And your day one match report:
End of day one – Australia 277 for 6 at stumps
Honours relatively even at the end of the day, though tilted towards Australia. India could still come out and run through the last four wickets for not much, which would have them in the frame. But if Australia can push past 300, and up towards 350, that could be a very good score on this wicket.
It’s already doing enough. We’ve seen the occasional ball deviate sharply from cracks. We’ve seen the new ball especially move at times. We’ve seen excellent pace and carry. But for all that, we’ve seen it be more than possible to score, especially for batsmen willing to take on the game. India can try that out tomorrow, and have some batsmen who might enjoy it.
The other factor is that it was an extremely hot day today in Perth, up near 39 degrees. But it’s going to be more like 27 to 29 degrees for the next four days, and there may even be some rain. So Australia will be glad to have made India field through this most difficult of the days, and to bowl and field when it’s cooler.
Peter Handscomb is talking to ABC Grandstand about how to approach irregular bounce when the pitch is playing tricks. “When you get one like that, you just have to back that the ball’s going to bounce normally. And if it doesn’t, go from there.”
As for India’s bowling, which was a bit off this morning but improved through the day: “They bowled 120 overs on that last day on Monday. To come out on a 39 degree day three days later and bowl – I’m not a fast bowler, but I’m sure that hurts.”
That’s enough from us today - Adam Collins will be back with you tomorrow morning, then me at lunch. Later, potaters.
Updated
90th over: Australia 277-6 (Paine 16, Cummins 11) And somehow, India have made up their overs. Applause. It only took the usual extra half hour, plus three extra minutes, plus some racing work from their part-time spinners, to get them through 90 overs in the day. The captain is safe. So is the other captain, as Cummins decides to do the team thing and occupy the striker’s end, which would ensure the day would be done if a wicket fell.
It nearly does once, as Bumrah beats the edge. And it nearly does from the very last ball of the day, fizzing in towards the batsman this time, keeping a bit low. It hits Cummins dead in front. It looks good. The umpire says no. Cummins immediately starts walking off for stumps, leaving Kohli agonising about whether to review. He wants to, he wants to. But the pressure of the moment is too much, and eventually he says no.
Just as well, because Cummins got a toe edge on the ball and would have been not out.
89th over: Australia 277-6 (Paine 16, Cummins 11) Cummins is able to collect runs ins this style: he just presses into the gap at cover and places it well enough to get back for two. Shami bangs the ball in, and not for the first time today it takes off like a moon launch. Down leg side and high, and again we have the sight of Rishabh Pant in his gleaming white uniform, silhouetted against the rich green turf fabric flapping, caught mid-flight like an albatross about to plunge into a strange and distant sea. By which I mean he stopped the ball. Cummins jabs a single off his hip from the replacement delivery.
88th over: Australia 272-6 (Paine 15, Cummins 8) Mitchell Johnson is doing special comments on ABC radio this summer. You can tell he’s still quite shy, but has some interesting things to say. “He looks so good, Pat Cummins, he could bat at five. That technique. If you were to come into the stadium without knowing much about it. He’s facing a bowler at 145 and looks so comfortable.”
Cummins’ main strength is judiciousness, I’d say. A rare quality in the lower order. He waits out some wider and shorter balls, then places the straight ball from Bumrah through midwicket for three runs. Paine loses control on his pull shot, but square leg is very deep on these long, long, AFL-ground length square boundaries. And square leg is looking straight into the setting sun. So he can’t see the ball that probably would have landed well short of him anyway.
87th over: Australia 268-6 (Paine 14, Cummins 5) Cummins gets off strike with a skew that lands near gully. Seven men in an infield ring for Paine, with long leg and deep square out. Umesh chisels away in the off-stump channel. Paine will not be drawn.
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86th over: Australia 267-6 (Paine 14, Cummins 4) Bumrah has been exceptional today, despite only taking one wicket. He’s into his 20th over and beats Cummins with a pearler first ball, jagging away from the batsman. When he gets straighter he concedes a couple of singles, but he skips a bouncer past Cummins, then hits him low on the pad. The umpire says not out, and Bumrah tells his captain it was going down leg side. So even his reviewing is on point.
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85th over: Australia 264-6 (Paine 13, Cummins 3) The shadows are now in the middle of the ground, and there are patches of sun at either end, as the light creeps in under the canopy as well as over it. Cummins gets off the mark by gliding two, then cutting one, and Paine connects cleanly with his pull shot against Umesh Yadav.
84th over: Australia 257-6 (Paine 9, Cummins 0) What’s an adequate exclamation sound for that? Jasprit Bumrah has come on, and bowled a genuine unplayable. Not entirely under his own steam though. It hit a crack, you’d think, on a good length on about off stump. The brand new, cherry-dark Kookaburra jagged towards the off side. Paine was playing across his pad looking to work the ball to midwicket. Instead it sheared away and beat his outside edge. It also beat Pant for four byes. Paine’s eyes widen, and he walks down to conduct a full geological analysis on the pitch. That will be in every batsman’s head for the rest of the match, the idea that the surface can play a trick like that at any time. Coupled with the one that kept incredibly low earlier - was it Harris facing? And then the one that leapt to bring Harris’ dismissal. There’s a wildcard in this deck.
83rd over: Australia 251-6 (Paine 7, Cummins 0) The nightwatchman for Pat Cummins is Pat Cummins. A very competent batsman. He leaves and blocks, as Ishant bowls out a wicket maiden. Ishant now seems to be holding his side, and the physio comes out to drag him off the field and have a look.
Freddie is doing the deep-dive stats analysis for CricViz.
This has been a day defined by missed opportunities. India wasted the first new ball while it was seaming around & allowed Australia to get ahead in the game. India improved after morning drinks but Australia have wasted starts & lost wickets to some loose shots. #AUSvIND
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 14, 2018
WICKET! Head c Shami b Ishant 58, Australia 251-6
There it is. The result that has been threatening to happen his whole innings. Ishant returns for a new spell, with a new ball. The very first delivery, Head goes wildly at the ball again. There was width, and he aimed a huge Big Bash drive that perhaps was supposed to clear cover for six. Instead it took a thick outside edge and flew flat and direct to third man, who caught it easily. Really don’t understand the point of how Head went about his business, having already enjoyed some luck in making a start. He has three fifties in four Tests, but had his best chance to go better than that today.
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82nd over: Australia 251-5 (Head 58, Paine 7) Now the new ball is taken, with Shami entrusted with it. What is Head doing? “He’s made runs, and good on him, but it hasn’t been convincing,” says Dirk Nannes on ABC radio. I’d have to agree. First ball with the new ball, Head wafts outside off stump. Third ball with the new ball, he absolutely thrashes a drive straight at cover. A few deep breaths, Travis... Finally he gets off strike by gliding to third man, a shot which also seems risky against a new ball on this wicket. Paine plays and misses as well.
