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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.

James Matthey, James McKern and Andrew McMurtry
2 min read
December 26, 2020 - 6:58PM

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.
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.
Great day for India.

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

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.
One of the worse feelings in cricket.

Updates

Aussies have one - almost two

With just 195 on the board, Australia needed to start well.

Enter Mitchell Starc.

A first over specialist, he nabbed the wicket of Mayank Agarwal with the in swing jamming in with the opener out without troubling the scoring.

But it could have been so much better with Marnus Labuschagne putting down a slips catch as Shubman Gill edged a ball after his hitting his first boundary in Test cricket.

It flew quickly but Labuschagne made a meal of it as the catch went down.

Aussies all out for 195

It's not been a Boxing Day to remember for Australia as the side were bowled out for 195 with the tail only able to add another 40 runs.

Nathan Lyon hit a quick fire 20, including taking Jasprit Bumrah for the only six of the innings.

But Bumrah hit back to get him LBW.

Bumrah ended with 4/56 with Ravi Ashwin's 3/35 the best by a finger spinner since Ravi Shastri in 1985/86.

As happens way too often, it'll be up to the bowlers to get Australia back into the match.

Australia's fight is waning

It's down to the bowlers after Cameron Green and Tim Paine went in quick succession.

After Paine and the bowlers got Australia to safety in the last Test, he couldn't replicate the heroics.

It's 7/155 with Mohammed Suraj is on fire with two wickets on debut.

Suraj got a ball angling in to get Green on review, while Paine departed the next over off Ravi Ashwin after turning the ball around the corner – straight into the hands of Hanuma Vihari.

Paine survives in close call

A quick single call from Cameron Green has almost cost his skipper his wicket.

Tim Paine scrambled through and immediately thought he was safe but the footage showed a much tighter decision.

The review took a long time with no conclusive evidence able to determine if Paine's bat was on the right side of the line.

""There's no conclusive evidence to show the bat is on the wrong side of the line, so the bat looks like it could have a bit over the line. My decision is not out," the third umpire said.

Social media was split down the middle on the call with many believing Paine was short as the bails were dislodged.

Dean Jones tribute

A brilliant moment during the tea break with Dean Jones family paying tribute to the icon.

Jones' baggy green, bat, sunnies and a tube of white zinc were displayed at the stumps in the middle of the MCG.

Cricketers from both Australia and India lined the fence as the tributes unfolded on the big screen.

Aussie and Victoria star James Pattinson walked to the pitch along with KL Rahul to pick up the items and they were placed on a seat on the edge of the MCG.

Tea on day one

The Aussies looked to be getting back on track during the second session with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head building the scoreboard up steadily.

But the partnership was broken with both men now back in the rooms as skipper Tim Paine and Cam Green unite to try and lift the Aussie score well north of 200 runs.

A huge final session of the day is on its way.

Marnus misses out on half century

Only two runs shy of making his half-century, Marnus Labuschagne is on his way back to the rooms after being caught at leg gully.

Test debutant Mohammed Siraj picked up his first wicket after the visitors opted to throw a leg gully in to try and snare Labuschange.

The latest wicket leaves the Aussies reeling once again and brings out skipper Tim Paine to join youngster Cam Green at the crease.

Can he now put forth a solid innings like he did in Adelaide to dig Australia out of a hole?

We almost had an early answer of no after Siraj thundered one into the pads of Paine only for the umpire to give it not out and DRS to stick with the umpires call.

Partnership broken up

Travis Head is the latest Aussie to depart after Jasprit Bumrah claimed the big scalp.

After several deliveries which pushed Head back, Bumrah landed the perfect ball which captured the edge of Head's bat and flew into the hands of Ajinkya Rahane in the slips cordon.

The wicket brings the 86 run partnership to an end. A partnership which had been the longest for the Aussies so far in this series.

Aussies building after lunch

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head are setting about getting the Aussie innings back on track after a dismal opening session.

The Indian bowlers still hold the upper hand and have the pair on their toes, but the duo are holding firm for the time being.

Labuschagne survives before lunch

The nightmare looked to have being going from bad to worse for the Aussies with Marnus Labuschagne surviving a tantalisingly close LBW shout.

A poor sweep attempt from the Aussie number three thundered into his pads and the Indians went up in unison as the umpire raised his finger.

Labuschagne reviewed the call immediately and DRS was his saviour as the ball was said to be going over the wickets.

The Aussies make it through to lunch without losing another wicket and currently sit at 3/65 with the visitors comfortably on top after the opening session.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/live-mass-confusion-as-india-scrambles-for-boxing-day-test/live-coverage/d865257ab19fd6c19e0f1bd4fb29af75