Australia v India, first Test day three: Pat Cummins’ side routed for lowest ever score in India
Australia has collapsed to its lowest ever total on Indian soil, suffering a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Nagpur.
Pat Cummins’ side has been humiliated in the first Test of the Nagpur Test match, beaten by an innings and 132 runs on a day when its batsmen put in the worst performance of any Australian side in India.
The tourists were bundled out for 91 in a nightmare second session.
It is the lowest ever innings score by an Australian side in these parts, two runs worse than the 93 posted on a minefield in Mumbai back in 2004.
At least that time the wicket was to blame.
There’s no blaming the wicket when the opposition post 400 but there’s potential to blame the state of mind the Australians approached the game in.
RECAP BEN HORNE’S LIVE COVERAGE OF DAY THREE BELOW
A game that got off to a bad start got worse and then worse still.
Selectors, coaches, batters, bowlers and even supporters will have a lot of soul searching to do after the first Test ended in a clatter of wickets.
Questions will be asked about dropping Travis Head, further questions will be asked about how long David Warner has left in Test cricket, and academic papers will be commissioned on how a side that looked to have so much potential could be so soundly beaten.
Todd Murphy, on debut, took seven wickets but his more senior bowling partners were treated with disdain by India’s tail.
Experienced openers Usman Khawaja and Warner contributed 17 runs in the match.
Matthew Renshaw made two in his two innings.
Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland did not trouble the opposition, while India’s bowlers bamboozled the Australian batters.
Indian opener Rohit Sharma scored a century and the hosts’ number seven Ravindra Jadeja and number nine Axar Patel both notched up half centuries.
Steve Smith’s 25no was the best by any of the Australians in the second dig after Ravi Ashwin (5-37) and his mate Jadeja (2-34) repeatedly beat the bat of the opposition.
Five of the top seven were trapped in front. Khawaja was caught at slip slashing at one in the rough and Smith was undefeated.
They started the game on the back foot, convinced there were demons in the Nagpur wicket and were bowled out for just 177.
Any suggestion the pitch was to blame was banished by India’s batting.
Sharma scored a century and the wicket was so benign that the tail batted with ease.
Thank god for Todd Murphy, otherwise all would be negative for Australia at Nagpur in the first Test with India bringing up 400 in the first innings and the visitors 223 runs in arrears before their second starts.
Things are grim for the visitors.
They dropped Head, they dropped catches and they dropped heads as the Indian batsmen proved the panic about left-handed batters on this wicket was unfounded and the Indian lower order had a picnic against our most experienced bowlers.
At least there is some good news.
Murphy took 7-124 and if first impressions are any guide has proved himself the heir apparent to Nathan Lyon’s place in the Australian side.
There’s no rush for the 35-year-old to go anywhere, but there was no obvious replacement for him either.
Where selectors might have been encouraged to stick with the best off spinner the country ever produced, they now have the luxury of knowing that Murphy is their man.
Murphy confirmed all that by becoming the youngest Australian ever to take five wickets on debut and then drove the point home by taking his sixth and then seventh.
As for the rest of Australian cricket, well, the less said the better.
Scott Boland (0-34) dropped Mohammed Shami on the third morning when the bowler was on six, that followed Steve Smith putting down two chances on the previous day.
Given a life, the bowler made his opposite numbers pay. Lyon (1-126) would be unhappy that he missed Shami’s wicket, Murphy would be a little chagrined that the Indian lived to strikes two sixes off him and push his conceded runs into three figures.
Pat Cummins (2-78) bowled one over in the first over hour which was extraordinary given he had broken Shami’s hand in Australia last series. It’s a different pitch, but even in these conditions bowlers tend not to like the quicks coming at them _ especially if previously assaulted.
They are a resilient lot these Australians but it is going to take more than resilience to dig entire way out of this hole.
FIRST TEST, DAY THREE LIVE
7.49PM AUSSIES BOWLED OUT FOR LOWEST EVER TOTAL IN INDIA
Australia has been completely humiliated in Nagpur, bowled out for 91 their lowest ever defeat on Indian soil.
Scott Boland was the last man out for 0, the sixth lbw dismissal of the dismal innings.
Australia has suffered a humiliating innings and 132 run defeat – gifting India a 1-0 advantage in the series within three days.
