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Australia vs India First Test Day 1 live: Australia blown away in six-year low

Australia have had a day to forget on the first day of the first Test in India, slumping to a six-year low with the bat.

Andrew McMurtry, Daanyal Saeed and Matthew Sullivan
11 min read
February 9, 2023 - 11:25PM
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There has been very little for Australia to be happy about on day one of the first Test against India in Nagpur but 22-year-old Aussie debutant Todd Murphy has at least finished with his first Test scalp.

Australia were bowled out for 177, losing its last five wickets for just 15 runs to collapse out.

India looked like they were batting on a different pitch as captain Rohit Sharma slammed 56 off 69 balls on the day to lead India to 1/77 at stumps and a commanding position.

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In the second last over of the day, Murphy finally struck for Australia as KL Rahul chipped a turning ball straight back to him.

Todd Murphy has a Test wicket. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Todd Murphy has a Test wicket. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was arguably the only bright spot for Australia on a brutal day where India’s spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took eight wickets between them.

Jadeja took 5/47 off 22 overs while Ashwin had 3/42.

But India dominated the day and Aussie great Matthew Hayden said the collapses cost Australia dearly.

“The third, fourth and fifth (wickets fell for just 25 runs) adding nothing to the scoreline,” Hayden said.

“And then you look at the back end as well when India started mopping up the tail, nothing to add there as well. Only two (partnership) contributions, it’s just not good enough.”

The partnerships were an 82-run stand between Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne and a 53-run stand between Peter Handscomb and Alex Carey.

However, when you have a tough day, you take a win wherever you can get it.

Hayden took it when he saw a graphic which said the Aussie spinners had produced 3.4 degrees of turn while the Indian spinners had only 2.9 degrees.

“Hey, hey, hey, look at that fellas, us Aussies are winning the day with spin, degree of turn,” he joked.

His Indian counterparts laughed, saying: “I can’t read that Haydos, I see that wickets column which is still zero.”

A win is a win. Photo: Fox Cricket
A win is a win. Photo: Fox Cricket

While it was all in good fun in the commentary booth, it shows just how dire it was for the Aussies as India look to put the visitors to the sword.

India were off to a blistering start with 13 runs of Pat Cummins’ first over including three fours from Sharma, which set the tone for the home side.

It saw former Test start Dinesh Karthik predict an innings win for India.

“I’m coming in early to make a prediction, I strongly feel India will bat once and only once in this Test match,” he said.

While Mark Waugh said it wouldn’t be that easy, Karthik said Australia had been its own worst enemy.

“But in the same breath, I don’t think it’s as tough as the Aussie batters made it out to be either,” Karthik said.

It’s hard to disagree.

8.20pm – Aussies six-year low amid brutal collapse

NAGPUR, INDIA – FEBRUARY 09: Alex Carey of Australia of Australia is bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin of India during day one of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 09, 2023 in Nagpur, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
NAGPUR, INDIA – FEBRUARY 09: Alex Carey of Australia of Australia is bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin of India during day one of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 09, 2023 in Nagpur, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Australia had high hopes of getting over the 200-mark on a tricky Nagpur wicket but have fallen short after India wrapped up the Aussie innings shortly after tea.

It took 3.5 overs for the Indian spinners to clean up the Aussie tail for just three more runs, as Ravi Jadeja took 5/47.

The spinners bowled 47.5 of the 63.5 overs bowled in the Aussie innings as Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin (3/42) dominated the Aussies.

The questions of a doctored pitch still hang over the match of course but whether 177 is a competitive score on a pitch Brett Lee called a “day seven” pitch before play will remain to be once India have batted.

Australia were sitting pretty at 2/84 but the quick wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw and Steve Smith saw Australia lose 3/25.

While Peter Handscomb and Alex Carey salvaged the afternoon with a 53-run stand, the final five wickets fell for just 15 runs as Australia slumped from 5/162 to 177 all out.

7:40pm – Australia on struggle street as India rip through middle order

Tea has been taken, with Australia in serious trouble at 174/8 on day one.

Fox’s session-by-session analysis has the spoils shared at one session apiece, but it is the Indians that would be walking off with bigger smiles on their faces, with no Australians able to pass 50 so far.

Brett Lee on Fox Cricket’s coverage, said most of the wickets were the result of “some decent bowling”, barring the wicket of David Warner, once again undone by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket angling into his stumps.

The Australians head into the final session on 174/8, and will be hoping to survive the day’s play and take as much time as possible out of the game.

Nathan Lyon has just arrived at the crease and holds the Test record for most runs without ever scoring a fifty, while Scott Boland is yet to bat and has a first-class fifty to his name.

7:25pm – Australia’s tail falters as Cummins and Murphy depart

Ravi Ashwin has struck again, removing Pat Cummins as the last of Australia’s able tailenders, drawing the skipper into a feeble poke and an edge into the grateful hands of Virat Kohli at first slip, who doesn’t make the same mistake he made off Steve Smith earlier today.

“It is one of the longest tails ever in an Australian line-up, there’s not a lot of quality there,” says Matthew Hayden on commentary.

