Day 1: Australia Dominate on a Grassy SCG Deck
The opening day of the SCG Test was nothing short of a bowler’s delight, with 11 wickets tumbling and just 194 runs scored on a green surface that heavily favored the bowlers. India, electing to bat first despite their recent struggles with the bat, managed only 185 as the Australian pace trio of Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins ran riot, sharing the spoils.
The Indian batters struggled to adjust, their innings marked by resilience but insufficient runs. On a wicket brimming with life, Australia capitalized on every opportunity, consistently maintaining pressure to come out on top.
The drama wasn’t confined to India’s innings. In the final moments of the day, Australia faced a fiery Jasprit Bumrah with the ball. While Peter Konstas looked jittery at the crease, he made an unexpected move by seemingly trying to unsettle Bumrah with two balls left in the day. The attempt backfired when Usman Khawaja, caught off-guard, edged to the slip cordon, where KL Rahul took a sharp catch.
Bumrah, the standout bowler of the series, seemed fired up by Konstas’ antics, a move that could prove costly for the young batter in the coming days. With Australia at 9/1 at stumps, the balance of the game remains delicately poised.
Australia may have won the day with their stellar bowling performance, but the simmering tension from the last few minutes has set the stage for an enthralling Day 2. Will India’s bowlers seize the momentum, or will Australia strengthen their grip on the match? The answers await on what promises to be an action-packed second day.
