Australia gained the upper hand against India on Day 1 of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, finishing at 86/1 in their first innings. A steady unbeaten partnership of 62 runs between Nathan McSweeney (38*) and Marnus Labuschagne (20*) put the hosts in a strong position after dismantling India for 180 earlier in the day.
After electing to bat first, India endured a nightmare start. Mitchell Starc struck with the very first ball, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for a golden duck. Shubman Gill (31) and KL Rahul (37) attempted to rebuild with a 69-run partnership, showcasing solid drives against the Australian pacers. However, Starc dismissed Rahul with a sharp gully catch and later trapped Gill lbw, leaving India at 81/4.
Virat Kohli (7) continued to struggle with deliveries outside off, edging a Starc delivery to Steve Smith in the slips. Rishabh Pant (21) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) showed some resistance, with the latter providing crucial late runs by hitting two sixes and a four off Scott Boland in a single over. Ravichandran Ashwin added a quick 22, but Starc’s exceptional six-wicket haul (6/48) ensured India was bowled out for 180 in just 44.1 overs.
Australia’s innings began cautiously under the lights, with Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney opening the batting. Jasprit Bumrah provided an early breakthrough, dismissing Khawaja for 13 off 35 balls, leaving Australia at 24/1. McSweeney then anchored the innings, finding support from Labuschagne.
The duo dealt with the Indian bowling attack patiently, bringing up their 50-run partnership in the 26th over. McSweeney played confidently, scoring boundaries against Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana, while Labuschagne rotated the strike effectively. At stumps, their unbroken stand had taken Australia to 86/1, trailing by just 94 runs.
Mitchell Starc’s performance once again highlighted his dominance in day-night Tests. His fourth five-wicket haul in pink-ball cricket solidified his reputation as the greatest bowler in this format, and his lethal spells dismantled India’s batting order.
With a solid partnership in place and a strong batting lineup to follow, Australia is well-positioned to take control on Day 2. For India, early breakthroughs on Saturday will be crucial to stay competitive in the Test and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Brief Scores:
- India: 180 (Nitish Kumar Reddy 42, KL Rahul 37, Mitchell Starc 6/48)
- Australia 86/1 (Nathan McSweeney 38, Marnus Labuschagne 20, Jasprit Bumrah 1/13).