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Australia v India, First Test Day 2 live coverage from Adelaide Oval: Tim Paine keeps his cool in a crisis

Tim Paine countered Virat Kohli and kept his team in the game as all those around him lost their wickets and their way.

Peter Lalor and Adrian McMurray
22 min read
11:10AMDecember 18, 2020.
Updated 7:41AMDecember 19, 2020
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Tim Paine was strong with the bat on day two to keep Australia in the contest at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine was strong with the bat on day two to keep Australia in the contest at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images

India are 1-9 at stumps on day two, with a 62-run lead over Australia. Fifteen wickets fell on a lively day’s play at Adelaide Oval, with Tim Paine the saviour of Australia’s first innings. Review how it all unfolded and listen to Gideon Haigh and Peter Lalor’s wrap in the latest Cricket, Et Cetera podcast below.

Peter Lalor 10.43pm: Paine keeps his cool in a crisis

Tim Paine has countered Virat Kohli and played an innings to keep his team in the game as all those around him lost their wickets and their way.

The skipper came to the crease in the afternoon with Australia 5-73 and apparently destined to concede a big first innings lead.

When Josh Hazlewood was out at 9.30pm Adelaide time Paine was 73no and the deficit 53. The home side is still behind the game, but not nearly as far behind as the events of earlier in the day suggested.

India lost Prithvi Shaw in a difficult six overs before stumps.

Paine’s innings was the skipper’s highest score since Boxing Day last summer and his best knock since returning to the side for the 2016-17 Ashes.

Virat Kohli’s 74 on the first day had shaped as the defining innings of the match, but Paine’s efforts must surely rival them.

The Tasmanian’s batting abandoned him in the lost years before his recall, but he now holds a place high in the list of Australian keeper batsman.

His average of 33.4 is now better than Brad Haddin’s 32.98 and second only to Adam Gilchrist’s 47.6.

Given he is the best wicket keeper in the country it seems bizarre that people have quibbled about his recall and questioned his place in the side.

Under Paine the side has rebuilt its reputation and regained the respect of the public and opponents. It was only two years ago that he had the line-in-the-sand moment with Kohli in Perth that marked the beginnings of a new, confident and controlled team.

Marnus Labuschagne’s 47 was the only significant contribution by a recognised batsman but it was as streaky as it was lucky. Paine batted with intent and class, a drive through cover point to the boundary off Jasprit Bumrah was the shot of the day.

Paine looks better at the crease than he has for many years and signalled a new confidence early in the season with a century in the Shield – just the third of his career.

The captain’s efforts may have erased much of the deficit but they did not erase the memory of a top order in all manner of disarray

Joe Burns is in trouble and the team in trouble with normally reliable batsmen made like headless chooks and the Indians made the most of a difficult wicket to bat on.

To be fair to Burns, he looked no worse than any of the top six, indeed he looked positively assured for the 41 balls he faced by comparison to – trigger warning this next observation may startle some readers – Steve Smith.

The world’s best batsman had a torrid time of it in the afternoon session, flailing at balls which should have been left alone and playing without any conviction or confidence.

Smith is suffering a rare century drought having not reached three figures since his innings at Old Trafford in the Ashes.

Where usually Australia breathes a little easier at the sight of its two eccentric batsman, Smith and Labuschage, in the middle it was far from the case today.

In one Bumrah over soon after lunch Marnus Labuschagne was put down at square leg by Prithvi Shaw and Smith edged one just short of a diving Virat Kohli in the slips.

The rattled batsmen then did their best to run each other out on a couple of occasions.

Labuschagne rode his luck. He was dropped on the boundary by Bumrah off the bowling of Mohammed Shami earlier on the boundary when the fielder appeared to lose sense of his place in the field.

It was not a difficult chance but the one Shaw put down was an absolute sitter.

Smith was eventually dismissed when Ravi Ashwin was brought into the attack. He had faced 29 deliveries and scored just one run.

Labuschagne appeared to settle down once Smith departed and while it will go down as one of his least convincing innings it has helped alleviate some of Australia’s blushes.

Travis Head came and went, barely leaving an impression. The South Australian was fooled in flight by Ashwin and spooned an easy catch back to the bowler.

