The West Test: Australia look to dig their way out of trouble on day two against India
Australia are at risk of chasing a mammoth fourth-innings total to score an unlikely win in The West Test, unable to crack open India’s opening partnership.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal batted for the entire afternoon session at Perth Stadium on Friday, reaching 0-84 at tea, 130 ahead of the hosts.
And the news could get worse for Australia, with concerns around the fitness of all-rounder Mitch Marsh emerging from his three-over spell.
After battling to defend the hard length delivered time and again by Josh Hazlewood early in his innings, Indian star boy Jaiswal is crafting a special knock.
The 22-year-old drove delightfully through cover when Australia offered him width and pulled out a stunning party trick when he straight-bat flicked a Pat Cummins short ball over the cordon for four.
He has reached 42, with Rahul — the most assured of India’s top order in this Test — on 34.
On a sporting Perth wicket now tipped to crack further by the end of the weekend, there are fears a chase of more than 250 would be a bridge too far.
The West Australian has been told both teams told curators on Friday evening they were comfortable with the state of the pitch.
Marsh appeared to pull up lame from a delivery where he overstepped in his third over and has not yet returned to the crease.
It comes after he entered the Test without bowling a single ball in first-class cricket this summer.
“Mitch looked really sore when he bowled that delivery … as he came down through his follow-on, he just looked like he was on ice a little bit. A little stiff…” batting great Matthew Hayden told Channel 7 and 7plus.
Camera IconMitch Marsh bowled three overs in the middle session on Saturday. Credit: Trevor Collens/AP
Marnus Labuschagne then debuted his own medium-pace soon after, which reached speeds of above 135km/h as part of a short-ball attack with two fielders out on the hook.
Australia were bowled out for 104 on the stroke of lunch on day two after Mitchell Starc faced the most balls of any player in the first innings to briefly put a Jasprit Bumrah masterclass and India’s wicket-fest on hold.
But his wicket, caught by Rishabh Pant trying to pull a ball through a vacant mid-wicket, left Australia 46 runs behind India’s 150 from the opening day.
Starc and Hazlewood batted for an hour-and-a-half to add 25 runs.
The left-armer copped a worrying blow to the helmet and another to the arm on his way to 26, facing 112 deliveries.
They were eight wickets down when they passed 76, their lowest score ever in Perth, and nine down when they cleared 83, the country’s worst-ever total against India.
Bumrah’s show continued into a second day when he removed what appeared to be Australia’s last great hope, Alex Carey, with his very first ball. He finished with 5-30 off 18 after unleashing the best spell ever at the venue on Friday evening.
Camera IconJasprit Bumrah starred with the ball for India. Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Bumrah bowled 108 balls and looked like taking a wicket with almost all of them. Ironically, the ball that claimed Carey for 21 wasn’t one of them.
The wicket-keeper, who resumed on 19, trusted Starc enough to drop a single into cover but not enough to resist unfurling into a booming drive he almost chopped back onto his stumps.
His hands then followed a Bumrah ball he didn’t need to play at and he edged behind to Pant.
Nathan Lyon got to five and was the only Australian to hit the imposing Indian quick off the wicket square when he prodded one for three through gully.
Then he top-edged a Harshit Rana ball that reared up towards his gloves.
Lyon is now tied with England nemesis Stuart Broad for the most runs scored at No.10 in Test history.
Camera IconMitchell Starc played an important hand with the bat. Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Debutant Rana’s Saturday spell was fiery and appears to be another selection the visitors have got spot on. He bowled a vicious ball tracking for Starc’s chest and the pair, who play Indian Premier League together for Kolkatta Knight Riders, were involved in some by-play.
“I bowl faster than you Harshit. I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory,” Starc said after the delivery.
Eyes will now turn to Indian megastar Virat Kohli, who continued a worrying form decline in the first innings when he was dismissed for just five.
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