81st over: Australia 250-5 (Head 57, Paine 7) India opt not to take the new ball. Strange, it’s not like the spinners are dominating. Vihari certainly isn’t with an overpitched ball that lets Paine drive his first boundary, out through cover. Paine then tries to smash a pull shot square, but it’s all toe and lobs down to mid on. Head ticks a single to raise the 250.
80th over: Australia 244-5 (Head 56, Paine 2) Carved away by Head again for four! In the air, over the gap between slip and gully, after Shami gave him width and Head leant back and threw the bat. He can get away with that on this surface, and he’s taking toll.
Give a quick salute in the direction of Guardian desk editor Richard Parkin, who in these festive times is giving that we may grow.
It's the office Christmas party and this schmo's the idiot that has to work. So I'm having a one man disco - starting with only absolute bangers from the year 2000.
— Richard Parkin (@rrjparkin) December 14, 2018
You're welcome.https://t.co/mUJmYXMswI
79th over: Australia 238-5 (Head 50, Paine 1) Also, who would have tipped that Head would reach a milestone and Marsh would not? Head has been jumpy all day, but he’s survived. Slows down after driving a single first ball of Vihari’s over, and Paine soaks up the rest.
Updated
Half century! Head 50 from 70 balls
78th over: Australia 237-5 (Head 50, Paine 1) Shami is back. Head gets off strike by dropping into a gap in the covers, and Paine gets off the mark the same way. Head flicks a couple, then some sharp running by Paine from the far end gives Head his 50th run after Head just dropped a ball a few metres from his feet with a defensive stroke.
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77th over: Australia 232-5 (Head 46) Marsh out from the last ball of that over. Since when does Shaun Marsh make 60 and 45? Neither a hundred nor a duck. I don’t know what to make of it. The captain Paine will be in next, looking boyish and cheery on the stadium’s big screens. “The toughest pretty boy I’ve ever met,” was how his coach Justin Langer described him the other day.
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WICKET! Marsh c Rahane b Vihari 45, Australia 232-5
Who saw that coming? Marsh has been playing so well today. Vihari comes around the wicket and lobs in a ball outside off. It’s not that short, but Marsh wants to cut with the width. He drops his knees to get low enough given the length, but perhaps doesn’t anticipate the bounce in this pitch. Because despite the ball being low, the bat manages to get beneath it, and send a top edge skipping up to first slip. A simple take for Rahane.
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76th over: Australia 227-4 (Marsh 44, Head 43) Marsh takes back the lead! Murali Vijay is on to bowl, two part-time spinners trying to make up the run rate. Marsh takes full advantage, pulling a four then driving one almost through Head at the non-striker’s end. In the meantime, Head tries to go downtown and nearly chips straight to mid-on. Just fell short. Ten from the over.
75th over: Australia 217-4 (Marsh 35, Head 41) Travis Head with that wristy flash of his. Went forward, saw Vihari’s length, sways back instead and flashes away through backward point for four. Then tries it again next ball and misses, as Vihari pushes it through faster and Head doesn’t adapt.
74th over: Australia 213-4 (Marsh 35, Head 37) When Marsh is leaving the ball well, that’s when he looks convincing. He’s happy to let most of this Ishant over go.
73rd over: Australia 213-4 (Marsh 35, Head 37) This batting pair is now working Vihari pretty well. Three singles ticked about the place. The big shadow from the Perth Stadium roof is nearly halfway across the ground and approaching the pitch, looking like a giant set of piranha jaws is about to enclose Umpire Dharmasena.
72nd over: Australia 210-4 (Marsh 33, Head 36) Ufff, that’s ugly from Marsh. His earlier assurance has vanished, as he throws the bat at Ishant and gets a big edge back past his leg stump. The same way he got out in the first innings at Adelaide, though the shot this time wasn’t as hideous. Head flashes away a drive past gully for a couple as backward point comes round. That’s drinks, so we pause with 43 minutes to the scheduled stumps break and 73 minutes to what will be stumps with the extra half hour. Can India make up 18 overs in that time? Wouldn’t think so.
71st over: Australia 207-4 (Marsh 32, Head 34) Travis Head skips down and slots Vihari through midwicket for four. Clunked it but looked a bit risky. He’s gone past Marsh’s score, having faced 50 balls to 77.
70th over: Australia 201-4 (Marsh 31, Head 29) Shami sends down a maiden to Marsh.
Re the over rate @GeoffLemonSport, India will be able to take the new ball at 80 overs, but probably have only four or five to deliver today, meaning fresh bowlers have the hard rock tomorrow morning. That seems unfair in a series in which margins are likely to be tight.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 14, 2018
69th over: Australia 201-4 (Marsh 31, Head 29) The 200 comes up from another Vihari over. Not even 70 overs gone and we’ve got less than an hour until the scheduled close. That is impressively slow.
68th over: Australia 198-4 (Marsh 30, Head 27) Another edged boundary from Head. The runs are ticking over, and a 50 partnership has just come up, but you can’t say that it’s looked convincing.
Keep yourselves nice. Everything’s expensive to import to Perth, even cops.
$560 in Adelaide last week, SIX GRAND in Perth. Weimar Republic hyperinflation in this city. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Lxquldk390
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
67th over: Australia 192-4 (Marsh 29, Head 22) A slip and a gully, quite a few strides back from the batsman. Vihari bowls outside off and Marsh is dropped! No takes are that easy for a keeper up to the stumps, but that was as easy as they can get. Marsh tried to cut, it was a top edge from a flashing shot, but the ball went straight into Pant’s gloves. Perhaps he was up a bit too early, or leaning back, because it went in, hit his hands, and bounced back out. Pant couldn’t recover to lunge forward for the rebound because his weight was going backwards and he was falling away. Marsh celebrates by ending the over with a straight-driven boundary.
66th over: Australia 186-4 (Marsh 24, Head 21) Shami is on, Kohli able to use his quicks in short bursts with the spinner bowling. They could still rue not picking Jadeja instead. Shami pounds in, bearded and barrel-chested, looking like he should be carrying an axe in one hand. Head can’t control his only shot, squirting away a couple of runs to leg. Shami can’t control his bouncer, called a wide.
The final crowd figures have just come through, a tick under 20,000. Not bad for a lot of countries, but it looks slender for a ground that can seat three times that number. It’s a Friday, so there should be more on the weekend.
65th over: Australia 183-4 (Marsh 24, Head 19) Hanuma has to Vihari up, because the run rate is dire. He races through an over for a single to try and catch things up. Needs about 20 more of those. Overs, not singles. The singles probably won’t bother him much either.