Cameron Green looked like he belonged but fell victim to a spectacular catch by Kohli at mid wicket off the bowling of the same spinner.

He was out for 11 and by getting there became only the second in the top six to make double figures.

His issues are, hopefully, isolated to Adelaide, the pink ball and the class of the bowling, but the issues at the top of the order cannot be contained to this match.

Burns came to Adelaide trailing behind him first class scores of 0, 1, 4, 0, 10, 11, 29, 0 and 7. It was only out of some sense of loyalty and memory that he was included in the XI. Loyalty, like memory, can only stretch so far but the selectors have made a rod for their own back.

The problem has become theirs not his and now they face the issue of what to do in Melbourne.

Matthew Wade was included as Burns’ makeshift partner for this match and every indication is he will have to stay there in the next as David Warner is highly unlikely to be fit by Boxing Day.

Joe Burns. Picture: AFP
Joe Burns. Picture: AFP

It would be madness to rush Warner and risk his series. Groin injuries are particularly debilitating to batsmen who gain their power by movement forward or back at the crease, particularly limiting to batsmen when they run between wickets and a similar when it comes to chasing balls in the field.

Batting will be easier at the MCG but it is highly unlikely it will get any easier at Adelaide.

Selectors look forced to stick with Burns in Melbourne or they will find themselves with stop-gap and a makeshift opener.

They brought Marcus Harris into the squad as cover for Warner but decided not to play that card despite the Victorian scoring a double century in one of three Sheffield Shield innings.

They could have recalled Usman Khawaja, a proven quantity, but for some reason the Queensland captain seems to have fallen from the selector’s favour.

The situation is a right mess.

India’s total of 244 looked inadequate when posted but gained in stature as Australian wickets fell during the afternoon.

Curator Damian Hough thought he had got the preparation right but was robbed of the chance to monitor how the wicket played because there were no Sheffield Shield games played here before the big event.

It should not get any easier to bat on the remaining days of the Test which looks certain not to last five days.

Adrian McMurray 10.35pm: India 1-9 at stumps on day two

Bumrah plays some handy defensive shots to see the day out, and that’s stumps. India finish the day 1-9 with a lead of 62 runs. Huge day for the visitors, who were superb with the ball, but it was also a significant day for Paine, who stood up when it mattered most. He’s kept Australia in the contest almost single-handedly. India’s lower order collapse to start the day feels like it was a lot longer than seven hours ago. And what a day it has been: 15 wickets fell! The day belonged to India but there’s still a long way to go in this match. Thanks for joining us, we’ll be back to blog day three on Saturday.

Robert Craddock 10.24pm: Chappell ordered to leave Adelaide Oval

Test legend Ian Chappell has been ordered to leave the ground that has a grandstand named after him and could be forced into 14-days quarantine as the COVID crisis rocked Australian cricket.

In dramatic scenes at Adelaide Oval, Chappell was told by the South Australian Government midway through day two that he had to leave the venue and immediately isolate as a result of Sydney’s COVID outbreak.

Ian Chappell. Picture: Adam Yip
Ian Chappell. Picture: Adam Yip

Northern Beaches resident Chappell will undergo a COVID test in the morning, and on Friday night did not know if he’d be forced into mandatory quarantine.

Read the full story here.

Adrian McMurray 10.23pm: Shaw departs early

WICKET! Cummins bowls Shaw! Great length and Shaw is out for 4. We won’t see Pujara tonight, they’ve turned to Bumrah as the nightwatchman. He bowled 21 overs today so he’ll be tired. India 1-7.

Adrian McMurray 10.18pm: Agarwal dropped

India’s second innings begins! Shaw and Agarwal face Starc first. Shaw off the mark with a single on the first ball. Cummins is down the other end for the hosts, and he almost gets Agarwal in his first over. Big edge and Paine dives to his right but can’t hold it. It looked as though it would’ve carried to Burns at first slip …

India 0-7 after three overs.

