India vs Australia, 2nd Test Day 1 in Perth, Highlights: As It Happened

As It Happened: Australia will be pretty happy with the fact that they reached 277/6 at the end of day’s play. There were three half-centurions for Australia - Marcus Harris (70), Travis Head (58) and Aaron Finch (50). As for India, Ishant Sharma and Hanuma Vihari scalped two wickets each while Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav picked one each. (Full scorecard) Follow India-Australia highlights below -

15:30 hrs IST

Good day of cricket comes to an end

 

 

15:24 hrs IST

Stumps on Day 1

With that stunning Jasprit Bumrah delivery, the first day comes to an end in Perth. Australia will be pretty happy with the fact that they reached 277/6 at the end of day’s play. There were three half-centurions for Australia - Marcus Harris (70), Travis Head (58) and Aaron Finch (50). As for India, Ishant Sharma and Hanuma Vihari scalped two wickets each while Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav picked one each.

15:12 hrs IST

Cummins batting well

Pat Cummins is once again giving a good account of himself that he can bat. He is currently putting on a good partnership with Tim Paine and it seems that they will end the day on a positive note.

15:02 hrs IST

Boundary for Paine

Bad delivery from Umesh and it is duly dispatched for a boundary by Paine. Welcome runs for the Aussie skipper as the hosts are slowly and steadily going past towards the 300-run mark.

14:56 hrs IST

Ball of the day

Jasprit Bumrah, Tim Paine along with the other Indian players and the fans in the stands — no one knows how that delivery didn’t crash into the off stump. The ball pitched just in front of Paint and moved away from the batsman. It took a ferocious bounce off the track and went over the keeper’s head for a boundary.

14:49 hrs IST

Ishant strikes with the new ball

The decision to bring Ishant Sharma has paid dividends as he gets rid of Travis Head for 58. Head tried to hit the ball straight down the ground but the ball took an edge and Shami took an easy catch at third man. Australia have lost their sixth wicket now.

14:43 hrs IST

New ball taken

Virat Kohli seems to have had enough with the spinners as he opts to take the new ball. Mohammed Shami will bowl the first over with the second new ball as India look to finish off the tail soon.

14:39 hrs IST

New ball due now

80 overs have been bowled by the Indian bowlers and that means that the new ball is due now. But Kohli sticks with Vihari as he has been bowling well. But Tim Paine shows that he means business as he cuts the ball past the point fielder for a boundary. Australia cross 250.

14:31 hrs IST

Fifty for Head

Travis Head completes his half-century and this is his second of the series. Head has held the innings from one end and he will play a crucial role if Australia end up putting on a 300+ score in the innings.

14:26 hrs IST

Vihari strikes to break the partnership

Hanuma Vihari produces and edge off the bat of Shaun Marsh and Ajinkya Rahane takes a brilliant reflex catch at first slip. Australia have lost their fifth wicket now and are in a spot of bother. India needed to break that stand and they have done it at the right time.

14:22 hrs IST

Part-time bowlers going for runs

Easy runs these for the Aussie batsmen as Vihari and Vijay gets creamed for one boundary each in a span of just four deliveries. The new ball is due in four overs and India want to get there as soon as possible because Head and Marsh are batting like they have been out in the middle since morning.

14:14 hrs IST

Vihari keeps things under check

India are clearly missing a regular spinner and the job is somewhat being done by Hanuma Vihari, who has now bowled ten overs in the innings. Ravindra Jadeja is their on the field but he can only do the job of a substitute fielder.

14:07 hrs IST

India need a wicket

Travis Head and Shaun Marsh have steadied the ship for Australia and they are milking the singles and doubles with great ease. India need to break this partnership as soon as possible to have any chance of bundling out the hosts soon.

14:00 hrs IST

Stat attack

50 partnership for 5th wicket between Shaun Marsh and Travis Head. 1st fifty partnership between Shaun Marsh and Travis Head. 1st fifty partnership for 5th wicket by Australia after 10 innings. 1st fifty partnership for 5th wicket by Australia vs India after 4 innings. Marsh-Head are the only 2nd pair to add 50+ runs for 5th wicket in an innings vs India in 2018 after Buttler-Stokes at Nottingham.

13:54 hrs IST

Australia cross 200

The 50-run partnership is up between Travis Head and Shaun Marsh and with that the Australia have also crossed the 200-run mark. The duo have weathered the storm well after Indian bowlers caused a mini collapse.

13:49 hrs IST

Dropped catch

Hanuma Vihari thought he picked his second wicket of the day when Shaun Marsh (24) edged the ball into the hands of keeper Rishabh Pant. But the ball popped straight out of Pant’s glouves after going in. And to add insult to injury, Marsh hits a boundary on the last ball of the over from Vihari.

