A day full of action. A day full of antics and sledging. A day when a debutant of Australia surprised the seasoned campaigners of India. A day where Australia notched up 311 for 6 in 86 overs that was possible. Incredible performance from the Australians as they have their noses in front as of now. While Bumrah did chip in with a few wickets later, Australia were the happier team at the end of Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test Match in Melbourne.
Sam Konstas’s Blitzkrieg Set Australia Ablaze Against India on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test Match
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first on a good batting surface at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The home team made two changes as injured Josh Hazlewood made way to Scott Boland, while an out-of-form Nathan McSweeney was dropped to make way for the debutant Sam Konstas to accompany Usman Khwaja as his opening partner.
My word, what an inspiring change it proved to be. After struggling for the first five-six overs, Konstas decided to up the ante by displaying outrageous shots. He played a ram shot off Bumrah to make his intent clear to the visitors. He smacked 34 off 33 balls off Bumrah to put the visitors on the back foot. For the first time, in the Border-Gavaskar Test Series 2024-25, Australia managed an opening stand of 50 or more runs.
The assault was severe and unexpected for the Indians as they got bewildered. Kohli and Siraj had a go at Konstas with the former going to the extent of pushing the debutant by the shoulder. Unwarranted, but the heat of the India-Australia rivalry often makes players breach the code of conduct.
Jadeja Scalps Konstas, But Khwaja and Labuschagne March on
It was Ravindra Jadeja who got rid of the dangerous-looking Konstas for 60, a few overs before the lunch interval. Konstas was trapped LBW. He survived a close LBW shout in Jadeja’s previous over too. In came Marnus Labuschagne who took Australia to 112 for 1 at Lunch in the company of Usman Khwaja. The duo continued to pile runs in the post-lunch session as Khwaja brought up his 50.
Bumrah Dismisses Khwaja in 2nd Session of the Boxing Day Test Match
It was going all well for Australia before India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah got into the act. He removed Khwaja with an innocuous delivery that the Australian opener mistimed as the ball went to KL Rahul at mid-wicket. Khwaja scored a measured 57. Steve Smith, however, came with a different intent altogether i.e. to play shots. He scored at a brisk pace and somewhat lifted Labuschagne’s game too as the latter also started hitting boundaries. The duo took Australia to 174 for 2 at Tea.
India Scalp Four Australian Wickets in the Final Session
After adding 63 runs in the final session, the third-wicket pair was separated as Labuschagne played a poor shot off Washington Sundar and gave an easy catch to Virat Kohli. Australia were 237 for 3 with the dismissal of Labuschagne.
Three runs later, Travis Head, touted as India’s biggest threat, headed to the pavilion as he left a ball off Bumrah that shattered his stumps, leaving him surprised and disappointed. He could not open his account, a rare failure for Head, who, otherwise, has been in terrific form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far.
Mitchell Marsh came and went as he edged one off Bumrah to Rishabh Pant behind the wicket. He could score only four runs.
Just as it seemed India would run through the Australian batting order, came a crucial 53-run stand between Steve Smith and Alex Carey before the latter was out for 31. Carey edged one off Akash Deep to Pant. It was a much-deserved wicket for Akash as he kept probing away all throughout the day without any wicket till that point. This is the beauty of Test cricket that Akash witnessed in his short yet impressive career so far.
Australia ended Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test Match with 311 for 6. Steve Smith and Pat Cummins remained unbeaten at 68 and 8, respectively.
Do watch how Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test unfolds tomorrow on zarooribaathai.in.