Adrian McMurray 9.57pm: Australia all out for 191

WICKET! Hazlewood the last to fall off the bowling of Yadav. Hazlewood backs away and tries to ease it over the slips, but Pujara jumps and takes the catch. Australia all out for 191, trailing India by 53 after the first innings. It could’ve been a lot worse but for Paine, who finished unbeaten on 73. Brilliant knock from the captain, who’s given his side a chance. We have around 25 minutes of play left today, let’s see what India can do.

Adrian McMurray 9.54pm: Paine and gain

Masterful work from Paine, he pulls out the reverse sweep for the first time in the 71st over and is rewarded with a boundary. He adds a single off the last ball of that Ashwin over and remains on strike. Phew.

Good placement and running from Paine, adding runs and keeping the strike, frustrating Bumrah. Kohli’s looking frustrated. Paine ends the over with four, poor delivery punished with a pull shot.

Australia 9-191, trailing by 53. Paine 73*, Hazlewood 8*.

Adrian McMurray 9.36pm: Lyon gone

Lyon survives an lbw shout from Ashwin, not given but India review. Hot spot shows bat was involved. Lyon remains. He hits a beautiful boundary the next over off Shami, but falls to Ashwin the next. WICKET! Kohli takes the catch at midwicket and Australia are nine down. Hazlewood comes to the middle at 9-167, Australia trailing by 77 runs.

Adrian McMurray 9.13pm: Warne’s umpire rant, Paine brings up 50

Ashwin looks to have his fourth, appeal for lbw on Lyon. It’s sent for review and there’s a big inside edge.

Lyon survives, but that doesn’t stop Shane Warne getting stuck into umpire Bruce Oxenford for the second day in a row.

“Is that our man Oxenford again? He’s having a shocker,” Warne says on Fox Cricket.

Nice cut shot from Paine, who brings up 50 with a boundary! Huge stand by the Aussie captain. He adds another four off Shami later in the over, and moves to 55*. Lyon remains on 1*. Australia 8-156 at the drinks break.

“It’s been good fun,” Paine tells Fox Cricket.

“They are getting tired, they’ve been bowling all day.”

Adrian McMurray 9.06pm: Starc here for a good time, not a long time

WICKET! It was fun while it lasted, but Starc has been run out on 15. Paine calls for two, but Shaw fields it and Saha does the rest.

That brings Lyon to the middle, the pair add another four runs that over. Australia 8-143 trailing India by 101 runs.

Adrian McMurray 8.51pm: More woeful fielding from India

Another one dropped! This time it’s Paine, and Agarwal looks like he’s been practising catching with Shaw. What could’ve been if they’d held some of these catches today.

Starc isn’t mucking around here, and the runs are starting to come a little more freely. Paine 36*, Starc 11*, Australia 7-132 trailing by 112 runs.

Adrian McMurray 8.31pm: Disaster for Australia as wickets tumble

WICKET! Labuschagne departs for 47, lbw off the bowling of Yadav. Marnus chats to Paine, and decides to roll the dice and review it but is shaking his head. Did that collect an edge? Nothing on hot spot or snicko. It’s plumb. Ball tracker says it’s hitting, and that’s Labuschagne and a review gone. Cummins to the middle, Australia 6-111.

Disaster for Australia as Cummins departs for a duck just three balls later! It collected the shoulder of the bat and Rahane takes the catch. Yadav has two for the over. Australia 7-111 after 54 overs, trailing India by 133 runs.

Adrian McMurray 8.23pm: Paine goes to work

Ashwin gets us underway in the final session of the day. Big couple of hours here for Australia. This could be the match if things don’t improve.

And it’s a good positive first few overs for the hosts. Paine, not a noted massive scorer, starts to go to work, hitting Yadav first for four, and following it up with two more in the next Bumrah over. The captain is looking more assured at the crease, and the partnership moves to 32. Paine 26* from 37 balls, Labuschagne 47*, Australia 5-111 after 53 overs.

Adrian McMurray 7.42pm: Aussies with it all to do in third session

Australia work their way to 5-92 at the second break, with Labuschagne 46* closing in on a half century and Paine 9*. They trail India by 152 runs. That was a bad session for the hosts, losing key wickets and still struggling to keep the run rate ticking over. As long as Marnus is out there they’re a chance of keeping within striking distance of India’s first innings total. A lot of work to do, however, India’s bowlers have been superb.