64th over: Australia 182-4 (Marsh 24, Head 18) Bumrah is still getting some real trampoline from this pitch. It’s swinging between the batsman and the keeper, and testing out Pant as he leaps towards first slip. India still have three slips in. First, second, and fourth, I’d probably call it. First slip is a pace wider than he might be. Marsh only plays once, and leaves the rest of the over. A model of discipline.
63rd over: Australia 182-4 (Marsh 24, Head 18) The best thing about Vihari bowling is that it gets Rishanbh Pant up to the stumps. Then you can hear his loud and cheerful chatter through the stump mics, and with Harsha Bhogle on air he can translate the instructions to the bowler. Nothing ground-breaking, but it’s good atmos. Marsh and Head don’t mind Vihari, because he gives them each a short ball to cut for a single to the point sweeper.
62nd over: Australia 180-4 (Marsh 23, Head 17) Head is trying to settle, walking across a touch to Bumrah and working a couple of scoring shots into the leg side.
61st over: Australia 177-4 (Marsh 23, Head 14) Hanuma Vihari. Ain’t no passing craze. He means no worries for the rest of your days.
No worries unless you’re an Australian batsman, as the off-spinner is the one who got a ball to go vertical against Harris earlier. He draws an edge from Marsh this time, but it goes past slip and way for four.
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60th over: Australia 171-4 (Marsh 18, Head 13) Jasprit Bumrah is back, bowling with what Harsha Bhogle on the ABC calls “his Tin Man action”. Like his colleagues, he’s mixing up a probing fuller length with a testing shorter one. Marsh handles that competently enough, dropping a single away to leg, but Head is all at sea. One gets through, hits him, via the glove, and could have gone anywhere. Then another wild shot comes outside the off stump, just outside as the ball was leaving him. But it was short enough that he didn’t need to play. Head is not long for this innings if this continues.
59th over: Australia 170-4 (Marsh 17, Head 13) Head, on the other hand, is currently batting like he’s been stitched together out of graverobber parts at an early anatomy school. Has another slap outside off, more of a drive this time but it was built out of parts of a few different shots. Misses again. Then chops another ball through the cordon for a couple. Hopping and jumping. Makes it through the Ishant over, trading singles with Marsh from the last two balls.
58th over: Australia 166-4 (Marsh 16, Head 10) I don’t want to sound clichéd, but this is excellent cricket. Umesh Yadav zings a ball past Marsh’s outside edge. Then pinpoints a bouncer that Marsh ducks. Then beats the edeg again with a beauty that moves away from the left-hander. Then bowls short again but is cracked away by Marsh’s hook shot for four, all along the ground. Facetiousness aside, I’ll bet Marsh does make a hundred here. He looks an absolute lock.
57th over: Australia 162-4 (Marsh 12, Head 10) Ishant bowls full and Head tucks him for four, so the bowlers goes back to the shorter ball. Head plays exactly the shot Handscomb played, except in a mirror because he’s a left-hander. Except Head is lucky enough to miss the ball, which zips over the top edge of his back-foot glide.
My descriptions aren’t really adequate, you deserve to see this.
What a catch!
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2018
Kohli takes a BLINDER to remove Handscomb #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zoP4ujN0Hv
56th over: Australia 158-4 (Marsh 12, Head 6) Yadav continues the short attack to Head, but he’s able to jump and stab a single. Marsh leans back with dismissive casualness and creams a cut shot for four. Full power, full face, and that’s the kind of shot that makes the Marsh devotees keep believing. He’s on to 12 now, so he’s a dead cert for a hundred.
55th over: Australia 154-4 (Marsh 8, Head 5) And Ishant nearly doubles up, nearly makes it two in two. His first ball to Head is a snorter, a proper bouncer, like the one that dismissed Head in Adelaide. That previous time he gloved it to gully. This time he gloves it over gully for a very lucky boundary. The batsman edges a single next ball, and gets down the other end.
WICKET! Handscomb c Kohli b Ishant 7, Australia 148-4
THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE CLASSIC! What a catch from Virat Kohli. Ishant bowls the way he does, fast and back of a length, getting good lift. Handscomb looks to glide the ball away with an angled bat. But it’s too close to his body and gets too big. Takes the top edge of the diagonal and soars away. It should clear the cordon for four, but Kohli anticipates it. Stretches, leaps, is fully off the ground by the time the ball reaches his orbit. Reaches out his right hand, high above and to the side of his body, and grips the catch. A beauty, and the whole press box yelps with the catch and sighs in admiration with the replay.
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54th over: Australia 148-3 (Handscomb 7, Marsh 8) Three from the over, as Handscomb snares a brace and a one, then Marsh is whacked on the leg by Umesh Yadav. “It’s actually not that bad to get a stinger on the thigh straight after a tea break. It wakes you up,” says Ricky Ponting. Jesus, imagine what the morning must be like when you stay over at Ricky’s house for the first time.
I sound like a lunch buffet. I’ll do my best to stay fresh and hot and free from unfriendly bacteria.
“Vihari is the new Ernie McCracken,” says a mysterious email from John Phaceas. “Welcome to the chair Geoff. No words required.”
If you’re as confused as I was, here you go.
TEA: Australia 145-3
Australia had the first hour, India had the second. Harris and Finch were starting to look imperious straight after lunch, after a flurry of boundaries and comfortable strike rotation saw both reach their respective half-centuries. But a wonderful spell from Jasprit Bumrah brought the visitors back into the contest. First, he dismissed Finch after beating him for pace to have him LBW, before strangling Usman Khawaja so fiercely that Yadav was able to pick him up an over later. Vihari then got one to rear from a crack, which got rid of Harris, meaning India took 3-33 in the hour. Thanks for staying with me during that absorbing session, and now hang around the sumptuous stylings of Geoffrey Lemon.
53rd over: Australia 145-3 (Handscomb 4, Marsh 8) After about half an hour off, Bumrah returns. To be expected, he’s bang on the money. What a quality bowler he is. It’s a maiden, and it takes us to tea.
52nd over: Australia 145-3 (Handscomb 4, Marsh 8) Yadav overpitches to Marsh again, who helps himself to two through square early in the over. It brings Handscomb on strike, who finds three slips behind him and a deep backward point, of all positions. The double bluff is on, as Yadav finishes with a full ball zeroing in on the stumps that only just misses. Yadav wheels away in anguish, hands clasped on head.
Umesh Yadav has had the wood over Shaun Marsh previously...#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ExZbmO9IjO
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2018
51st over: Australia 142-3 (Handscomb 4, Marsh 5) A maiden from Vihari - Handscomb looked tentative there. He was beaten with the first and was tied down for the rest. After an inauspicious starts, he’s grown into his spell.