It is Australia’s second lowest score overall against India, the lowest, 83, coming in Melbourne in 1981.
Pressure is now on for selectors to make changes, with history now against Australia’s chances of reviving themselves in this series.
Australia’s previous lowest total in India was back in 2004 in Wankhede when they were skittled for 93.
Steve Smith has played a lone hand for Australia, and himself would have been out bowled for 23 if not for a Ravi Jadeja front foot no ball earning him a reprieve.
Matt Hayden said Australia had to stop its siege mentality, with a positive attitude and hard work the only way to get out of jail in India.
7.24PM CUMMINS, MURPHY FALLS AMID CALLS FOR MASS CHANGES
Australia is collapsing towards embarrassing defeat in Nagpur, but what impact could this potentially record loss in India have on the rest of the tour?
Test great and Fox Cricket expert Mark Waugh has major concerns over what affect the disastrous batting performance could have on the mindset of the team for the rest of the tour.
Pat Cummins joined the procession of Australian batsmen falling to Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Waugh said Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey are the only three batsmen that he’s not worried about for this series.
The former National Selector said changes must be made.
“There’s going to have to be changes for Australia. Too many bruises have been taken from this game to move forward with some players,” Waugh said on Fox.
“Cameron green if he’s fit, he’s got to come back in. Travis Head has to come back in at 5 and 6 straight away. I know it’s only tough to give certain players one Test but you have to think on your feet and go on your gut feeling. That’s what I would do anyway.
“This has been a demolition job this. Even if Australia were going to get beat, what (will the) effect moving forward be, confidence wise with a lot of the batsmen. After today, most of the batsmen are really going to be searching for answers the next couple of Test matches.”
This is ending very, very quickly at the moment
Whenever Australia loses by an innings in India (and its happened three times), it always by more than 100 runs.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) February 11, 2023
7.01PM ASHWIN’S LBW FEAST CONTINUES WITH CAREY LATEST TO FALL
Australia is facing its lowest ever total on Indian soil, with Ravi Ashwin embarrassing the visitors in Nagpur.
Ashwin has 5-34 with Alex Carey joining David Warner, Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb as his lbw victims.
Australia’s lowest ever total in India is 93 and that is in major danger with Pat Cummins’ team 6-64.
6.51PM HANDSCOMB LATEST VICTIM AS INDIA RUN RIOT
Australia’s tour of India is in disarray with Peter Handscomb following the procession of collapsing Aussie batsmen.
At 5-52, Australia is staring down the barrel of an embarrassing innings defeat within three days in Nagpur.
Handscomb was nailed lbw by Ravi Ashwin, who has four wickets and has been the chief destroyer.
Ashwin now has Warner 11 times in Test cricket after trapping the Aussie opener as well as Matthew Renshaw.
6.36PM WARNER, RENSHAW GONE AS AUSSIES CRUMBLE
Australia is staring down the barrel of embarrassing defeat in Nagpur unless Steve Smith can pull off a rescue mission for the ages.
The visitors are reeling at 4-42 after David Warner and Matthew Renshaw followed Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in making meek exits from the middle.
Warner smashed Ravi Ashwin for two fours to finally look like he was finding some scoring rhythm, but was then trapped lbw – with the umpire’s decision being upheld on umpire’s call.
It continues Warner’s struggles in India and Australia now need something special just to avoid an innings defeat.
Renshaw, preferred over the summer’s best batsman Travis Head for this Test – was out lbw for 2 following a first innings golden duck.
A disastrous three-day defeat is looming large.
6.25PM LABUSCHAGNE DEAD LBW TO JADEJA
Indian spin master Ravi Jadeja has started where he left off after the first innings, nailing Marnus Labuschagne stone dead lbw in the 11th over of the second dig.
Australia is in massive trouble at 2-26 and still just under 200 runs from making the Indians bat again.
Labuschagne was so plumb he didn’t even bother reviewing.
Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin are making it almost impossible for Australia to survive.
“Massive moment,” Matthew Hayden said in commentary.
“That is absolutely plumb. Middle stump would have plummeted out of the deck. Australia limping.”