Adrian McMurray 7.28pm: How many lives does Marnus have?

Big shout for lbw on Labuschagne off Shami’s bowling, but there was a big inside edge onto the back pad.

Paine moves off the mark with a four, finding space around deep point.

The next over, Shami appears to have got Labuschagne, caught behind. Marnus begins to walk, the umpire gives him out and he reviews immediately. Replays show there was nothing on the bat, and no lbw. How many lives does Labuschagne have?! He’s on 43*, Paine on 4*, Australia 5-84 after 44 overs.

Adrian McMurray 7.11pm: Green’s innings ends on 11

WICKET! Ashwin gets his third. Green’s first innings in Test cricket comes to an end, courtesy of a spectacular catch from Kohli who dived to his right at mid-wicket. The Indian skipper is up and about, showing his teammates how to do it in the field. Green gone for 11, and Paine comes to the middle. Australia 5-79 after 41 overs.

Peter Lalor 7.02pm: Australia in a panic

Rarely do you see Steve Smith as flustered, rarely do you witness such lack of understanding between himself and Marnus Labuschagne, but this pitch and this Indian attack have the Australians in a panic.

God help Australia batting last here, especially as they look like conceding a large first innings lead.

Smith and Labuschagne lost their composure after lunch during a searing examination from the Indian quicks.

Jasprit Bumrah has them in all sorts. Smith could not score off him or any of the batsman. He faced 29 balls for one solitary run and never looked like scoring.

The Indians set the field back for the hook and attacked his body.

Smith reportedly struggled against the pink ball – especially short bowling – during centre wicket practice during the week.

He also missed a key day’s training two days out because of a back spasm.

Twice Labuschagne hooked and twice he was dropped. The first time Bumrah dropped him off the bowling of Shami on the rope.

Prithvi Shaw then put down a very straight forward chance dropping back at square leg from another mistimed hook.

When Labuschagne did score it was rarely convincing.

When Ashwin came on to bowl in the afternoon the batsmen might have felt some relief but he had Smith caught at slip with the variation that goes straight – in this case straight to first slip.

Soon after Travis Head spooned back the simplest of caught and bowled chances to Ashwin who made no mistake.

Adrian McMurray 6.49pm: Disaster for Australia as Head departs

WICKET! Ashwin gets his second, this time it’s Head. He’s gone for 7 after he scoops it back to Ashwin, who takes the catch. That brings Green to the crease. Tricky time for the debutant to enter the fray with Australia reeling. He gets a single off his first, and Australia are 4-66 after 35 overs.

Adrian McMurray 6.36pm: Head survives lbw shout

Right, Labuschagne and Head need to stay composed here. The No 3 finds the boundary twice in a Yadav over.

The next over there’s a big shout for lbw on Head, Ashwin again. The umpire’s unmoved and Kohli sends it up. No bat involved, it hit the front pad … but it’s umpire’s call and it’s just missing leg stump. The original decision stands.

Labuschagne 38*, Head 5*, Australia 3-62 after 32 overs.

Adrian McMurray 6.17pm: Spin is Smith’s undoing

India turn Ashwin for some spin, and he almost has an immediate effect.

There’s confusion between Smith and Labuschagne, and India think they’ve run out Smith. It’s sent up for an umpire referral, and Smith made it back … just.

But just four balls later – WICKET! Smith tries to defend but edges to Rahane at first slip. Brilliant ball from Ashwin. Smith gone for just 1. Incredible. Australia 3-45 with Travis Head to the middle.

Adrian McMurray 5.54pm: Labuschagne, Smith living dangerously

The second session begins! Labuschagne 16* and Smith 1* to continue. India continue with Shami and Bumrah.

Labuchagne survives another dropped catch! Bumrah the bowler, Labuschagne hooks to around square leg, and it falls out of Shaw’s grip. Huge drop, huge let off for the Australian!

Two balls later Smith edges to the slips, but it doesn’t carry. The Fox Cricket team are calling on the Indian slips to move up. Both batsmen living dangerously. Australia 2-41.

