Australia vs. India Day 4: The moments which shaped the final day of the first Test

In a Test when India had done what many thought impossible, Dhruv Jurel topped it off a miracle catch. ROBERT CRADDOCK unpacks the six moments which shaped day 4.

India has demolished Australia on its own deck in Perth. Robert Craddock unpacks the six biggest moments of Day 4.

BRILLIANT BUMRAH

Jasprit Bumrah is always thinking, watching … learning.

After forcing the dangerous Travis Head back in his crease he slipped in a baited hook just outside off-stump and Head couldn’t help himself. A thin edged was punched by Pant and Australia’s last line of serious resistance was gone. Head spruced up his numbers after a rugged year but has plenty of heavy lifting to do if Australia is to win the series.

Travis Head dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah

GET UP MATE

Even through the pain of looming defeat Travis Head still found a way of lightening the mood.

Batting partner Smith was struck in the ribs by Harshit Rana at a not so fearsome pace but enough to make Smith hit the deck and double over in pain.

A not so sympathetic Head stood over Smith as he lay on the ground and quipped “come on Steve, there’s padding there son.’’

THE CLAW

India’s reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel will probably be axed for the second Test but he will have one memory he will not forget.

Jurel was fielding at short leg when Mitchell Starc bunted a ball his way off Washington Sundah and Jurel shot out his right hand and snatched it. India’s fielding has been sharp in this Test.

Their rebound after being clean swept by New Zealand has been spectacular. And they will only get stronger.

The claw

PULLED OUT

The swivel pull has been a bountiful shot for Usman Khawaja but this was not one of his memorable attempts.

Any hopes of a serious fightback by Australia vanished in the opening minutes of the day when Khawaja tried his first and only pull shot of the day and skied it, allowing keeper Rishabh Pant to stare towards the sun and somehow look vulnerable before pouching it.

Usman Khawaja skies one early on Day 4

KAPOW

Mitchell Marsh was never going to turn the tide for Australia but there were flickers of the player Australia needs him to be this summer.

Marsh smacked two massive sixes – one 108m straight gem off Washington Sundar and a cannon shot of a pull from Harshit Rana.

Australia will hopefully have times when the high order players fire ahead of him and Marsh’s storm-trooping ways can decide a Test.

Mitch Marsh's towering six

THE MOMENT

Rarely has a souvenir stump been more deserved than the one Jasprit Bumrah snatched from the middle of Optus Stadium.

The Indians didn’t go crazy after becoming the first team to beat Australia at Optus Stadium but this was one of their sweetest wins with a team which looked understrength and vulnerable but played like tigers under the inspirational captaincy of their champion fast man.

It is their fifth win from their last nine Tests in Australia. Astonishing.

Jasprit Bumrah with a stump post-game

Originally published as Australia vs. India Day 4: The moments which shaped the final day of the first Test