The frailty at the heart of Australia’s ageing batting line-up was exposed by a bizarre Marnus Labuschagne vigil as Jasprit Bumrah’s stunning new-ball spell put India on top after a 17-wicket opening day in Perth.
Australia skittled India for just 150, before falling to 67 for seven at stumps on day one. It is the first time in history that 17 wickets have fallen on the opening day of a series in Australia, and the first time since 1952 that 17 wickets have fallen on the first day of a Test there.
Bumrah, the stand-in captain in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who is on paternity leave, dragged India back into the game with a magical opening spell after his batsmen had failed to capitalise on the advantage of winning the toss and batting first.
In his opening spell of six overs, Bumrah picked up three wickets, and conceded just nine runs. First to go was the debutant Australian opener, Nathan McSweeney, who was pinned lbw (Bumrah needed a review to remove him), and two balls later, Labuschagne was badly dropped by Virat Kohli at second slip.
Bumrah’s third over was a maiden that had Labuschagne in all sorts of bother outside off stump, and in his fourth he had Usman Khawaja taken by Kohli and Steve Smith lbw. Smith, back at No 4 after a failed experiment opening, had never made a golden duck in 192 Test innings, but now has two in his last four.
Bumrah continued to bother Labuschagne, who took 23 balls to get off the mark (when he did, the Perth crowd cheered ironically). He withdrew himself from the attack, and the debutant Harshit Rana bowled Travis Head, then Mohammed Siraj had Mitchell Marsh caught at slip and Labuschagne lbw. South African-born Labuschagne had made two from 52 balls, and barely attempted an attacking stroke. To make matters worse, he took a review with him.
Pat Cummins, the Australia skipper, was the 17th wicket to fall in the day, caught behind off the returning Bumrah, who had four for 17 from 10 overs at stumps. Australia’s hopes of a lead rest with the in-form Alex Carey.
Bumrah is cementing his status as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time. He now has 177 wickets at an average of 20.2. Only one bowler, England’s Sydney Barnes, who played between 1901 and 1914, has more wickets at a better average. Barnes took 189 at an extraordinary average of 16.4. What makes Bumrah’s record all the more remarkable is that he is from India, where his career has coincided with pitches that have largely assisted spinners, not pace bowlers.
Australia’s pace attack remains in rude health, even as their batting order struggles. India’s 150 was well below par, with Josh Hazlewood the pick of the bowlers with four for 27. There were two wickets apiece for Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Marsh. Only counter-attacking innings from Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy allowed India to post 150 after they were 73 for six.
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