13:42 hrs IST

Bowling change

Mohammed Shami has been introduced into the attack and he replaces Jasprit Bumrah. Shami has conceded at three runs per over thus far and he has been wicket-less. The pacer will hope his fortunes change in the final session of the day.

13:36 hrs IST

Good bowling in tandem by Bumrah & Vihari

Bumrah and Vihari are bowling well in tandem at the moment. With pace from one end and spin from the other, it is not letting the batsmen settle at the moment. The Indian bowlers are creating good pressure on the two Aussie batters.

13:30 hrs IST

Edge but four

Good delivery from Hanuma Vihari and it takes a leading edge off the bat of Shaun Marsh and flies past the slip fielder for a boundary towards third man. Unfortunate for the part-time spinner who has been bowling really well in the innings.

13:24 hrs IST

The Indian pace troika

This is the 6th instance of 3 or more pacers from a team taking 30+ away wickets each in a calendar year and 1st such instance for India.

13:18 hrs IST

Marsh holds the key

Shaun Marsh, who found form in the second innings at Adelaide, has to dig deep and lead Australia to a competitive total. This pitch has certainly quickened up and is proving to be difficult

13:06 hrs IST

Pitch has become rather tricky to bat on

13:00 hrs IST

Captain Virat

Stunning catch by the skipper. That was not very short, not very wide, Handscomb cuts, gets the top edge and captain Kohli leaps towards his right and collects the catch

12:53 hrs IST

Final session begins

The players are back on the pitch as the third and final session of the day gets underway. Umesh Yadav will bowl the first over post tea while Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb are at the crease for the hosts. They will look to steady the ship after couple of quick blows before the play had stopped for tea.

12:48 hrs IST

Vaughan’s warning to India

As we have stopped for a short break, what Michael Vaughan had to say about India’s team selection and how they missed a trick by not playing this players. ‘Kohli & Co made a mistake’ - Vaughan’s pointed observation about India’s playing XI

12:34 hrs IST

Tea break

Good session for India, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav were brilliant with the ball. Hanuma Vihari was the surprise package as he got the wicket of Marcus Harris.

Australia still ahead but India have made their presence felt in that session

12:15 hrs IST

Vihari strikes

Wow, that ball jumped up on Harris and he had no place to hide, gloves it behind to Rahane. India have a lucky break

12:06 hrs IST

Khawaja dismissed

It was a very scratchy innings by Usman Khawaja and in the end, he tried to cut and short and wide ball over point and cover. Nicks it behind

12:00 hrs IST

KL Rahul shells a tough chance

Good ball by Shami, getting it to bounce and move away after pitching. Harris slashes, the ball takes the edge and flies to KL Rahul who leaps at second slip but the ball evades him and scoots away to the boundary

11:47 hrs IST

Bumrah is in the mood

The ball is zipping all over the place, but the Australians are just about surviving. Good phase of play for Kohli and company, they have to be patient and stick to their plans

11:33 hrs IST

Reckless from the captain

Khawaja was under pressure, he had played out 10 balls without getting off the mark. However, a forward defense to Kohli saw him get to the other end courtesy a reckless and unwanted throw at the stumps by the skipper

11:18 hrs IST

Bumrah is buzzing now

That was one serious over by the bowler. Coming from around the wicket and angling the ball only to get it seaming away from the bat

11:15 hrs IST

Finally, a wicket

Kohli brings back Bumrah and he strike immediately. That ball was full and straight and Finch played all around that ball. The pad is in the way and the ball clatters into it. First blood for India

11:12 hrs IST

The master speaks

11:11 hrs IST

50 for Finch

Much-needed innings for Aaron Finch. He was scratchy in Adelaide, but has looked far more relaxed here. A priceless knock by the opener. Australia on the charge

11:07 hrs IST

Solid start

100 runs for the first wicket. Tim Paine made a brave call at the toss and his openers have proved him right. They are right on top here. Where are India going to get that first wicket from?

10:51 hrs IST

Marcus on the move

The pitch is looking very flat now, the Indian bowlers even flatter. Harris has been creaming his drives and has now notched up his maiden 50. It looks very ominous for the visitors!

10:47 hrs IST

Oops, that one did not bounce

10:43 hrs IST

Harris on the charge

Sublime batting by the young man. Those balls were not half volleys, but he leans into the drive and then creams it on the up through covers. Delicious

10:35 hrs IST

We are back after the break

Out walk the players. India need to strike early in order to assert themselves in this game. The Aussie openers will take fresh guard. Umesh Yadav will start the proceedings

9:55 hrs IST

That’s lunch

Marcus Harris leaves the ball outside off, tucks the bat and walks back to the pavilion after a job well done.

India have toiled hard and this could be a long day on the field.

Australia: 66/0 at Lunch

9:47 hrs IST

Stat attack

· 1st fifty partnership between Finch and Harris.