50th over: Australia 142-3 (Handscomb 4, Marsh 5) Looser from Yadav, who concedes three to a Handscomb pull, then four all-run from a Marsh square drive. Long boundaries out here. He can afford to attack though, as another wicket would put this Test firmly in the vistors’ favour. As I type that, he beats Marsh and strikes the pad, resulting in a huge appeal. It’s given not out, and Kohli decides against reviewing, indicating he thought it was going over.
Australia needs at least 322 on this pitch. Big partnership here.#AUSvIND
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) December 14, 2018
49th over: Australia 135-3 (Handscomb 1, Marsh 1) India shading it now, and very interesting to see some quirky pitch behaviour so early in the Test. Vihari’s wicket brings Handscomb to the crease - the Australian will be ever-eager to make a strong contribution today. A good innings from Harris, too, who’ll take confidence from that. Vihari: who’d have thought?
Photograph: Gary Day/Frozen in Motion/REX/Shutterstock
WICKET! Harris caught Rahane b Vihari 70 (Australia 134-3)
Vihari gets him! A Kohli bowling change does it again! A flat Vihari delivery has surely hit a crack there and reared up at Harris who was shaping to cut. It takes his glove and pops up to first slip, where Rahane takes it easily. Vihari celebrates widly, as he should. Turning into a great hour for India.
48th over: Australia 132-2 (Harris 69, Marsh 0) Yadav is bending his back here, he’s cranked it up after a fairly innocuous first spell. Marsh manages to tuck one to fine leg for one, and then Yadav slams a bouncer into the deck that Harris is able to pull for one. Stats suggest Yadav has dismissed Marsh eight times. He’ll fancy himself to do it again, I feel.
47th over: Australia 132-2 (Harris 69, Marsh 0) Tight here from Shami, who concedes a single and a leg bye while both Marsh and Harris largely defend. Can India strike again before tea?
Usman Khawaja has hit one boundary in 200 balls faced this series. #AUSvIND @FoxCricket
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) December 14, 2018
46th over: Australia 130-2 (Harris 69, Marsh 0) Yadav gets the reward for Bumrah’s work, I’d say. There may have been a little more pace than normal, but it was otherwise a fairly rank delivery. Was it too close to cut, perhaps? Either way, it leaves Australia a little precarious. Shaun Marsh is warmly welcomed by his home town, but as ever, the question is: can he get to ten?
WICKET! Khawaja caught behind b Yadav 5 (Australia 130-2)
Khawaja flashes at a short and wide one from Yadav, nicks it and he’s caught behind! He’d been tied down and no doubt his eyes would have lit up at the chance to score. It was a clunky innings from the number three. Whatever India’s plans are, they’re working. India getting on top.
45th over: Australia 127-1 (Harris 65, Khawaja 5) Eventful. First, Harris attempts to drive ambitiously but misses. It was a loose shot, but it didn’t stop him chasing another one - this time it’s a little shorter and wider, and Harris gains a healthy edge after trying to cut, and KL Rahul can’t hang on after his outstretched hands tried to grab it at second slip. I’d call it a half chance, it would have been an excellent take. Harris gets four for it, which releases a little bit of pressure for Australia.
44th over: Australia 122-1 (Harris 60, Khawaja 5) Harris gets an early single, which sets up another battle between Khawaja and Bumrah. The Australian number three has been so far constrained by the paceman, and there’s a real sense this exchange could make or break Australia’s day. Bumrah can’t have many overs left in this spell, and Australia will relish seeing him off as the heat rises and the day deepens. That’s when it’s time to cash in. Khawaja sees him off. It really is excellent bowling; I wonder if he can keep going. It’s been a long spell.
It is getting no easier for Khawaja. This is a fantastic spell of fast bowling by Bumrah. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XXhqHs6feK
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
43rd over: Australia 121-1 (Harris 59, Khawaja 5) Shami’s back into the attack, and it gives Khawaja some reprieve. After a sustained period of really disciplined bowling, Shami errs and goes too straight, allowing Khawaja the chance to tuck one off his pads for three. Harris then softens the hands on one and sets off for a quick single which Khawaja responds well to. That’s the way you release pressure. Shami then manages to elicit a thick outside edge from Khawaja, but it bounces twice before reaching second slip. The follow up strikes him in the midriff, but Khawaja escapes otherwise unscathed.
Photograph: Dave Hunt/EPA
42nd over: Australia 117-1 (Harris 58, Khawaja 2) Bumrah nearly beats Harris on the inside edge as Harris strides forward, but the Australian manages to get enough on it to gain a single down to fine leg. It brings Khawaja on strike, who’s greeted with a quick bouncer that easily beats Khawaja’s half-hearted hook for pace. Pant just manages to snaffle it in one hand. He leaves well on the next ball, in what’s proving a really testing period for the number three. He then manages to get one to the vacant square leg. They think about two and Harris sets off before changing his mind, correctly so. Bumrah moves one away from Harris to finish; he’d have to be getting tired now, wouldn’t he?
Marcus Harris' discipline has been excellent today. Against the 57 good length deliveries he's faced today, he's only scored five runs, happy to let the good balls go by. All of his other runs have come when the bowler has bowled too full, or too short. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
41st over: Australia 115-1 (Harris 57, Khawaja 1) Sharma seems to be bowling at about 85% pace, but his line and length remain spot on. Harris manages a single off his hip (an important shot for him this innings), before Sharma gets four balls at Khawaja. The number three is 1 from 19 balls at the time of typing, and hasn’t been offered anything from which to score from. Another ball nearly gets him on the fingers toward the end of the over. It will be interesting to see how he gets himself moving in this innings.
40th over: Australia 114-1 (Harris 56, Khawaja 1) Bumrah’s the danger here. He gets another very good look at Khawaja, who is rapped on the finger at one point with one that jumps at him. When he’s not rushing Khawaja with short ones, he’s moving the ball away from him. He just offers nothing, Bumrah. Very few overpitched deliveries, and no width. Get the sense that he will carry a fair amount of responsibility for wickets here. Another maiden.
39th over: Australia 114-1 (Harris 56, Khawaja 1) The runs have really dried up here for Australia, as India continue the strangle. The pressure tells, as Harris plays a shot that could generously be described as a ‘waft’. Sharma lets him know too, and Harris replies by walking directly at him in a bid to pat the part of the wicket Sharma’s standing on. More leaves follow before Harris finally gets a single off the hip to rotate the strike. Next up, Khawaja drives a full ball which is stopped by Kohli in the ring, before the Indian captain shies at the stumps and concedes an overthrow. Bit of a pressure killer, that. Harris leaves the next, and that’s drinks. Despite a wicket, that was Australia’s hour, I’d say. 48 runs is pretty good going, and if they can do that again, they’ll be well placed in this Test.
