AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 4: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s three-fers lead India to a comprehensive victory of 295 runs over Australia in Perth. India go 1-0 up.
Brief Score: IND 150 & 487/6d (Yashasvi Jaiswal 161, Virat Kohli 100, Nathan Lyon 2/96) beat AUS 104 & 238 (Travis Head 89, Mitchell Marsh 47, Jasprit Bumrah 3/42) by 295 runs.
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah led Team India from the front in the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The star pacer tasted victory as India’s Test captain for the first time. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, followed by Bumrah’s magnificent bowling, assisted India in recording their biggest victory (by margin of runs) in Tests on Australian soil.
India registered a dominant 295-run win over Australia in Perth and wrapped up the match with more than a day to spare. Australia resumed Day 4 on 12/3, needing a massive 534 runs for victory. But, they were all out for 238 soon after tea, with Bumrah scalping 3 wickets for 42 runs.
Talking Point: Mohammed Siraj’s return to form elevates India
Mohammed Siraj made a spectacular return to form with a brilliant performance in the first Test. He picked two wickets in the first innings and then registered figures of 3/51 in the second. Siraj’s resurgence has undoubtedly bolstered India’s bowling attack. His form provides the captain with enhanced options and flexibility in the bowling combinations which holds immense significance for the team.
The pacer showcased his ability to adapt seamlessly to different playing conditions. His versatility as a bowler allowed Team India to deploy him strategically, making him a valuable asset. Siraj’s form has indeed elevated India’s game, transforming him into a game-changer.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 3: India set target of 534; Australia in free fall at 12-3
Siraj runs riot as Travis Head plays lone wolf, AUS 104/5 at Lunch
Mohammed Siraj bowled a couple of incisive morning spells to remove the seasoned Usman Khawaja and the out-of-form Steven Smith. He struck early in his first over of the day and got the better of Khawaja to make things worse for the hosts.
Smith looked solid in the initial part of his innings. He stayed quite still with a side-on stance, particularly against Bumrah. By eliminating the trigger, he looked better equipped to handle the threat against India’s bowling attack. However, the vigil didn’t last long as he got a thin edge off Siraj’s delivery and departed with Australia’s score at 79-5.
Travis Head played a lone hand for the struggling Aussies, nailing a brisk fifty off 63 balls under crisis. Mitchell Marsh got off the mark after 16 balls and did not appear comfortable by any means. It was only through a streakish drive through the off side that he opened his account. Meanwhile, regular India skipper Rohit Sharma was seen in the dressing room at Perth.
Dhruv Jurel takes blinder, AUS 227/8 at Tea
Australia were desperately reeling on 227/8 at tea on Day 4 with Alex Carey batting for survival at 30*. However, the wicket of Travis Head (89) completely shifted the momentum in India’s favour as Jasprit Bumrah produced a sensational delivery to get the better of him.
Soon after, Mitchell Marsh also followed him to the pavilion, becoming the first victim of Nitish Kumar Reddy in Test cricket. India scalped another before the end of the second session as Washington Sundar took his first wicket of the day in the form of Mitchell Starc (12). Starc tried to clip it on Sundar’s delivery but Dhruv Jurel intercepted at short leg to take a stunning one-handed catch.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 2: Jaiswal, Rahul put up 172* opening stand; India 218 ahead at stumps
India finish the job, takes 1-0 lead
Alex Carey was joined by Nathan Lyon at the crease when the third session began. However, Washington Sundar provided India with another breakthrough as he dismissed Lyon for a duck. Soon, debutant Harshit Rana castled Carey with a slower ball to bring the curtains down on the match. India bowled the Aussies out for 238 in the second innings. The visitors emerged victorious by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Statistical highlights from Australia vs India, 1st Test, Day 4
- Usman Khawaja was dismissed for the third time by Mohammed Siraj in Tests.
- Steven Smith was dismissed for the second time by Siraj in Tests, both times in Australia.
- Travis Head registered his fifth fifty-plus score against India in Tests.
- India registered their biggest win (in terms of runs) against Australia in Australia, by 295 runs.
- Jasprit Bumrah registered his fifth-best match figures (8-72) in Tests.
What’s next
After suffering a defeat in the opening test, Australia are set to host India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The game, starting from Friday, December 6, is scheduled to take place at the Adelaide Oval.
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