Peter Lalor 5.29pm: Starc equals Benaud mark

Mitchell Starc has moved past West Australian legend Graham McKenzie and is equal with Richie Benaud on Australia’s all-time wicket-taking list after an impressive performance with the ball in the first innings at Adelaide.

Benaud presented Starc with his baggy green in December 2011, an experience the bowler described as overwhelming.

It was a brilliant team performance by the Australian seamers and spinners to restrict India to less than 250.

Starc set the tone when he bowled opener Prithvi Shaw with his second delivery and was just too much for the Indian tail on day two.

Like Mitchell Johnson in the 2012-13 Ashes, he bowls short and fast at tail enders. The Indian lower order looked as if it wanted to be anywhere but in the middle during his spell.

The short ball wasn’t always the one which took the wicket, but it prompted the nervous opposition to hit out at anything in reach.

Read the full story here.

Adrian McMurray 5.03pm: Bumrah drops a sitter

Oh boy, Labuschagne is riding his luck today!

The No 3 is dropped by Bumrah on the rope. The Indian paceman must’ve thought he was closer to the boundary than he actually was, jumping while running back and attempting to flick it back. But he missed it all together and it resulted in four.

Australia 2-35 at the main break, trailing by 209 runs. With Smith and Labuschagne at the crease, we’re set for a sensational second session.

Peter Lalor 4.55pm: Warner’s spot is safe

Oh Joe Burns! Plays around his pad, possibly collecting a piece of it, as he attempted to deflect a Jasprit Bumrah yorker down to fine leg.

Burns had 62 runs from nine innings leading into this Test and now has 70 from 10.

Gideon Haigh just observed in his usual manner that he thinks David Warner’s spot is safe.

Burns’ makeshift opening partner Matthew Wade was out earlier on the same score.

The Marnus Labuschagne-Steve Smith bromance has now moved to the middle of Adelaide Oval.

Adrian McMurray 4.54pm: Burns falls for 8

Labuschagne wastes little time adding some runs, hitting three boundaries and pulling off this leave.

Marnus doing Marnus things.

Down the other end however … WICKET! Bumrah traps Burns lbw with a yorker. It’s given, and sent for a review. The noise on snicko is Burns hitting his toe with the bat. Ball tracking has it just collecting leg stump. Again, umpire’s call on that so the original decision stands but the review isn’t lost. Burns departs for 8, and Smith joins Labuschagne in the middle. Australia 2-29.

Adrian McMurray 4.37pm: Wade departs for 8

WICKET! Big appeal for lbw on Wade from Bumrah, it’s given. The opener elects to review. It’s hit him flush just above the knee roll. No bat involved. Straight to ball tracker, and it’s in line and hitting. Umpire’s call, so Wade’s gone, but Australia retain the review. That could be handy later. A bruising first taste of the top of the order for Wade, gone for just 8. Labuschagne to the middle. Australia 1-16.

Adrian McMurray 4.20pm: Pain for Wade

Wade wears a Yadev bouncer around his elbow. That’s got to hurt. There are now two protecting the hook shot now, so it appears we won’t be seeing that from Wade for now at least. He’d rather take the punishment.

If you thought the Indian run rate was slow yesterday, Australia are sitting at 1.18 after 11 overs. They’re 0-13, Wade 7* and Burns 5*. BUT they’ve got plenty of time to work earlier in the day before things get a little bit more unpredictable under lights. Here’s hoping this is the start of something.

Peter Lalor 4.02pm: Worrying signs for Burns

Worrying signs there for Burns, took 14 balls to get off mark but three balls later Jasprit Bumrah dropped short and had him in all sorts.

It was a beautiful deliver passing over middle and leg at chest height.

Burns was on the front foot and didn’t seem to react until it was brushing his chest, almost as if he didn’t pick it up.

Needs to bat with some intent here because it looks like there’s a ball with his name on it.

I hope I’m wrong, because Burns is a good cricketer and beloved part of the team.

Adrian McMurray 4.00pm: Openers get off the mark

Kohli has set a very attacking field: three slips, short leg and a man at gully. He’s certainly piling on the pressure early.

Wade gets Australia off the mark with a boundary off the bowling of Yadev. First runs come in the fifth over, Wade finding some space around cover. He adds a single the next ball, and some relief for the new opener.