Photograph: Gary Day/Frozen in Motion/REX/Shutterstock
38th over: Australia 112-1 (Harris 55, Khawaja 0) Bumrah gets another elongated look at Khawaja, who bats facing two slips, a gully, and an otherwise ring field. The Indian expressman challenges the Australian on off stump for six deliveries, and Khawaja defends with respect. Square leg then drops back for the last delivery in classic double-bluff fashion. It’s full, Khawaja leaves, and Bumrah finishes with a maiden.
It wasn't Umesh but trapped lbw by the full in-swinger is how Finch fell. Four of Finch's five dismissals against pace in Test cricket have been bowled or lbw & four of them have been in-swingers. #AUSvIND https://t.co/32mlXIPOn1
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 14, 2018
37th over: Australia 112-1 (Harris 55, Khawaja 0) Vihari is pulled from the attack straight away, and it’s Ishant from that end now. He’s pretty tight to begin with, and Harris is happy to defend. He’s bowling with a deep point and deep square, so there are singles on offer. Harris doesn’t utilise them though, as Sharma is unerring in that fourth stump line. Dirk Nannes points out that it looks fairly slow, and the 128km/hr reading backs that up. Regardless, he starts with a maiden. Feel the Sharma/Bumrah axis will be decidedly more difficult for Australia to deal with than what Kohli was offering earlier.
Finch leg before for an even 50 and Bumrah loves it. Australia 112-1. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uQ9yYEdlaK
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
36th over: Australia 112-1 (Harris 55, Khawaja 0) Bumrah shows his class again. After dismissing Finch, he follows up with an absolute beauty to Khawaja, who is beaten all ends up. He then finishes the over with another ripping delivery, around the wicket, that roars past Khawaja’s edge and Pant takes it above his head.
WICKET! Finch LBW Bumrah 50 (Australia 112-1)
Bumrah makes immediate impact! After a forlorn shout from the first ball, the second hits him below the knee roll, and strikes the pad. It was almost a half volley. It’s given straight away, and Finch doesn’t bother reviewing. He’s filthy with himself, swiping his bat angrily as he turns and departs. A promising innings from the Victorian, but he’ll feel he missed out, I’m sure.
35th over: Australia 112-0 (Harris 55, Finch 50) Here comes the part time spinner, Vihari, and Finch takes him on straight away. It looks gentle, and Finch drives him between cover and mid-off for four. The next one goes too, another boundary, this time through cover. Finch then gets a single on the off side and brings up his fifty. A great comeback from the Victorian who looked all at sea last Test. This author thought he’d be removed from the squad at first opportunity. Not now. Nine from the over for Australia. Worrying signs for India.
50 for Aaron Finch after a week of scrutiny. Started well, struggled in second hour but looks better after lunch. Huge opportunity beckons for maiden Test ton #AUSvIND
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 14, 2018
34th over: Australia 103-0 (Harris 55, Finch 41) The hundred partnership comes up for Finch and Harris, after Harris drops the ball at his feet to scamper through for one. This is good batting from Australia, who were consistently unable to rotate the strike in Adelaide. They’ve forced field changes, earned gaps in the field, and are now profiting from it. Finch then punches off the back foot for three - a very long boundary out there. ABC commentators are talking about how little swing there is - India are certainly struggling to ask too many questions here. It’s starting to look a little ominous from their perspective.
32nd over: Australia 99-0 (Harris 54, Finch 38) Yadav is looking laboured here, before unleashing an unbelievably short bouncer that takes off and clears Pant comfortably, cannoning into the fence. He directs a better short one at Harris a few balls later, the Australian swaying effectively out of its way. Harris then turns the strike over from the last ball. Wonder if that’s Yadav’s last of this spell.
31st over: Australia 93-0 (Harris 53, Finch 38) Shami squares Harris up twice in this over, beating the bat both times. When he gets that line right, he looks very likely. But as has been the tale so far this session, he lets Harris off, and Harris picks up one down to fine leg. Finch tries to drive late in the over, but miscues to mid on.
30th over: Australia 91-0 (Harris 52, Finch 37)
A single each to Finch and Harris, both of whom have earned some boundary riders, and thus the chance to rotate the strike. Harris then square drives extravagantly, but only to the man on the boundary. Yadav is pained by it, as it probably wasn’t quite there. Finch then tucks off his pads for one. The runs are flowing fairly easily for Australia here, the bowling a little ‘both sides’, as they say.
29th over: Australia 87-0 (Harris 50, Finch 35)
Shami continues and rips a beautiful away-swinger past Harris to start things off. Harris hung his bat out there and was beaten comfortably. He’s just starting to tighten his grip on the West Australian-cum-Victorian, and Harris could use a run to get off strike. He does better than that though, hitting another square drive to the boundary. It wasn’t that full, but Harris is confident there. That shot takes him to 49, before a dabbed single to the vacant midwicket brings up his maiden Test fifty. He gets warm applause for it, too, and it’s well deserved. To continue the momentum, Finch then punches Shami through the off side for another boundary. It was a poor end to the over from the paceman, who’s otherwise been metronomic in his lines.
28th over: Australia 78-0 (Harris 45, Finch 31)
It’s Yadav again, and Finch looks super solid in his front foot defence. As good as he’s looked in the series, to be fair. Yadav would be struggling to hit 130km/hr here, I’d venture. Yadav shortens his length and Finch tries to biff him off the back foot through the offside, but misses. Yadav throws his hands to his head - was a bit tight for Finch to attempt that. He survives.
27th over: Australia 78-0 (Harris 45, Finch 31)
More runs for Australia, as Harris steers a square drive for four from Shami’s second delivery. The next keeps very low, though, and sneaks under Harris’ bat, and can only have been whiskers from taking the off peg. It must have hit a crack. It nearly rolled! Harris then assuredly drives Shami square for another boundary, before leaving the next. He moves to 45 in an eventful over.
Shami’s ball a good enough excuse for this:
26th over: Australia 70-0 (Harris 37, Finch 31)
It’s Yadav to begin, and India have a couple of slips and an otherwise ring field. After leaving the first, Finch then leans on a cover drive that pierces cover and point, and grabs three for it. He tightens his line to Harris, who meets a similar field to Finch. Meanwhile, Ed Cowan describes Yadav as bowling ‘medium pace swingers’, and his analysis seems right - for this over anyway. Harris then tucks Yadav off his hip for an easy one down to fine leg. A lackadaisical start from India here. It’ll be Shami from the other end.
We’re a couple of minutes away
The kiddies are forming a guard of honour for both sets of players, the Fox Sports aerial cam is zooming around wildly, and blokes (term used advisedly) to my right in corporate boxes are knocking back beers with abandon.
I have to say, it’s my first time at the new stadium, and it’s impressive. But like so many of these places, you wonder how often it will actually fill. Without a strong crowd, it’s pretty cavernous. Hope the Perthites(?) can make it out here.