· 1st fifty stand for 1st wicket by any team against India in 8 innings.

· 6th fifty stand for opening wicket by Australia in 2018 — 2nd most after India (7) this year.

· 5th fifty stand for opening wicket conceded by India in 2018 — joint 2nd most by any opposition in 2018 along with Pakistan.

o South Africa holds the top spot by conceding 6 fifty stand for 1st wicket in 2018

· 1st fifty stand for 1st wicket by Australia in 5 innings.

· 1st fifty stand for 1st wicket by Australia against India in 6 innings.

9:41 hrs IST

Stunning over by Bumrah

The fast bowler had Aaron Finch reaching out and splashing around that over. He beat him thrice, got him to nick once, but then could not get a wicket

9:28 hrs IST

Correct bowling attack?

9:09 hrs IST

50 partnership up for the first wicket

Excellent start to the Test for the hosts with the openers looking very good after weathering the initial storm. India will have to keep hitting the areas and keep the spirits high

8:54 hrs IST

Drinks

The first hour ticks by and Australia have started really well. The openers have buckled down perfectly and they should not capitalise on the platform

8:49 hrs IST

Good start by Shami

Hitting the line and the perfect length there Shami. India have been inconsistent so far this morning, but Shami has made a promising start

8:38 hrs IST

Openers looking good

There is assistance, but then the Aussie openers have weathered the initial storm and are now looking rather good. The drives are coming and the strike rotation has been perfect

8:30 hrs IST

No luck for Ishant

8:14 hrs IST

Struggling to find control

Ishant wants to pitch the ball up, but he is struggling to find control with the length and is pushing the ball down the leg side. Australia unscathed at the moment

7:59 hrs IST

Finch gets cracking

Bumrah was testing the middle of the pitch and Aaron Finch was perfectly set up to slap a shortish ball away to mid-wicket to get off the mark

7:54 hrs IST

Probing first over

Ishant Sharma is getting the ball right up to the batsman and asking Marcus Harris to come and drive. There is great carry on this pitch.

Here is what Ian Chappell believes about Ishant.

7:48 hrs IST

Anthems have been played

We are all set to get cracking. Kohli is out there, his side is spreading all over the place. The Aussie openers saunter out. A decent crowd is expected

7:31 hrs IST

Teams are out

IND XI: L Rahul, M Vijay, C Pujara, V Kohli, A Rahane, H Vihari, R Pant, I Sharma, M Shami, U Yadav, J Bumrah

AUS XI: A Finch, M Harris, U Khawaja, S Marsh, P Handscomb, T Head, T Paine, M Starc, P Cummins, N Lyon, J Hazlewood

7:24 hrs IST

Australia win the toss and bat first

Tim Paine has won the toss and he has decided to bat first. Virat says he would have batted first as well, but does not mind bowling first on the green track

7:12 hrs IST

Pitch report

Look at the amount of live green grass and that will encourage the fast bowlers. Expect plenty of movement and bounce. I’d rather be a bowler this week: Michael Vaughan with his assessment

7:06 hrs IST

Hmmm, Warne has fired a salvo

7:00 hrs IST

Trivia time

Perth Stadium will become the 10th venue in Australia to host a Men’s Test match

Joining the MCG, SCG, Adelaide Oval, Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Gabba (Brisbane), WACA Ground (Perth), Blundstone Arena (Hobart), TIO Stadium (Darwin) and Cazaly’s Stadium (Cairns)

6:59 hrs IST

Captain Kohli is excited

“We certainly get more excited than nervous looking at lively pitches now because we understand that we do have a bowling attack that can bowl the opposition out as much as they are confident about their attack,” Kohli said on the eve of the match.

More on what he said can be read here.

6:57 hrs IST

All the attention on the pitch

6:54 hrs IST

The Che is out there

6:50 hrs IST

Curator speaks out - We’ve been told to make it fast

“We’ve just been told make it fast, make it bouncy if you can and run with it,” Sipthorpe was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “We’re just trying to produce the bounciest pitch we can.”

More about the story here

6:48 hrs IST

An all-pace attack for India?

6:45 hrs IST

No more WACA

We are at the new ground in Perth and the stadium is a gorgeous sight to behold.

6:44 hrs IST

The big player battles to look forward to

A green top is what can be expected at Perth and there are several big battles to look out for in the second Test match as Virat Kohli and India look to consolidate their lead while the Aussies will aim to hit back hard.

Here is how we see the different contests within the contest.

6:39 hrs IST

Hello and welcome

The caravan has now moved to Perth. The cricket has moved away from the WACA and this new stadium and this new pitch has got everyone excited. India have named their 13-man squad and the visitors could well go with an all-pace attack. Ah, the joys and vagaries of Test cricket