Australia slammed for 'dumb' batting after India claim honours on Boxing Day

Australia has been roasted once against after India claimed the honours on day one, bouncing back after the Adelaide Test debacle.

Australia have been handed an important lesson in not being complacent after a Virat Kohli-less India claimed the honours on day one.

After winning the toss and batting, Australia were bowled out for 195 late on day one and despite getting Mayank Agarwal for a duck in the first over and having Shubman Gill put down for 4, India finished at 1/36 at stumps.

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On debut, Gill ended the day on 28 not out off 38 balls, putting Australia's batsmen to shame after they were tied down all day.

Joe Burns' horror form continued after his last start 50, lasting 10 balls before a faint edge was snapped up by the Indians for a duck.

He was soon joined by Matthew Wade for 30 and Steve Smith for his first ever duck against India in a shocking start as Australia slumped to 3/38.

Smith's dismissal was the start of a weird day for Australia as he, Marnus Labuschagne and Tim Paine were all caught down the leg side.

Paine was caught at leg slip.

While Labuschagne and Travis Head resurrected the Aussie innings with an 86-run stand but Head's dismissal for started the rot for Australia as India got on top.

ABC's Dirk Nannes was not happy with the Head dismissal.

"He had one over of interrogation upstairs by Bumrah, and then he’s nicking one straight to gully with no footwork," he said.

"It almost seemed like he was a little bit scared, I think you'd be expecting more as coach and captain from your number five."

From 3/124, Australia lost Labuschagne for 48, Cameron Green for 12 and Paine for 13 to go 7/155 down.

A late cameo from Nathan Lyon pushed Australia up to 195 but it consigned the side to the first  consecutive first innings scores of under 200 since Tests against the West Indies in Perth and Brisbane in 1984.

Jasprit Bumrah took 4/56 from his 16 overs, Ravi Ashwin nabbed 3/35 to become the first finger spinner to take three or more wickets on day one of an MCG Test was Ravi Shastri in 1985/86, and debutant Mohammed Siraj had a day to remember with 2/40 off his 15 overs.

Great day for India.

But social media was ready to pan Australia for the performance with the bat.

Two Aussies caught at leg slip is just dumb batting. Hitting there is always optional. Also bot sold on Green #AUSvIND

— Anthony Sharwood ❄️ (@antsharwood) December 26, 2020

India have done their homework and the Aussies have been sucked in.
Smith - caught leg slip
Labuschagne - caught leg gully
Paine - caught leg slip#AUSvIND 🇦🇺🇮🇳#Cricket

— Tim Hipsley (@TimHipsley) December 26, 2020

It’s a poor performance but if they had as much trifle as I did yesterday fair enough I reckon. #AUSvIND

— Jason Whittaker (@thetowncrier) December 26, 2020

This lot of Australian batsmen’s (except Smith) technique against spin is 👇#AusvInd pic.twitter.com/x2XsE0IUL0

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 26, 2020

If the conditions are challenging it will be interesting to see India bat. They’re on fire in bowl. But I am not surprised, the Indian bowling is stacked (as I always tell people!). Fielding has been great. Getting those catches makes a huge difference. Predictions? #AUSvIND

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) December 26, 2020

Australia did start the second innings well with the wicket of Agarwal in a brilliant first over from Mitchell Starc.

With some movement in the air, Starc was on fire, trapping Agarwal in front with the final ball of the over.

It was a great start for Australia but after three straight maidens to start, Gill hit Pat Cummins for four.

Two balls later, Gill got an outside edge with the ball flying to Labuschagne, but the star was unable to reel it in at third slip.

After Gill hit five fours before stumps, could that be a match-changing moment?

One of the worse feelings in cricket.