The coach keeping an eye on the next generation of cricket stars taking part in the @woolworths Cricket Blast 👏🏽#AUSvIND #ItsYourGame pic.twitter.com/MpeMoQwyhF
— Jeremy Arnold (@jeremyarnold_) December 14, 2018
India’s selection
Possibly too early to draw inferences, but wonder if India may have missed a trick by leaving a spinner out. As I type this, Hanuma Vihari is out on the field rolling his arm over - given the heat, he may have to get through at least ten to fifteen overs today.
It was interesting to see Sharma down on pace too, no doubt a compound effect from bowling in the fourth innings in Adelaide, a quick turnaround, and going again here in temperatures hovering around the mid 30s and rising.
Am I going too early on selection criticism?
India go with four seamers. pic.twitter.com/059o6Rc7dx
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) December 14, 2018
Hello all...
...and cheers for joining me as we head into the second session at a baking Optus Stadium (think it’s hitting 39 degrees here).
An impressive start for the hosts, who couldn’t have asked for a better set of conditions this morning. After consternation about their ability to handle India’s stellar bowling quartet, they’ve arrived today to a quick wicket and a depleted opposition attack.
Both Harris and Finch have prospered, though India did claw their way back in that last hour, with only 19 runs coming from drinks to the break. Curious of India to omit a frontline spinner, it must be said, given both batsmen’s clear susceptibility to the discipline in Adelaide.
With that in mind, I’m looking forward to rumbling through the post-Lunch period with you all. Would love to hear your thoughts on everything and anything. Can Australia bat themselves into an impregnable position here? Will India resume their strangle on Australian runs? There’s a huge opportunity for the hosts to set themselves up for the match, and the series. Hit me on Twitter at @sjjperry, or via email on sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk.
Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
LUNCH: Australia 66-0
26th over: Australia 66-0 (Harris 36, Finch 28) Shami around the wicket to Harris, who races through for a tip-and-run single to cover to begin, Finch then back off strike himself with a leg bye. The left handed opener is able to leave the rest, tucking his bat under the arm and jogging down to Finch after the final ball so that they walk off together.
A fine session from the hosts. They may have only added 19 runs in the second hour but they way they repelled the new ball early gave them the chance to slow things right down before lunch without much risk. Harris is going beautifully, scoring down the ground and through midwicket with ease. Finch had his moments but he will be overjoyed at having the chance to bat through the hottest part of the day. That’s all ahead of us.
For the middle session, I’m handing over to Sam Perry who has just joined us in the press box. Keep him company as you have me. I’ll catch you tomorrow morning with Harris resuming on about 132. Bye!
Updated
25th over: Australia 64-0 (Harris 35, Finch 28) Bumrah to continue his stoush with Finch. It’s another accurate set, the big quick refusing to let the opener off the hook. Maiden. They are going to race through to get one more over in before the lunch break.
24th over: Australia 64-0 (Harris 35, Finch 28) Harris pushes Ishant to cover then Finch drives him for one, both singles controlled along the ground. A yorker jams up the southpaw but he is able to let the final ball go, as is his preference with five minutes till lunch.
“I am writing from Canada,” emails Raja Ajay. “It is nice and cold and near midnight. India sure got their selection wrong again just like they did in England. It’s better to have Jadeja and Umesh in the team rather than an extra inexperience batsman who is going to get 5&7 in the match. Jadeja could bowl a lot of overs and would surely score more runs than the extra batsman.”
That’s the bit I don’t quite get. Vihari is a good option, of course. But Jadeja is a proven campaigner against Australia with the bat as well as the ball - it was certainly the case in this series last year. And when he finally got his chance at The Oval against England, he slayed a lovely 80-odd.
23rd over: Australia 62-0 (Harris 34, Finch 27) Three maidens on the trot, of course, helps build the pressure so India still feel close. Finch, facing Bumrah, wafts at the first ball of a new over, lucky not to nick behind. The outside edge of the blade is clipped later in the set, juuust evading the diving KL Rahul at second slip. As Mark Waugh notes on the telly, he played with soft enough hands that it may not have carried to a third cordon catcher. In any case, some rare runs for Finch - four of them - making seven for him in the last hour or so. Sure enough, Bumrah bites back with a quicker offering that beats the Victorian for the second time outside the off-stump. An excellent over of accurate fast bowling.
Super over from Bumrah to Finch. India have been much better since drinks, but that first hour, when ball was new and batsmen not set, has already cost them #AusvInd
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 14, 2018
22nd over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) You know what? This is a touch boring. When was the last time you could say that about an Australian opening stand? It’s a beautiful feeling home fans who have longed for a quiet session as far as the top order is concerned. Harris is right in his happy place, leaving Ishant well alone with lunch nearing.
21st over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Back to back maidens, Bumrah not able to tempt Finch, who is leaving with purpose in this second hour. Might be time for some pre-lunch spin. Oh, right.
India are straining to make something happen. At Adelaide, 20% of their new ball deliveries were full-pitched. Today, it's been 40%. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
20th over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Ishant is back too, from the southern end. So, the openers have switched approach. The difference since the last time that he bowled is that Harris is now well set, happily jumping onto the front foot to defend with his off-drive. On the telly, they confirm that it is 36 degrees with 16 per cent humidity in the middle.
Good point from CricViz: the Indian seamers are getting the ball moving more than enough, they just haven’t found a way through.
In Adelaide, the average seam movement with the new ball was 0.55°. So far at the Optus Stadium, the ball has moved 0.79° off the surface. India can't blame the pitch - there's plenty of assistance. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
19th over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Bumrah back for another go, from the northern end this time around. Finch turns the strike over early in the set behind square, Harris taking a single from the final ball in the same direction off his thigh pad. India have to keep their cool here in the lead up to lunch.
The worst thing about India playing all quicks is that it means Rishabh Pant won't be keeping up to the stumps mic. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 14, 2018
18th over: Australia 56-0 (Harris 33, Finch 22) Singles from Harris then Finch to begin, the former tickling to fine leg the latter doing likewise from the inside portion of the bat. Harris has the good sense to leave when the moving ball when he can, defending solidly to finish. As Chris Rogers says, what Harris has learned since leaving WA and moving to Victoria is how to time an innings by constantly ticking the board over with singles. He’s building very nicely here.
17th over: Australia 54-0 (Harris 32, Finch 21) Finch creams a dead-straight drive to begin but Umesh gets his foot down just in time; good cricket from both. He tries to beat cover with another stroke off the front foot a couple of balls later but picks out the fielder. Unlucky. A patient finish from the opener, who defends then leaves. Whisper it: I think he’s just about set.
Trent Copeland is doing a fantastic job on the Seven coverage with these Anderson Cooper-esque segments.