Burns gets going the next over, and he runs two! Good to see him off the mark as well.

A Bumrah bouncer deflects off Burns’ shoulder. The Indians appeal, but there was no bat or glove involved. Good to see Burns is OK. Australia 0-8 after six overs.

Adrian McMurray 3.45pm: Openers make a cautious start

Burns and Wade are out in the middle, let’s see what they can produce.

Yadev begins, Bumrah down the other end. The openers navigate the first three overs without getting off the mark. Australia 0-0.

Peter Lalor 3.30pm: The view from Adelaide Oval

Australia swooped and took 4-11 in four overs to get India all out for 244 20 minutes into play.

The focus now shifts to Matthew Wade and Joe Burns, Australia’s problematic opening pair.

Burns is in woeful form but maybe because he has nothing to lose it might just pay off. Against the pink ball early you need positive intent and trying to defend his position has failed thus far.

Wade is a gritty cricketer and who knows, if he makes a fist of this will he find himself opening for longer than anticipated.

When David Warner returns somebody has to go and if Burns fails again it is obviously him that goes.

Cam Green is last on board but can’t be first off.

Oh yeah, that was one of Australia’s great bowling performances. Cummins was magnificent and finished with 3-48, Starc knocked off top and tail to finish with 4-53, Lyon and Hazlewood kept the pressure on.

They bowled as a team and should be proud of their work.

Adrian McMurray 3.22pm: India all out for 244

WICKET! Shami gone for a duck, Cummins gets his second of the day.

“That’s probably as good as you could’ve planned it,” Starc tells Fox Cricket at the end of the innings.

Indeed. India all out for 244. All eyes on the Australian openers now: Burns and Wade will be out there soon.

Adrian McMurray 3.20pm: Starc gets another one

WICKET! Starc again, his fourth of the innings. Yadev goes for a pretty wild slog, it’s high and Wade comes across from mid-on to take the catch. Well executed by the former keeper. Yadev departs for 6, India 9-240.

Adrian McMurray 3.09pm: Another wicket falls

WICKET! The very next over, Starc strikes. Saha hangs the bat out and Paine takes the catch. India in all sorts! Two wickets in just nine balls. Saha out for 9, India 8-235.

Adrian McMurray 3.04pm: Cummins makes a perfect start to day two

WICKET! On the third ball of the day, a superb ball from Cummins outside off. Ashwin’s outside edge finds the waiting gloves of Paine, and that’s exactly what the hosts would’ve hoped for. Ashwin gone for 15, India 7-234, and you’d think Australia won’t be in the field for too much longer.

Adrian McMurray 3.00pm: Play begins on day two

Welcome back for day two. Ashwin 15* and Saha 9* to resume in the middle for India, who are 6-233. Cummins up first for Australia.

Ben Horne 1.30pm: Lee flies home as virus strikes Sydney

Brett Lee has flown home from the Adelaide Test due to the COVID-19 virus which has sent a shudder through Australian cricket ranks.

Brett Lee. Picture: Getty Images
Brett Lee. Picture: Getty Images

Broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7 have had to stand down several members of their staff – including senior production figures, in response to Sydney’s Northern Beaches cluster.

Fox commentator Lee is a resident of the Northern Beaches and is on a flight back home to Sydney to be with family.

Lee has no symptoms and has not been to any of the notified hot spots, but he has spent an enormous amount of time in quarantine due to the IPL and does not want to risk spending Christmas with his family.

Several staff members from both networks have been stood down pending COVID tests.

Read the full story here.

NCA Newswire 11am: Warne accused of ‘casual racism’

Australian Test legend Shane Warne has been caught up in a racism storm after referring to Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara as “Steve” during the first Test in Adelaide.

The Indian stalwart was given the nickname when he played county cricket for Yorkshire in England, and it was also raised by Warne and others during India’s last tour of Australia in 2018/19.

Warne referred to Pujara as “Steve” on the Fox Cricket broadcast numerous times during India’s first innings on Thursday.

Pujara has spoken about the nickname before and revealed it was given to him by English teammates because his name was hard to pronounce.

