Australia failed to make the most of their decision to bat first in the first Test of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar series. The Australian batting line-up looked uncomfortable as the Baggy Greens could only manage to put up 177 on the board in the first innings against India at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 9, 2023 19:08 IST
Australia bowled out for 177 in Nagpur (AP)
By India Today Web Desk: Australia failed to make the most of their decision to bat first in the first Test of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar series. All the Australian batters looked uncomfortable as the Baggy Greens could only manage to put up 177 on the board in the first innings against India at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
Interestingly, this is the first time since 2005 that Australia have been bowled out for a total of under 200 runs while batting first in a Test match. The last time this happened, Steve Harmison picked up a five-wicket haul as England bundled Australia out for 190 at Lord’s in July 2005.
We’d have to go back to 1997 for the last time when Australia were bowled out for a total of under 177 in the first innings of a Test match (118 all out against England in Birmingham).
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As a matter of fact, Australia have only been bundled over for a total of less than 177 batting first against an Asian side, twice before in their history – once against Pakistan in 1956 (80 all out), and against Sri Lanka in 2004 (120 all out).
The visiting Australian batters found the Indian bowling attack too hot to handle at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The Indian fast-bowlers started the party early with Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami getting rid of Usman Khawaja and David Warner within the first three overs.
Then, Jadeja lured Marnus Labuschagne out of his crease with a smartly bowled slower ball as KS Bharat completed the stumping and then he trapped Matt Renshaw LBW to leave Australia reeling.
After R Ashwin had dented Australia further with the wickets of Alex Carey and Pat Cummins, Jadeja pushed the tourists back further, picking the wicket of debutant Todd Murphy, before dismissing Peter Handscomb to complete his five-wicket haul. Ashwin then sent Scott Boland packing as Australia were bowled out for 177 runs on the board in the first innings.