.@copes9 looks at the difference between India's quicks in Adelaide, and so far here in Perth #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WCaY6dbvbF
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2018
16th over: Australia 54-0 (Harris 32, Finch 21) Shami to Finch, who has been stuck on 20 for about half an hour. The Indian quick is striving to hit that front pad, bowling inducker after inducker. Shami is such a talented bowler thant the outswinger will come soon enough - all part of the plan, I’m sure. Oh, here it is, but Finch is up to it, defending solidly to cover. To finish the over, he turns one to midwicket to get his tally moving again, the first run taken from Shami’s three overs.
We had a lot of discussion following the tweet below. So I ended up exploring the idea at greater length. https://t.co/w9mWsr2YjM https://t.co/PbBz8o6Sxh
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 14, 2018
15th over: Australia 53-0 (Harris 32, Finch 20) Another productive over for Harris, clipping two more to that midwicket region to start the over and pass 26 (hoorah!) before smaaaaashing Umesh past point to record his sixth boundary of the morning. He loves that shot. There was a brief bit of concern in the middle of the over when India were interested in a catch behind, but it came off the flap of his pad the replay confirmed.
Only seven balls from India would have hit the stumps in the first 14 overs #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SV4n33gpu6
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2018
14th over: Australia 47-0 (Harris 26, Finch 20) Not lost upon anyone on social media or the TV call that Harris is 26, the score he was dismissed on in both digs at Adelaide. It’s Shami to Finch this time though, the match-up that so nearly won India their first wicket during his first over. Really welly handled by the Victorian this time around, defending the first half of the over before leaving the rest. I keep saying it, but what a massive day for him.
“Loving your work right now,” Kellie Brandenburg kindly tweets. “Interminable day at the hospital now enlivened by the #AusvsIndia cricket. Just hope the phone battery holds out for the next few hours.”
This is what we’re here for, Kellie. Stick with us! All I want for Christmas is several phone charger cables and a couple of big, portable USB batteries.
13th over: Australia 47-0 (Harris 26, Finch 20) Umesh sends down the final over of the first hour. Harris starts it well with a straight blade in defence before the bowler finds a bit of movement to beat the edge. Good nut. Harris keeps his cool, clipping the final delivery through midwicket along the carpet to take Australia to drinks without losing a wicket.
India lose a review!
12th over: Australia 45-0 (Harris 24, Finch 20) Masssssive shout from India, Shami’s first ball coming back off the seam at Finch and crashing into his pad. They go upstairs to review the not out decision but they have been hurt by the bounce, the ball shown to be going just over the leg stump. Next ball it is a carbon copy, Shami even more insistent but this time unable to convince Kohli to review again. It wouldn’t have mattered as not enough of the ball was hitting the stumps. Phew. Finch fights through, getting his bat down on the final four induckers, all defended off the stumps. Wonderful bowling, compelling Test Match cricket.
11th over: Australia 45-0 (Harris 24, Finch 20) Magnificent batting from Harris, driving Umesh down the ground for a delightful boundary to start the new over. “You might have found one here,” says Michael Vaughan on the Fox call. The over finishes with four more for him through the gap in the cordon, steered with control. Fine work.
10th over: Australia 37-0 (Harris 16, Finch 20) Bumrah gets another over and it doesn’t go to plan, Finch timing three through midwicket then Harris driving a half-volley for three more out towards the cover rope. Shami a lock to get a chance from the southern end next up.
“I’m at the staff Christmas party sneaking in as many looks at the cricket as I can,” says Dan Guidone. “I don’t think Australia could’ve asked for much more. Really proud of these two.”
Ooooh, of course, this is Christmas do Friday isn’t it! Don’t be shy about sending me loose emails as the afternoon moves along. I don’t miss much about having a real job but Christmas parties I do.
9th over: Australia 31-0 (Harris 13, Finch 17) Aaron Finch will breathe a sigh with Ishant’s opening spell dealt with, Umesh Yadav on to replace him, the experienced seamer brought in to replace Ashwin. The opener does the job with the bat but is nearly run out by Kohli! He wanted Harris to come through for a single but was sent back, the throw not far from ending his morning in terrible fashion. Phew. Responding to that missed opportunity, Kohli took a ping at the non-strikers’ end from the next ball, allowing the pair to turn for a couple of overthrows.
8th over: Australia 28-0 (Harris 13, Finch 14) Finch more convincing here, defending Bumrah well before taking a single to cover. Harris saw off the rest of the over without concern. “India have got their team wrong,” says Michael Vaughan on telly, getting in nice and early. He wanted to see Jadeja in the side. “But also their batting. They have Umesh Yadav coming in at number eight.”
THIS IS THE PROBLEM! That probably wasn't a noey. But what if a wicket fell? There would have been no recourse for Ishant. I'm glad the shocking decision the ICC made to scrap the move to technology has been scrutinised this week. Keep the pressure on. #AUSvIND https://t.co/KxJ3wRYv4B
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
7th over: Australia 27-0 (Harris 13, Finch 13) Harris really going now! It took him 14 balls to get off the mark but he’s creamed Ishant for three attractive boundaries in this over. The first was a well-timed clip, then came a lurrrrrvely on-drive and finally an equally correct off-drive. Between times, Ishant was called for a no-ball. Sure enough, given the headlines this week about the 16 non-called foot faults he bowled in last week’s first innings at Adelaide, the crowd give a nice little Bronx cheer.
It was the first time that Tim Paine won the toss this in a Test Match morning. Way to go. Sure enough, Andrew Samson is all over that.
Most tosses lost before winning one as captain of Australia:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 14, 2018
5 WL Murdoch 1880-1882
4 R Benaud 1958
4 TD Paine 2018
World record:
7 BE Congdon (NZ) 1972-1973.
6th over: Australia 14-0 (Harris 1, Finch 13) Edge, four! It was Finch steering Bumrah through the gap to the right of gully down to the rope to finish the over. “What’s a real WACA shot,” says Mark Waugh on the Fox call. “Using the pace down to third man.” Earlier, Harris got himself off the mark via an inside edge that spat down to fine leg, one of two times that part of his bat was located in the over.
Who would of thought that moving from a small, purpose built cricket ground to a huge multi purpose stadium would make it look empty on TV? #AUSvIND
— Dylan Leach (@leachitup) December 14, 2018
5th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 0, Finch 9) Three times in three overs Ishant has beaten the outside edge. This time it is Finch, played for the considerable inswing but didn’t make contact, lucky not to lose his off-stump in the process. The Indian attack leader is going after the Victorian’s woodwork, finding an inside edge and hitting a pad through the over as well. Can Finch get through to the other side of this spell?
Just realised that I never posted the final XIs as named. Hamuma Vihari is also into the Indian middle order with Rohit Sharma picking up a back niggle in Adelaide. He’ll also send down some offies, as he did in England.
