AUS vs IND, 4th Test, Day 1: Half centuries from Konstas, Khwaja, Labhuschagne and Smith put Australia in command. Jasprit Bumrah takes three wickets on Day 1.
Brief Score: AUS 311/6 ( M Labuschagne 72, S Smith 68*, J Bumrah 3/75)
Australia gained the upper hand on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. At Stumps, Australia's score read 311/6 with Steven Smith (68*) and Pat Cummins (8*) standing unbeaten at the crease. Debutant Sam Konstas (60) sparked the home team's charge with a scintillating half-century, marking a dream debut with some stunning strokes. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Smith, all contributed with fifties on a good batting surface. The peerless Jasprit Bumrah (3/75) was expectedly the pick of the bowlers for India.
Meanwhile, MCG registered record attendance on Day 1 of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test with 87,242 fans, hitting new highs. Earlier, Australia made two changes in their Playing 11, bringing in Sam Konstas and Scott Boland in place of Nathan McSweeney and injured Josh Hazlewood. Meanwhile, India made two changes, bringing in Washington Sundar for Shubman Gill.
Talking Point: Australia top-order comes to the party
Australia's top-order came out blazing in the crucial game, laying a solid foundation early on. They built partnerships that set the tone for a dominant batting display, putting the opposition on the back foot from the get-go. Every single member of the Australian top 4 scored half centuries and showed the grit to score runs.
While the debutant Sam Konstas got the first session off to a rollicking start with some bold stokes, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne did the opposite by engaging in a battle of attrition in the second session against the India pacers and coming out on top. Whereas Steven Smith finally fought his lean patch and registered a calm fifty.
Debutant Sam Konstas smashes stunning fifty, Australia 112/1 at lunch
Pat Cummins won the toss in the Boxing Day Test and chose to bat first. Australia's debutant opener Sam Konstas troubled India early on Day 1. Konstas faced a fiery spell from Jasprit Bumrah in the opening over, being beaten four times. Despite this, Konstas did not back down, taking the attack to Bumrah with an array of scoops, reverse-scoops, and crisp shots.
The 19-year-old raced to his maiden half-century in just 52 balls and fell to Ravindra Jadeja on 60 off 65 balls. He even got under India’s skin, with the umpire pulling him and Virat Kohli up for a rather unsavoury shoulder bump. At Lunch, Australia's score read 112/1 in 25 overs .
Jasprit Bumrah gets rid of Usman Khawaja, Australia 176/2 at Tea
Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne ground it out and saw off an incisive opening burst from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep in the second session. Khawaja reached his half-century before falling to a rather innocuous delivery from Bumrah on 57 off 121 balls. However, that was the only wicket India got in the session. Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 44, with Steve Smith alongside him on 10 as the hosts reached an imposing 176/2 at Tea.
Smith drives Australia to 311/6 at stumps, Bumrah stars for India
India found an opening in the third session with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head suddenly falling within a few balls of each other. Head was bowled by Bumrah for a duck while leaving the ball. Bumrah then struck almost immediately, : Mitchell Marsh. Labuschagne's dominant stand with Steven Smith ended as he went for an aggressive shot on the very first ball after the drinks break in the third session. Despite losing wickets in quick succession, Australia again gained the momentum. However, Bumrah and Akash Deep bowled well with the second new ball but Smith and Pat Cummins stemmed Australia's late collapse on Day 1. Australia finished the day with 311 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Statistical highlights from Australia vs India, 4th Test, Day 1
Sam Konstas is the second-youngest player to register a fifty-plus score on Test debut at the MCG, and also in Australia.
Usman Khawaja registered only his second fifty-plus score in 2024, his first since the 75 he scored against West Indies in Brisbane in January.
Usman Khawaja got dismissed for the fourth time in Tests by Jasprit Bumrah; all four instances have come in BGT 2024-25.
Bumrah (24) now has his highest tally of wickets in a BGT series played in Australia. His earlier highest tally there was 21 wickets in BGT 2018-19.
Marnus Labuschagne registered his second fifty-plus score in BGT 2024-25.
This is the fifth time that all of Australia's top 3 have registered fifty-plus scores in a single innings against India in Tests.
Travis Head was dismissed for the fourth time by Jasprit Bumrah in Tests.
This is the third time that all of Australia's top 4 batters have registered a score of 50+ each in a single innings against India in Tests.
Bumrah (24) now has his highest wickets tally in a Test series. He surpassed his 23-wicket tally against England in Pataudi Trophy 2021-22.
What’s next
Steven Smith and skipper Pat Cummins remained unbeaten at the end of Day’s play and will start Day 2 for the home side. Smith, exhibiting a sense of complete control, will be eyeing a big score. Meanwhile, India will aim for a few quick breakthroughs in the morning.
Read More: KL Rahul impresses as opener after reassuming this role in BGT 2024-25; reasons for his success
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