It brings Todd Murphy to the crease on Test debut, joining Peter Handscomb who has remained resolutely thus far, only for the bespectacled offspinner to depart for a fourth-ball duck, trapped in front to become Jadeja’s fourth victim.

Australia are in dire straits, with the score at 173/8.

7:10pm – Carey counter half-baked as Ashwin takes 450th Test wicket

Alex Carey’s counterpunching rearguard has come to an end.

The South Australian’s flamboyant reverse-sweeping took him to a rapid 36 and forced two bowling changes from India as they looked for the breakthrough, but it was once again spin that was his undoing.

Attempting to reverse sweep a ball that was sliding across him down leg, Carey bottom edged onto his stumps, ending a partnership of 53 with Peter Handscomb.

It is Ashwin’s 450th Test wicket, and coming in just 89 matches, makes him the second-fastest man in history to the milestone, achieved by only eight men before him.

Ashwin sits 10 wickets behind Nathan Lyon on the all-time men’s Test wicket-takers list.

5:55pm – Saviour Smith departs, Jadeja has his third

Ravindra Jadeja is India’s man, removing Steve Smith to take his third wicket of the innings.

Smith poked forward at a full delivery from Jadeja, playing for turn and expecting it to grab on Nagpur’s dry surface.

Unfortunately for Smith, the turn never came, as he was beaten on his inside edge and bowled comprehensively.

It takes Australia to 109/5, and with the arrival of the left-handed Carey to the crease, comes Ravichandran Ashwin.

With his first delivery, Carey reverse sweeps Ashwin through a vacant third man region, but it’s not confidence inspiring in the slightest.

Nine’s Michael Atkinson has noted that Australia’s three left-handers in the top six have fallen for a total of three runs, saying that pre-series concerns over the state of the Nagpur pitch “appear real”, with India seemingly targeting Australia’s battery of lefties, knowing that they have none of their own.

5:55pm – Australia once again in disarray as Jadeja strikes, on a hat-trick

Ravindra Jadeja has struck twice in two balls to send Australia once again into a complete mess, first tempting Labuschagne out of his crease to get him stumped before trapping a lead-footed Matthew Renshaw in front with his first delivery.

Marnus Labuschagne has missed out on a maiden Indian half-century, fighting valiantly over the last two hours, and getting Australia through to lunch only two down after early chaos saw Australia 2-2.

Peter Handscomb, selected for his ability in Asia and against spin, comes to the crease but will escape the hat-trick ball with the over concluding.

5:00pm – Australia survive early scare through to lunch

Australia have survived two early wickets and the loss of David Warne and Usman Khawaja to get through to lunch otherwise unscathed, thanks to some positivity and steel from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

Labuschagne, playing in his first Indian Test innings, heads into the break unbeaten on 47, looking by far the more fluent of the pair.

His footwork has been positive and controlled, and he’s found the gaps with aplomb.

Smith has comparatively looked less controlled, struggling to 19 from 74 deliveries.

Extremely strong application from the duo see Australia in a much better position than those who saw the first part of the day’s play would have imagined – demonstrative of what clear batting plans to spin can do.

Axar Patel looks the pick of India’s spinners, targeting Smith off a good length.

Ravi Ashwin is yet to enter the attack, with Australia at 76/2.

4:10pm – Smith dropped by Virat!

Axar Patel has been robbed of a prized Test scalp as Virat Kohli sensationally drops Steve Smith at first slip.

Driving hard at a flighted half-volley outside off, Patel caught Smith’s outside edge, low on the bat and rising hard at Kohli, who seemed caught on his heels.

Snatching at the ball in front of him with an outstretched right hand, Kohli was never in with a chance of taking a chance that he prides himself on normally taking.

Kohli is considered one of world cricket’s better fielders, and has 104 catches in Test cricket to his name.

Two balls later, Patel got one to jump up at Smith, revealing some of the demons in the pitch for the first time this series.

Smith and Labuschagne’s partnership sits at 38, with Australia at 40/2.

4:00pm – Smith and Labuschagne steady the ship

The introduction of Axar Patel into the attack marks a turning point in what has been a hectic first 10 overs of play.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have consolidated Australia’s shaky start, absorbing the pressure coming relentlessly from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, and seeing a change of bowler as a result.

Patel has 47 wickets in just eight career Tests, and if he reaches 50, will become the third-fastest bowler (by matches) in history to the milestone.

3:13pm – Warner departs for 1, bowled Shami

This could be seriously, seriously grim for the Aussies.

Mohammed Shami has just sent David Warner’s off stump cartwheeling with a magnificent inswinger, clipping the pad on the way through.

Perhaps he should have batted right-handed.

He departs for just 1, with Australia at 2-2 with only 13 balls bowled in the series.

It brings Steve Smith to the crease, who averages 60 in India.

3:00pm – Usman Khawaja gone early! India draw first blood

David Warner’s first ball from Mohammed Shami, a wide half-volley over the wicket across the left-hander, has barely made it to Srikar Bharat behind the stumps.

We could be in for a very, very long series.