Shane Warne.
Shane Warne.
Cheteshwar Pujara.
Cheteshwar Pujara.

But it comes amid an avalanche of racist allegations being levelled at Yorkshire, first raised by player Azeem Rafiq which sparked an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket board.

This week Rafiq also filed a legal complaint against the club alleging racism and discrimination and the Pakistan-born spinner‘s claims were backed by other ex-Yorkshire cricketers and staff.

One former Yorkshire employee, Taj Butt, also alleged that players called “called every person of colour ‘Steve’.”

“Even Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined as an overseas professional, was called Steve because they could not pronounce his name,” Butt told ESPN cricinfo.

Warne’s comments earned a wide rebuke across social media, labelled as “unprofessional” and “racist”.

One fan wrote on Twitter: “Referring to Pujara as ‘Steve’ is: a) unprofessional, b) disrespectful, C) racist. Learn to say his name”.

Warne was also accused of being a party to casual racism.

In 2018 Pujara revealed the origins of the nickname which was created by Yorkshire teammate Jack Brooks.

“Well I would prefer Cheteshwar, but it’s difficult to pronounce so the guys have come up with Steve,” Pujara told ESPN in 2018.

“But personally, I would prefer Cheteshwar. Jack Brooks started off with this. He couldn’t pronounce my first name so he was asking me what nickname do I have. I said I don’t have any.

“So they said, ‘we will start calling you Steve’. Initially, they started calling me ‘Puj’, but they have started calling me Steve again. It’s a good nickname, but I prefer Cheteshwar.”

Gideon Haigh 10.30am: Day 1 review — Kohli falls deputy’s vice

Accidents will happen, Mr Micawber reminded us, in the best-regulated families. And two experienced by Virat Kohli on Thursday defined the first day of the renewed contest for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

His innings ended up being framed by two errors of the kind that in our modern, hyper-professionalised times should hardly happen – although they did, perhaps, because the players have gone so long without the peculiar complexities of Test cricket.

On 16, Kohli profited from an Australian DRS blink. It was not a gaffe of the kind with which Tim Paine has previously been associated; it was a hesitation, almost of politeness, nobody wanting to be too pushy about the possibility of a nick down leg side.

For a time, it looked disastrous, as Kohli played wonderfully. Everything extraneous was shut-out, every fibre directed at a match-defining hundred. Even the leaves – and these were plentiful – were full of purpose, reinforcing his own sense of control, like that of a thoroughly reformed smoker no longer tempted by proximity of a packet of cigarettes.

Then, a culpable error by Kohli’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, a skittish runner prone to taking a few anxious steps down the pitch in such a way as to draw partners on. Cricket crimes don’t come more heinous than surrendering a Test wicket for the sake of a single – let alone that of a captain, on 74, who is about to go home, from whom you are about to take over. The dressing room might have seen a flash of the old Kohli.

Read the full story here.

Russell Gould 10am: ‘Be patient with Green’, Watson urges

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has called for “patience” with rising star Cameron Green who made his Test debut in Adelaide yesterday.

Watson, one of only three Australians to make a century in all three forms of cricket and who finished his international career with nearly 10,000 runs and 250 wickets, hailed the 21-year-old Green.

Cameron Green charges in to bowl yesterday. Picture: AFP
Cameron Green charges in to bowl yesterday. Picture: AFP

He labelled the feats in Green’s short career, which recently included a century for Australia A against India which cemented his Test selection, as “extraordinary”.

But Watson, who made close to 4000 runs and took 75 wickets in his 59 Tests, also urged caution around the young West Australian.

“Everyone needs to be patient with him. He’s got incredible skill and we want to let him shine for as long as we possibly can,” Watson said.

During his nine overs yesterday, Green consistently topped the 140kmh mark. He finished with the figures of 0/15.

Read the full story here.

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A potential Cameron Green sized hole has left Aussie selectors with a huge headache. And after having their first look at how to solve it, it’s now even more unclear, as a 19-year-old and a veteran both made monster hundreds.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-india-first-test-day-2-live-coverage-from-adelaide-oval-shane-warne-slammed-over-cheteshwar-pujara-steve-label/news-story/64c86083384fba18c55d1d7e92bf8dd8