Australia v India: Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne survive night session after Mitchell Starc’s heroics

After Mitchell Starc took a career best 6-48 to help roll India in two sessions, Jasprit Bumrah, the Adelaide Oval lights and the crowd made things hard for the Aussies – but they survived.

A career-best haul from Mitchell Starc gave Australia the upper hand as the hosts’ under-fire top order fought tooth and nail to maintain the advantage.

Starc continued his extraordinary run in day-night Tests, striking with the first ball of the Test and going on from there to finish with 6-48 as India was rolled for 180 inside two sessions on the opening day at Adelaide Oval.

Jasprit Bumrah ensured Usman Khawaja’s lean run continued and should have had Nathan McSweeney for three, but fears of an abject collapse under the lights were allayed as McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne held firm.

The Aussies were 1-86 at stumps, with Labuschagne on 20 and McSweeney reaching 38.

SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP ALL THE ACTION AND COLOUR AS IT HAPPENED

Marnus Labuschagne survived a tense final session on the first day. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

After more than a week of commentary about his spot in the side and his need to play with greater scoring intent, Labuschagne took 19 balls to get off the mark before gradually releasing the shackles.

Up for the fight, he engaged in a mid-pitch staredown with Bumrah during an engrossing final session twice interrupted by the Adelaide light towers going off.

Having drawn an edge from McSweeney, Bumrah was denied a wicket when Rishabh Pant dived into the ball path of captain Rohit Sharma at first slip, deflecting the pink Kookaburra into Rohit’s thumb.

But the champion quick was not to be denied, with Khawaja’s Test average for the year slumping to beneath 25 as he went fishing outside off to gift Rohit a chance unencumbered.

Nathan McSweeney finished day 1 38 not out

And Marnus Labuschagne was unbeaten on 20

If anything Australia should have made more of its performance with the ball. KL Rahul complied a gritty 37 after being dropped on two by Khawaja at first slip off the returning Scott Boland, who would also have removed Nitish Kumar Reddy before the all-rounder had scored had Australia sent a denied lbw shout upstairs.

Reddy instead bludgeoned his way to 42, putting on 35 in a ninth-wicket stand with Bumrah in which the No. 10 did not contribute a run.

Mitchell Starc took a career-best 6-48. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

And Scott Boland made a roaring return to the side. Picture: Michael ERREY / AFP

Having chosen to bat after winning the toss in muggy conditions, India lost young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal to the first ball of the match as Starc once more found wicked movement through the air.

In doing so, the left-armer became just the second man in history after West Indian Pedro Collins to thrice take a wicket with the first ball of a Test match.

It was also the 54th time Starc has struck in the opening over of an international innings, moving past fellow southpaw Chaminda Vaas.

Starc ended the day with 72 wickets in day-night Tests, far and away the most of any bowler.

“Nothing really changes, game by game. I still run in and try hit the stumps,” he told Fox.

“The pink ball, as a bowler you’re in the game the whole time, it goes through weird patches when it won’t do much, then it starts to swing again.”

Back from the thumb injury that ruled him out of the first Test, Shubman Gill played with his trademark class to reach 31 but missed a full one from Boland which wasn’t worth reviewing.

Playing his first Test in 17 months, Boland looked to have struck immediately when Rahul trudged off after seemingly brushing one to Alex Carey before scoring.

However Australia’s celebrations ended abruptly when replays showed the Victorian had overstepped. Bizarrely, Snicko also indicated that Rahul hadn’t connected.

“That’s terrible… oh my goodness, from joy to the total opposite,” said Australian great Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket.

There was no doubt about the presence of an edge later in the over when Khawaja spilled a chance lunging to his right at first slip with Rahul on two.

It was Khawaja’s third drop of the series to date. He had tellingly given Jaiswal a life on 51 in Perth, with the Indian tyro galloping to 162.

Starc eventually removed the versatile Rahul when McSweeney hung onto a low chance at gully, before finding an edge to remove Virat Kohli for seven.

Originally published as Australia v India: Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne survive night session after Mitchell Starc’s heroics