Australia vs India 5th Test: Day 1 Match Report As Boland Spearheads Australia’s Dominance On A Green Pitch

Eleven wickets tumbled and 194 runs were scored on a lively Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) pitch that clearly favored the bowlers. India were bundled out for 185, as their batters struggled once again to put up a substantial score. Despite their efforts, the grass-laden deck proved too challenging. Boland, Starc, and Cummins capitalized on the conditions, sharing the spoils and dismantling the Indian batting lineup.

The pitch, however, still holds plenty of fire. Konstas, visibly unsettled, made a critical misstep late in the day. With just two balls remaining, he provoked Bumrah, leading to Khawaja’s dismissal at second slip, where Rahul took a sharp catch. Bumrah, who had been in a hurry to complete his over, was irked by Konstas’ seemingly needless interference. The incident raises questions about Konstas’ decision to antagonize a bowler as experienced and in-form as Bumrah, who has been the standout performer of the series.

India now face an uphill battle to claw their way back. While their decision to bat first in challenging conditions was bold, their batting lineup fell short of expectations. The day, without a doubt, belonged to Australia. Despite losing the toss, they maintained relentless pressure, taking wickets at regular intervals to dominate proceedings.

Chaos on and off the field: India’s turbulent start to the Sydney Test

India’s preparation for the Sydney Test was overshadowed by off-field drama, and their on-field batting display on the opening day mirrored the turmoil. In a nearly unprecedented move in Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma stepped down, handing over the captaincy to Jasprit Bumrah. Opting to bat first, India faltered against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 185 just before stumps.

Bumrah added a late twist by dismissing Usman Khawaja off the final ball of the day, leaving Australia at 9 for 1 at the close of play. Leading Australia’s charge was Scott Boland, who delivered a masterclass in seam bowling. His remarkable figures of 20-8-31-4 were a testament to his pinpoint accuracy and ability to extract sharp movement from a lush-green SCG surface, which also exhibited uneven bounce. Boland’s consistency and skill with both the new and old ball proved too much for India’s struggling batting lineup.

Boland’s precision exposes India’s shaky start

Mitchell Starc’s pursuit of swing saw him overpitch early, while Pat Cummins struggled with length using the new ball. Scott Boland, however, found the ideal length in his first over and maintained it with unwavering discipline. He struck with his fourth delivery, a perfect good-length ball that seamed away, forcing Yashasvi Jaiswal to edge to debutant Beau Webster at third slip for 10.

Earlier, KL Rahul departed for just 4, chipping a leg-stump half-volley from Starc straight to Sam Konstas at square leg in the fifth over. Shubman Gill, stepping into Rohit Sharma’s place in the XI, showed promise but faltered on 20, advancing to Nathan Lyon and offering a catch to slip off the final ball before lunch. It marked the third time in four innings this tour that Gill had reached 20 but failed to go beyond 31, underlining India’s continued struggles at the top of the order.

Kohli’s battle with Boland: A familiar downfall

Virat Kohli narrowly escaped being dismissed on his first ball when Scott Boland induced an edge to second slip. Steven Smith dived low to his right and appeared to have taken the catch near the ground before lobbing it to Marnus Labuschagne at gully. However, after several replays, TV umpire Joel Wilson ruled that the ball had touched the ground before Smith’s deflection.

Kohli cautiously left the next ball and 16 more deliveries before Boland lured him into another edge, this time safely pouched by Beau Webster at third slip. This marked the seventh time in the Border-Gavaskar series that Kohli has fallen in the same manner: edging behind to the keeper or slip cordon. Boland has now dismissed Kohli four times in six innings during the series.

Despite his efforts to break the pattern—switching from his open stance to a more side-on approach—Kohli succumbed once again, departing for 17 off 69 balls. His continued struggles underline Boland’s dominance and Kohli’s inability to overcome his Achilles’ heel.

Pant and Jadeja’s resistance cut short by Boland’s brilliance

Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja provided some stability to India’s innings with a gritty 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket, lasting 25 overs. However, Scott Boland struck again with a devastating double-blow. He first had Pant mistiming a pull to mid-on and then dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy, India’s MCG Test hero, off the very next ball, caught at second slip for a duck. Although Boland missed out on a hat-trick, he continued to pose a significant threat, skillfully moving the old ball off the seam from both over and around the wicket.

Pant’s innings was uncharacteristically restrained. Having faced criticism for reckless dismissals at the MCG, including a failed first-innings scoop, Pant opted for a more defensive approach this time. However, he showed a glimpse of his trademark aggression, stepping out to Webster and smashing him over the sightscreen for a six—only India’s sixth boundary in 46 overs.

Australia’s attack offered no respite, with every bowler contributing to the pressure. Allrounder Beau Webster, who transitioned from off-spin to medium pace during the Covid-19 pandemic, bowled economically with figures of 13-4-29-0, and his sharp slip catching added another layer of excellence to Australia’s performance.

Starc’s firepower and Bumrah’s flair highlight a dramatic day

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins efficiently dismantled India’s lower order, capping off a challenging innings. Battling back issues, Starc reached speeds of 147 kph, using uneven bounce to trouble the Indian batters. He struck Rishabh Pant multiple times—once on the bicep, leaving a bruise, and another on the helmet—during Pant’s gritty but painful knock.

Starc ended Ravindra Jadeja’s dogged resistance (26 off 95 balls) by trapping him lbw, while Cummins wrapped up the innings at 185. Jasprit Bumrah, however, provided a late flourish with the bat, smashing an entertaining 22 off 17 balls.

Bumrah then stole the spotlight with the ball, dismissing Usman Khawaja off the last delivery of the day. His animated celebration included a fiery roar at Sam Konstas, the non-striker, following a heated exchange moments earlier. The on-field umpire had to step in to calm the situation.

With tensions brewing, the Bumrah-Konstas rivalry promises more fireworks on day two at the SCG.

Khawaja’s Struggles Against Bumrah: A Series of Dominance

Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as Usman Khawaja’s nemesis in this series, showcasing an extraordinary level of dominance. Across eight innings, Bumrah has bowled 112 deliveries to Khawaja, conceding just 33 runs while dismissing him six times. This has left Khawaja with a dismal average of 5.50 against the Indian spearhead.

This level of dominance has been rarely seen in Test cricket. The only other instance of an Indian bowler dismissing an opposition batter six times in a series was Ravindra Jadeja’s stellar performance against Alastair Cook during England’s tour of India in 2016.

Australia vs India 5th Test Summary

Australia 9 for 1 (Bumrah 1-7) trail India 185 (Pant 40; Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49, Cummins 2-37) by 176 runs

Looking Ahead to Day 2

Despite Khawaja’s dismissal, Australia dominated Day 1. India made the surprising decision to leave out Rohit Sharma, with Bumrah captaining the side. After winning the toss, Bumrah opted to bat first, but India were bowled out for just 185, with Boland taking four wickets, Starc three, and Cummins two. Rishabh Pant stood out with a resilient 40, despite taking multiple blows to his body. With India needing a win to stay in contention for the WTC final, all eyes are on whether they can mount a comeback on Day 2. We’ll find out when play resumes tomorrow at 5 am (IST).

Read More: What Does the Future Hold for Rohit Sharma in Test cricket?

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