wickets remaining
Kohli whips it towards long on for a single and 150 is up for India. India trail Australia by 27 runs with 7 wickets remaining. (India are 150 for 3 at the end of 50.4 overs)
Half-volley, and Kohli drills it down the line towards the ropes for a boundary. This was right in the arc and Kohli's punch-drive beats the mid off. ndia trail Australia by 28 runs with 7 wickets remaining. (India are 149 for 3 at the end of 50 overs)
Tad overpitched from Murphy and Kohli punches it down the ground for a four straight down the ground. The mid off is beaten here and the ball rolls down towards the fences. India trail Australia by 35 runs with 7 wickets remaining. (India are 142 for 3 at the end of 47 overs)
Graham Gooch explained why in a chat during England’s last Test series in India. Joe Root had got out to a sweep and Gooch had held court.
There are two ways to sweep: The bat-parallel-to-the-ground sweep, as played often by Root who sweeps the entire arc from wide mid-on to backward square-leg after crouching really low with the bat coming from the side of the ball, almost
Second: The bat-smashing-the-top-of-the-ball sweep that Gooch and Hayden would often play.
“You can handle the extra bounce with this movement – swooping down from the top. It helps keep the ball down somewhat and this top-to-bottom sweep also allows a batsman to rotate strike. You can access the areas safely,” Gooch says.
“If you want to hit the ball for a six, then you go from low to high with the bat flow,” Gooch says. “The bat also comes out differently for a lap or when you want to keep it along the ground and where do you want to hit it – behind square or front of square. So, all these decisions you have to take in the semi-premeditative shot and based on what comes out of the hand. You can’t be lazy with this shot.”
Pujara’s was a weak effort really, and too horizontal to be playing to that ball on the rough.
Read Matthew Hayden and Graham Gooch’s masterclass on how to play the sweep shot in Indian turners.
Soft dismissal. Pujara departs for 7. Third wicket for Murphy. Pujara looks to sweep on it and the ball went straight into the hands of Scott Boland at short fine leg. Pujara must be dejected with his effort. India trail Australia by 42 runs with 7 wickets remaining. (India are 135 for 3 at the end of 45 overs)
Full, turns a tad bit, and beats the outside edge of Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain looked to tuck it across the line but gets beaten. A review has been taken by Australia. No bat involved as per the Ultraedge. Ball tracking - Pitching in line, impact outside the leg stump. A review is lost for Australia and Sharma survives.
India trail Australia by 43 runs with 8 wickets remaining. (India are 134 for 2 at the end of 43 overs)
Matt Renshaw has been sent for scans after injuring his knee during the warm-up.
Read the full story here
Ashwin is not just a guy sent up the order to see out the Day 1's last few overs. He is a batter who has scored five centuries and 13 half centuries. They were already struggling to keep Rohit Sharma in check, they didn't another batter throwing down anchor around the Indian skipper and gettign a big score.
Finally a breakthrough for Australia. Murphy breaks the partnership. Length delivery at the middle and leg. Turns in and the batter prods and defends. This one gets beaten on the inside edge and thuds at the front pad. The Australian side goes upstairs for the review. It is observed that there is no bat involved. Pitching in line, impact in line and the wickets are hitting. So the original decision gets overturned and Ashwin needs to go for the long walk. A good review from Australia and Murphy gets two out of the two scalps. India trail Australia by 59 runs with 8 wickets remaining. (India are 120 for 2 at the end of 41 overs)
We are done with the first hour of Day 2 and India has added 40 runs on the board, with Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin looking extremely confident. The duo are involved in an unbeaten 41-run stand for the second wicket. India trail Australia by 60 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (India are 117 for 1 at the end of 39 overs)
In the 13 times that Rohit Sharma has been dismissed while batting against the Australians, Nathan Lyon has been the one to take the wicket six times! The Australians will be hoping he can add to that tally today, because Sharma has looked in imperious form so far.
Meanwhile, M Vijay, former India batsman has a slight dig at Sanjay Manjrekar. A stat was show on television about converstion rates in Test cricket. M Vijay topped the list among Indian batsmen in India. Sanjay seemed a bit surprised at that. And Vijay let his fingers rip on his phone to tweet out. @sanjaymanjrekar Surprised wow" Then came the zinger. "Some Mumbai ex players can never be appreciative of the south ! "
India trail Australia by 62 runs with 9 wickets remaining (India are 115 for 1 at the end of 36 overs)
Rohit Sharma opens the face of the bat and guides it through the short third man as the ball finds the gap and races away for a boundary beating Boland at the deep.
India trail Australia by 62 runs with 9 wickets remaining (India are 115 for 1 at the end of 35 overs)
Nathan Lyon does love bowling that round-the-stumps angle. For a long time now. In fact, in 2014, the bowling coach John Dyson had to literally force him to bowl over the stumps in a few practice games to make him get used to that line. Still, not that confident perhaps. In the one over he tried over the wicket now, Ashwin blasted a slog-sweep for a six. Yesterday, Mark Waugh had another interesting comment to make on how in India’s last tour of Australia, Lyon simply refused to have a silly point.
By Sriram Veera
India trail Australia by 66 runs with 9 wickets remaining (India are 111 for 1 at the end of 34 overs)