India vs Australia: There were no demons on the pitch, as feared by a section of the Australian cricket fraternity, in Nagpur on the opening day of the first Test. However, the visitors were bundled out for 177 in just 63. 5 overs with none of their batters managing to get a fifty.
Australia failed the trial by spin against India on Day 1 in Nagpur (AP Photo)
By Akshay Ramesh: Mind games, as expected were played in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the much-anticipated Test series of the season. Even before the first ball was bowled, the battle began off the field with a few former Australian cricketers and the Australian media taking digs at the pitches that are on offer in India.
Terms like “unfair” pitches and “systematically doctored” pitches in India were used in the lead-up to the first Test in Nagpur. Even as Australia were training in Alur, Bengaluru in a 4-day camp where they simulated pitches to prepare for the trial by spin, a first-look of the pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, days ahead of the first Test, got the Australian followers talking.
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy took a strongly-worded dig at India, saying Australia would win the Test series if India offer ‘fair’ pitches. There was hue and cry even at the way the curators at the Nagpur stadium went about watering the 22-yards in the lead-up to the 1st Test as the Australian media alleged doctoring of the turf at the VCA Stadium.
Even as Australia captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald played down the buzz around the pitch on the eve of the Test, it was evident that the tourists were not able to shut out the noise.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma kept it simple with a cheeky comment when he addressed the press on the eve of the 1st Test.
“Itna pitch mat dekho, cricket khelo. After all, the 22 guys out there are all quality players,” Rohit had said.
OUTSIDE NOISE AFFECTED AUSTRALIA?
As it turned out, Australian players, it seemed, were affected by all the chatter around the pitch in Nagpur. From the evidence of the first day’s play, there were not many demons on the pitch but the visitors squandered an opportunity to post a competitive total even after winning the toss and opting to bat. Australia lasted just 63.5 overs and managed 177 with none of their batters getting past 50.
The Nagpur pitch offered help to Indian spinners on Day 1 but it did not turn as much as Pune did in 2017 or Mumbai did in 2004-05 or even Chennai did when England were rolled over in the 2nd Test of a 4-match Test series in 2021.
Incidentally, India’s pacers drew first blood, having Australia reeling at 2 for 2 inside the first two overs. Usman Khawaja fell prey to Mohammed Siraj’s inswing as early as the 2nd over while Mohammed Shami sent the stumps cartwheeling even as David Warner was struggling to get his footwork going. It seemed as if Warner was already thinking how he would negate the Indian spinners but his end in the first innings came as early as the 3rd over.
SMITH AND MARNUS SHOW THE WAY
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, two of the finest batters in the modern era, showcased that run-making was not as difficult as it seemed on the Nagpur pitch as they put their head down and added 82 runs for the 3rd wicket. Smith survived an early chance against Axar Patel when Virat Kohli, at first slip, dropped a difficult chance. However, Smith went for an expansive drive that led to the thick outside edge.
Smith and Labuschagne waited for the ball to come to them as the two batters were willing to play on the back foot. When they went forward, they did so with conviction and smothered the turn from the Indian spinners. The two batters did not miss out on the rare loose deliveries that were offered to them.
However, their resistance lasted only until Lunch as Ravindra Jadeja, playing his first competitive match at the international level since September 2022, sent back Marnus Labuschagne by wonderfully setting up the World No. 1 Test batter. Labuschagne, who was batting on 49, saw a flighted delivery and his eyes lit up. However, Jadeja had considerably slowed it down and allowed the ball to turn from the middle and beat the outside edge of Labuschagne who was well down the crease before he was stumped by debutant KS Bharat.
Steve Smith, meanwhile, got a beauty from Ravindra Jadeja that went with the arm while the former captain was waiting for a bit of turn.
Even Peter Handscomb looked composed before he missed a sweep against Jadeja while batting with the tail.
Alex Carey, who lost his wicket after trying to play one too many reverse-sweep against R Ashwin, could have carried on had he stayed more composed after getting a solid start.
A few Australia batters, including Labuschagne and Carey, would not want to watch the replays of their wickets as they threw their wickets away when the team needed them to be there and build partnerships.
The gulf in execution and clarity between the two bowling attacks became more evident when Australian pacers handed freebies to Rohit Sharma at the start of the Indian innings. Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy were negated with relative ease by the Indian openers before the latter, who made his Test debut, picked the wicket of KL Rahul in the penultimate over of the day’s play.
Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 56 after having scored a moral victory over the Australians with his positive approach on Day 1.
Anything might happen in the next few days in Nagpur but from early signs, the pitch is not going to be the villain. All the chatter around the 22 yards has already cost Australia the chance to take an early advantage in the series opener, which is crucial when it comes to setting the tone in such a high-profile series.