Usman Khawaja, facing just his second delivery from Mohammed Siraj, has gone early, missing a full inswinger to be dismissed LBW for 1.

It looked to be sliding down, with Khawaja motioning to Warner that he thought the ball was going down leg, and sending the ball upstairs immediately.

Social media is blowing up over ball-tracking, with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Wu choosing to remain diplomatic and calling it “interesting”.

2:30pm – Australia win toss and bat, drop Head in selection shock

Australia have won the toss and will bat in Nagpur, with Pat Cummins dropping more major selection bombshells alongside Todd Murphy’s debut.

Travis Head, Australia’s best batter this summer gone having averaged more than 50 in Test cricket since the start of 2021-22, has been dropped with Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb returning to the side.

Head averages 21.30 in Asia.

Ashton Agar, Australia’s only left-arm spinner, has also been dropped for debutant Todd Murphy.

India have named two debutants, with white-ball revelation Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat also making their Test nods.

AAP’s Scott Bailey wrote: “Massive call by Australia to drop Travis Head. Best player of home summer, but the message out of Sri Lanka last July was that performances on Australian wickets would be irrelevant for subcontinent selections. They’ve stuck to that more than anyone thought possible.”

ABC’s Daniel Garb wrote: “The only plausible reason for Head’s omission must be a concern about his ability against spin. Can’t be the lefty issue as Renshaw is in. Controversial call.”

Australian XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Indian XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

2:20pm – India name two debutants as Lyon presents Murphy with cap

Nathan Lyon has presented Todd Murphy with male Test cap No. 465 in the traditional pre-match ceremony, as India also name two debutants.

Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat make their Test debuts for India.

1:50pm – Aussie bolter set for shock debut

Australia’s tradition of capping debutants in India is set to continue today with Todd Murphy expected to make his Test debut as Australia’s 465th male Test cricketer.

It caps a remarkable rise for Murphy, who only picked up the art of offspin six years ago while “stuffing around” near his hometown of Moama, on the NSW-VIC border.

SEN’s Bharat Sundaresan spotted Murphy marking out his run-up in Nagpur ahead of play on day one, suggesting the conjecture around his selection can be put to rest.

The Victorian has seen a rapid rise to the Test squad, with only one first-class match to his name at the start of last summer.

The 22-year-old bamboozled batters around the country in the Sheffield Shield this summer, snaring 14 wickets from just four matches at an average of 17.71, on top of spinning Victoria to victory against New South Wales in a thriller, to catapult himself into the national frame.

Murphy was named as one of four strike spinners in Australia’s 18-man squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but was not expected to play, behind the already-capped Mitchell Swepson and Ashton Agar.

Todd Murphy is set to make his Test debut for Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Todd Murphy is set to make his Test debut for Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Steve O’Keefe, the last Australian spinner to have any success in India, taking 19 wickets on the 2017 tour at an average of 23.26, says Murphy is “as good an off-spinner as I’ve seen since Nathan Lyon”.

Murphy joins a long line of Australian spinners to make their debut in India that dates back to Jason Krejza in 2008.

Since Nathan Lyon’s emergence as the nation’s premier tweaker, none have consistently partnered him in the subcontinent, and not a single fellow offspinner has even taken the field alongside him.

Indian conditions are not completely foreign to the bespectacled Murphy, having been sent alongside a group of emerging spinners by Cricket Australia to Chennai’s MRF Academy on top of being selected in the Australia A squad to tour Asia last year.

10.30am – Warner’s bold batting ploy

The doctoring of the Nagpur pitch against Australia’s left-hander heavy line-up has David Warner seriously considering batting right-handed during the Test.

The veteran opener was seen practising batting right-handed in the nets and would most likely bring out the party trick in the second innings of the Test when the wicket breaks down and becomes even more of a nightmare for left handers.

Warner has shown he is more than capable of “switch-hitting” in the shorter forms of the games, but batting for long periods in a Test right handed would certainly be a strange sight.

David Warner bats right handed in the nets. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
David Warner bats right handed in the nets. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Will Warner bring out the right handed party trick? (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Will Warner bring out the right handed party trick? (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

9.30am — Pitch to wreak havoc, Aussie bolter set to make debut

The pitch in Nagpur is expected to be a spinner’s paradise after images emerged of the wicket being prepared specifically to wreak havoc on Australia’s batting line-up filled with left-handers.

Five members of Australia’s likely top seven — Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, and Alex Carey — bat left handed.

The state of the pitch could see right-handed Peter Handscomb enter the frame to be picked to bat at No. 6 over Renshaw.

More Coverage

Legend blasts Indian pitch ‘cheating’ claim
Fox Cricket
Cricket erupts at ‘straight up pitch doctoring’
Matthew Sullivan

Australia is yet to name its final XI but uncapped spinner Todd Murphy is expected to be picked to make his Test debut, alongside veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.

With Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc ruled out of the first Test and all-rounder Cameron Green still under an injury cloud, Australia’s bowling attack is not at full strength.

Cummins will likely be joined in the attack by Scott Boland, and at least two spinners.

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