6.08PM KOHLI HOWLER LETS WARNER OFF THE HOOK
David Warner has been given a life on one after another dropped catch from Indian master, Virat Kohli.
The former Indian skipper dropped two in the first innings, but this one was a dolly.
Warner prodded at a Ravi Ashwin delivery and Kohli dropped the regulation chance.
Australia is 1-19 with Marnus Labuschagne also lucky to survive an lbw shout from Mohammad Shami.
“The bit of luck David Warner needed,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“He would have had a good look at that, Virat Kohli. You’ve got to catch that. He just snatched at it.”
Kohli didn’t even get his hands close to it in the end. And looks anxious at first slip according to Waugh and Sunil Gavaskar.
5.57PM: INDIA DRAW FIRST BLOOD: KHAWAJA LOOSE SHOT
Australia is already under the pump in its bid to make India bat again in Nagpur, with Usman Khawaja out in just the second over for 5.
“India draw first blood,” Ravi Shastri said in commentary.
Australia were extremely lucky not to go two down the very next over, with Marnus Labuschagne getting out of jail with an lbw shout from Mohammad Shami.
Given the benefit of the doubt by the on-field umpire, Labuschagne survived on umpire’s call.
“That looked dead live,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“I’m very surprised that went the way of the batsman. Umpire’s call marginal, but a warning shot for him.”
Khawaja had just hit a beautiful cover drive for four off Ravi Ashwin, and couldn’t resist having another crack.
Only on second attempt he edged one to first slip to depart and leave Australia in major trouble at 1-7.
Usman Khawaja could not resist going for the drive. That’s the danger when you’re hitting out of that rough and it’s a bit full. That’s a bit of a loose shot,” Mark Waugh said on Fox.
“That’s just far too easy.”
India made 400 batting first and took a 223 run first-innings lead.
4.59PM PATEL OUT
The bail almost didn’t fall but Pat Cummins gets Patel going for a big swipe. The Indian innings ends on 400 and the hosts lead by 223. You’d have to say Australia is only a slim chance of bowling again.
4.40PM PATEL’S HIGHEST INNINGS
Axar Patel’s best Test innings before this was a score of 52.
But he’s no slouch with the bat, averaging 22.6 from 13 innings.
What a luxury for India to have a player of his quality coming in at No.9.
Patel currently is on 76 not out, which 27 more than Australia’s top scorer Marnus Labuschagne managed.
4.19PM INDIA’S NINTH-WICKET 50-RUN STAND
Mohammad Shami is going bonkers, taking the long handle to Todd Murphy to push India’s lead beyond 200.
Shami and Axar Patel have put on more than 50 for the ninth wicket.
Shami has a topscore in Test cricket of 56 not out and is currently 36 off 42 balls.
4.12PM AUSTRALIA WITH NO REVIEWS LEFT
Australia has burned its last review and Axar Patel and Mohammad Shami are piling on the pain in Nagpur.
As it stands, Shami is 21 not out and Axar 69 not out with India 8-363 as we type this update.
The lead is closing in on 200 and you have to wonder whether India will even bat again in this Test.
3.45PM: SLIPS THROUGH HIS FINGERS: LYON’S ROTTEN LUCK CONTINUES
Australia’s woes have intensified following a dropped catch by Scott Boland in the outfield.
With India’s lead now 163, Australia can’t afford any more damage.
But Boland let a skied chance from Indian tail ender Mohammad Shami slip through his fingers over his shoulder in the outfield.
Nathan Lyon has had some ordinary luck in the innings with DRS and also dropped catches.
3.27PM ‘HE COULD TAKE EIGHT’: MURPHY EYES RECORD HAUL
Todd Murphy has claimed the crucial wicket of danger man Ravindra Jadeja early on day three, but it’s a dismissal that won’t necessarily be lifting Australia’s confidence.
There is a noticeable increase in the amount of bite in the Nagpur surface on day three, just as Australia prepares to pad up for its second innings chasing a deficit in excess of 150.
Murphy’s dream debut has continued though, now pocketing six wickets.
Jadeja shouldered arms to one that came back and took his off-stump.
Fox Cricket expert Mark Waugh believes Murphy could end up with eight and replicate the debut of Jason Krejza at the same venue back in 2008.
Krejza took 8-215 on debut and Murphy is following suit with figures of 6-83.
