Australia’s Travis Head celebrates his century on day 2 of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Adelaide on December 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

After a forgettable day for India at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday (December 7, 2024), bowling coach Morne Morkel turned up at the press conference for some fire-fighting. With a calm voice and a diplomat’s grace, the South African deftly handled the queries.

The first volley was about Mohammed Siraj’s needless send-off to centurion Travis Head and Morkel was ready: “We all know Siraj puts everything on the line, he is the kind of bowler, who will run in all day. There are some moments in a game. But I am sure off the field they will be the best of mates.”

Asked about India’s bowling in the second Test so far, Morkel offered his analysis: “Yesterday (Friday), the lines and lengths could have been better, there was some extra swing too. Thought they did well today (Saturday) morning before Travis Head played his innings. He put the bowlers under pressure but that’s the way he plays.”

And about Rishabh Pant’s approach at the batting crease, the bowling coach said: “Just like Head, this is the way Pant bats, that’s his approach. Always puts the bowlers under pressure. Seeing the scoreboard you won’t expect the kind of shot he played from the first ball but that is how he is.” Morkel also backed seamer Harshit Rana, who had a rough outing.

Australia saw the light on a Friday (December 6, 2024) night. At a packed Adelaide Oval and on a rather unusual day in which the expected rains stayed away while the floodlights malfunctioned twice, the host scored 86 for one in reply to India’s first innings score of 180.

The second Test’s opening day was a tale of two parts. The first revealed a vulnerable Indian stint and the second highlighted Australia’s desire to fight back in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, in which the host trails by 0-1.

Ind vs Aus 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights

Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney survived the first 10 overs before Jasprit Bumrah caused the initial breach. Khawaja redirected a Bumrah special to Rohit Sharma at first slip. A twitchy Marnus Labuschagne then survived an inquisition from Bumrah before finding his voice.

McSweeney too freed his earlier dour arms and that found an echo through Labuschagne’s bat as the 62-run unbeaten second-wicket partnership took shape. Pat Cummins and his men would perhaps believe that they are marginally ahead even if they still have a 94-run deficit to clear.

In the afternoon, Rohit won the toss, elected to bat and India had the services of R. Ashwin, who was preferred over Washington Sundar. The atmosphere around the ground was like a carnival, fans trooped in from all corners with a mix of the local yellow and the Indian blue shade. There was a Village Green enclosure where members of the South Australia Cricket Association gathered for banter and refreshments.

The venue got an instant adrenaline boost when Mitchell Starc dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with the match’s first ball. Trapped right in front, Jaiswal left. A patient K.L. Rahul and a keen Shubman Gill then anchored India. Gill, with two fielders under his gaze and a waiting slip cordon, drove carefully. Rahul defended astutely even if there were a few play-and-miss routines.

Gill tucked into Starc and Rahul opened his account off the 21st ball he faced. There was drama too as he edged Scott Boland and it turned out to be a no-ball, and then Khawaja dropped him in the slips. Gradually Rahul began to cut and drive but once he fell to Starc, with the catch flying to McSweeney, India went through a delicate phase.

From 69 for two, it became 81 for four as Virat Kohli and Gill, became tentative, as a bat was grazed and pads got ruffled. With Rohit walking in at six and Rishabh Pant for company, India needed an alliance extending past the break. It was not to be as Boland got one to nip back and cramped Rohit while Cummins surprised Pant with a delivery that climbed steeply.

At 109 for six, India leant on Nitish Kumar and Ashwin to hustle the runs, which they did partly well. After Starc accounted for Ashwin and Harshit Rana, Nitish (42) turned aggressor and Boland felt the heat as reverse-scoops and pulls yielded a six each. Once Nitish fell, the Indian first innings concluded and Starc had his rewards (six for 48).

Scoreboard

India – 1st innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw b Starc 0 (1b), K.L. Rahul c McSweeney b Starc 37 (64b, 6×4), Shubman Gill lbw b Boland 31 (51b, 5×4), Virat Kohli c Smith b Starc 7 (8b, 1×4), Rishabh Pant c Labuschagne b Cummins 21 (35b, 2×4), Rohit Sharma lbw b Boland 3 (23b), Nitish Kumar c Head b Starc 42 (54b, 3×4, 3×6), R. Ashwin lbw b Starc 22 (22b, 3×4), Harshit Rana b Starc 0 (3b), Jasprit Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0 (8b), Mohammed Siraj (not out) 4 (3b, 1×4). Extras (lb-5, nb-7, w-1): 13

Total (all out in 44.1 overs): 180.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jaiswal, 0.1 overs), 2-69 (Rahul, 18.4), 3-77 (Kohli, 20.1), 4-81 (Gill, 21.1), 5-87 (Rohit, 25.5), 6-109 (Pant, 32.5), 7-141 (Ashwin, 38.2), 8-141 (Harshit, 38.5), 9-176 (Bumrah, 43.3).

Australia bowling: Starc 14.1-2-48-6, Cummins 12-4-41-2, Boland 13-0-54-2, Lyon 1-0-6-0, Marsh 4-0-26-0.

Australia – 1st innings: Usman Khawaja c Rohit b Bumrah 13 (35b, 2×4), Nathan McSweeney (batting) 38 (97b, 6×4), Marnus Labuschagne (batting) 20 (67b, 3×4). Extras (b-13, lb-1, nb-1): 15

Total (for one wkt., in 32 overs): 86.

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Khawaja, 10.6).

India bowling: Bumrah 11-4-13-1, Siraj 10-3-29-0, Harshit 8-2-18-0, Nitish 3-1-12-0, R. Ashwin 1-1-0-0.