India: KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
4th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 0, Finch 9) Putting to one side the first couple of balls, this is a nice start from Finch. To the first of Bumrah’s new set he is clipping with control through midwicket for a couple. The off-cutter is too good for him when it comes, but he responds calmly, tucking another single in front of the square leg umpire to finish.
India are struggling to get their radar going this morning. Not one delivery in India's first three overs would have hit the stumps. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kbmQAAheOJ
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
Updated
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Harris 0, Finch 6) Finch pushes his second single to cover. Much better batting. Harris gets another ripper from Ishant, angling in and moving away, passing his outside edge by a coat of varnish. Fantastic delivery. This should be a brilliant first session.
The first over of this match was the first time in his entire first-class career that Marcus Harris has faced the first ball #AusvInd
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 14, 2018
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Harris 0, Finch 5) Some gold from Ricky Ponting on Seven’s call, which Geoff Lemon picked up to my left. The former Aussie captain noted that India set their backward point deep to protect against Harris’ best shot, the cut. Next ball, he creamed it right there, the fielding saving four. Earlier in the over, Finch nervously negotiated the start of Bumrah’s day with an awkward defensive stroke that found the splice of the bat before missing a wild hook second up. He was much better third time around, nailing a pull shot from to the rope to collect Australia’s first runs.
“How do Adam.” If it isn’t my old mate Andy from Shakerfaker. Good morning to you. “Was that Luciano Pavarotti singing the Australian national anthem from the grave? Sounded amazing. How did he hold that last note for so long?”
Too right. Stand down, Julie Anthony, we have a new dude for the official version. “Also I’ve got 26-1 India 4-0. So come on India.” As I detailed on Monday, there is always, always value backing against Australia in Australia. We shouldn’t talk about punting on here really, but given that Cricket Australia now have sponsored tweets from a betting agency, I guess all bets (ho ho ho!) are off.
As this @CricViz graphic makes clear, India's seam attack were better than Australia's at Adelaide by every metric - apart from pace. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kHsvxAI4lE
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Harris 0, Finch 0) All the build up and tension... and Ishant sprays the first ball well down the legside. I’m so glad that I got my big camera out to capture it. His maiden to Harris involves the bat only once, the opener beaten by a beauty but leaving well otherwise. We’re away at Perth Stadium.
Where were you when Ishant Sharma sprayed the first ball at a new Test venue down the legside? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/AWH7ljPJVZ
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
The players are on the field! Aaron Finch and local boy Marcus Harris are striding out to open the batting for Australia. Ishant Sharma is preparing to bowl the first ball ever at this stadium from the broadcast or northern end. Harris to face. PLAY!
Huuuuuge innings ahead of Aaron Finch. Before the Adelaide Test had even finished, Justin Langer was talking about a potential shuffle of the order where the Victorian could drop down to the middle order. But they have backed him in and now he walks out on a greenish pitch on morning one. These are the moments that can make or break a Test career.
In front of us there are kids with flags, which means the teams can’t be far away for national anthems. I neglected to note that by going with Umesh, India have also overlooked Jadeja. A side must be going well to consistently leave out the fifth ranked bowler in the world, a man who also boasts a batting average of 43 over the last couple of years.
James Sherry is welcoming the players and match officials. That won’t mean much to readers outside of Australia, but for my generation, his voice will be forever that of Saturday Disney and A*Mazing. I spent 20 minutes googling everything about him yesterday. I need better hobbies.
Amod Paranjape gets us underway on the email. “All I can say with regards to the Bhuvneshwar Kumar situation is that the skipper and coach are not comfortable playing him where the ball doesn’t swing,” he writes. “Absurd in my opinion but there it is.”
I’m with you, I can’t believe Bhuvi isn’t in the XI. That’s no reflection on Umesh, who has some of the best reverse swing skills in the world. But Bhuvi! Oh well.
Here is a bit more about Perth Stadium from the CricViz polymaths.
Check out @PatrickNoone08's preview piece ahead of the Perth Test at Optus Stadium 👇. #AusvInd https://t.co/4KKhbt3xpT
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 14, 2018
Kohli says he would have batted too. But he’s very happy to bowl. “I’ve seen a one-day game happen here and it had quite a bit for the bowlers so we’re pretty excited.”
In the ODI at this stadium in November, CricViz tells me, there was more average bounce than in any game played in Australia since 2015.
Tim Paine won the toss and Australia are batting
Umesh playing, Bhuvi isn’t. Four quicks for India! Australia unchanged.
Paine explains his decision: “It is really warm today and this wicket in the Shield game played pretty well to start with and with some hot weather around, we expect it will crack and up and be hard work.”
The good oil. The goss in the lift on the way up is that Australia are going to bat and India are strongly considering having a bowl. The captains are about to make their way out to the middle so we will know shortly.
Toss in a tick. Nobody here yet - get along, Perth. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2VmzCqeOKq
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 14, 2018
Preamble
Welcome to the first day of Test Cricket at Perth Stadium! It’s the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy fixture between Australia and India, the visitors going one-nil up at Adelaide on Monday. This becomes only the tenth venue used in the 141 years they have been playing Tests in Australia, so we have that considerable piece of history ahead of us today in WA.
It’s HOT outside. In the ten metres between the front door and my uber, I’ve sweated through my shirt. To that end, the toss will be complicated. I don’t doubt for a moment that bowling first could be on the agenda for both captains given how much grass is on the pitch. With so much hot weather ahead, the best time to take advantage of that is session one.
However, as Tim Paine said yesterday at his press conference, bowling first in 39 degree heat is something his quicks may never forgive him for. In short: a good toss to lose, ‘innit?
Speaking of the track, the WACA curator is apparently in strife according to one outlet this morning, for indicating to the local paper yesterday that he made the pitch as bouncy as possible to make life tough for the tourists. Putting to one side the wisdom of this given India’s superb pace attack, it forced CA to put out a statement to essentially denying the claim that they are pitch doctors. Sigh. Can’t we all just get along?
I can see tweeted reports that Umesh Yadav is marking out his run up, all-but confirming that India will go in with four quicks after Ashwin dropped out with a side strain. That’s a touch surprising as I think we all expected Bhuvi to play. Maybe there’s something going on that we don’t know about? All will be clear when the coin is tossed in about 20 minutes from now. As for Australia, they’re unchanged with Finch again to open.
I’ve timed this quite nicely as my car is just pulling up at the ground, so I’ll hop out and run upstairs. Between times, drop me a line to get this OBO started for we have a lot to discuss. Would you go the Full Nasser and stick the oppo in if the coin came down your way on a day like this? I reckon I would. Email, tweet - you know the drill. Back with you shortly.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime you can read his preview of the Test, featuring an excited Virat Kohli …