Jadeja was the key wicket for Australia, with his stellar innings coming to an end at 70 off 185 balls.
But as Waugh said, the wicket was a blow for both teams because it is Australia that will soon need to bat again on this deck.
Australia also lost a DRS review after a failed bid by Nathan Lyon for an lbw appeal.
3.14PM HAS AUSSIE SAVIOUR JUST BOARDED A FLIGHT TO INDIA?
Australian superstar Mitchell Starc has been spotted at Sydney airport, ready to come to his team’s rescue in India.
The first Test isn’t even halfway through, but Australia’s hopes continue to fade the longer Indian pairing Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel stay at the crease.
India is 7-324 and leading by 147 runs with three wickets still in hand in an ominous sign for Australia’s chances of staying in the match.
There are serious hopes though that Starc will return for the second Test in Delhi next week.
Starc has been bowling at full speed in the nets and has maintained his workloads despite having the middle finger on his bowling hand in a splint ever since he badly damaged the tendon during the MCG Test.
The left-armer is a proven genius in subcontinental conditions and hugely helps Nathan Lyon’s bowling given the footmarks he provides for the off-spinner.
For Australia, they can’t get Starc to India soon enough.
Selectors considered the merits of gambling on Travis Head as an opening batsman for this series, and revisiting the radical plan might be his only avenue back in India.
Australia’s stunning decision to axe Head for the first Test has been put under a searing microscope, particularly given the left-hander preferred over him, Matthew Renshaw, was out for a golden duck and has now suffered a knee injury.
Renshaw passed a fitness test after scans and returned to the field in the middle session on day two, but even if he was to be ruled out of the second Test, Head might struggle to get his place back in the middle-order with all-rounder Cameron Green a certain inclusion if fit.
Therefore Head’s main chance of a reprieve might be if in the back end of this series, circumstances prompt selectors to consider reinventing him as a swashbuckling opener.
News Corp revealed back in December that selectors had not ruled out Head as an option at the top of the order, specifically in India, where he could attack from the get-go and not worry about getting bogged down in defending against the spinners.
National Selector George Bailey hinted after the Brisbane Test, when Head made a matchwinning 92 on a treacherous Gabba deck, that Australia might be willing to think outside the square with the star left-hander in India.
“Pat (captain Pat Cummins) is driving this team (to) being very, very adaptable,” Bailey said back in December.
“So I think there’s opportunities for players in the XI to play different roles at different times as well.
“So whether that’s the same for Travis in subcontinent tours. (We’ll) wait and see.”
It’s difficult to see selectors making any rash moves on veteran openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja mid-series.
When the veteran pair finished the home summer with big hundreds, it made the Head as opener plan unlikely.
But Fox Cricket expert and former Australian great Brad Haddin believes moving Head up the order might have been a wiser call than dropping him when he’d been arguably the Test team’s No. 1 batsman during the summer.
“You can understand why they’ve left him out. They don’t trust him the way he starts against spin,” Haddin said.
“But the one thing they could have done is put him up the order to take the game on. Because if he’s set and spin comes on then he’s a much different player.”
Win, lose or draw in Nagpur it would be unlikely for selectors to make further changes unless forced by injury or Green returning from injury.
Coach Andrew McDonald and Tony Dodemaide are the selectors on duty in India.
But depending on how the series progresses, perhaps consideration might be given to moving Khawaja or Warner down the order to accommodate an attacking weapon like Head at the top.
At age 36, Warner and Khawaja may have likely entered their last year in Test cricket, but it would be unusual for players of their experience and class to be shifted out of the line-up mid-series.
Test great Ricky Ponting defended selectors over the controversial call to drop Head.
“The more I thought about it, the fact that they played Matt Renshaw in Sydney to me meant they probably had other plans in mind for him,” Ponting said on the ICC Review Podcast.
“Obviously, the most immediate plan was for him to bat in the middle order for Australia in this Test series against India.
“And when you look at that, if they’re going to keep him in, they couldn’t really afford to keep Travis Head in either because then they would have five left-handers in their top seven.”
Other Test greats including Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden and Kerry O’Keeffe have questioned the decision to dispense with Head without even allowing him a chance to show his wares in India.
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