Australia vs India test series live scores updates, Virat Kohli wicket at Adelaide Oval

December 6, 2018 John Cricket 0

India’s charge for a first-ever Test series win on Australian soil coincides with Australian cricket’s new era under captain Tim Paine — and the hosts got off to the perfect start.

The tourists won the toss and batted but failed to make the most of favourable conditions, losing four early wickets.

Each of Australia’s three fast bowlers picked up at least one scalp as India’s batsmen flashed outside off stump and gifted catches behind the wicket.

Inexplicable brain fade after close call

Marcus Harris had the chance to be a hero but wasn’t able to pull off the near-impossible on the square leg boundary.

Rohit Sharma got a top edge while sweeping Nathan Lyon and the ball teased the Aussie debutant on the rope. He jumped up and caught the pill but tumbled over the rope and was unable to throw it back inside the field of play before his foot landed back on the turf and Sharma was awarded his third six of the day.

But the Indian star didn’t learn from his close shave and threw his wicket away the very next ball. He charged Lyon but didn’t get to the pitch of the ball and resorted to an ugly cross-bat swipe.

Harris was in the game again and this time he settled under the ball and took an easy catch to give Lyon his first wicket and send Sharma back to the pavilion for 37.

Sharma goes big

Rohit Sharma was far from a certain starter in the opening Test but was providing the only highlights for India after getting the nod in the first XI. He’d already pulled a six over square leg before lunch but he was even better after the break when he lofted Pat Cummins over the rope.

The classy No. 6 effortlessly pumped Cummins over long off for a maximum with a textbook drive — and his timing was so good he barely needed to follow through.

“I will come out on a limb here. That is one of the best shots you will see,” former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie said in commentary for Channel 7. “That is a shot of the day.”

Record in opening session carnage in Adelaide

There was absolute carnage in the opening session as the Indians went to lunch at 4/56.

Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins both took one scalp apiece as the visiting batsmen played loose shots outside off stump to provide the Aussie slips cordon with some catching practice.

Cheteshwar Pujara went to the break unbeaten on 11 and Rohit Sharma was 15 not out.

According to cricket stats provider CricViz the average speed of the Aussie fast bowlers was 142.78km/h, making it the fastest average new ball spell in Test matches this year.

India on the ropes

India was left on the brink of complete collapse when Josh Hazlewood picked up his second wicket.

Hazlewood dismissed Ajinkya Rahane for just 13 in the 21st over — leaving India on the ropes at 4/41.

Rahane became the fourth batsman to fall throwing his bat at a pitched-up ball well outside off stump. `

His wild slash only succeeded in edging the Kookaburra near the toe of his bat before the delivery continued through to Peter Handscomb at second slip.

It gave Hazlewood figures at the time of 2/17 from seven overs.

Kohli falls to ‘absolute blinder’

Pat Cummins dismissed Virat Kohli when the Indian captain slashed hard at another pitched-up delivery that took a leading outside edge and screamed to the left of Aussie fielder Usman Khawaja at gully.

Khawaja had to hurl himself into the air to his left before sticking out his left hand to snatch the flying Kookaburra out of the air.

The incredible catch left India in all sorts at 3/19 after Kohli was forced to return to the pavilion having made just three from his 16 balls.

His dismissal was the third Indian wicket to fall when Aussie bowlers had pitched up deliveries wide of off stump.

The wicket improved Cummins’ record to two wickets from four deliveries in the history of his new rivalry with Kohli.

The wicket really belonged to Khawaja, however, with his freakish acrobatics causing the dangerous batsman’s undoing.

Dropped Aussie test star Matt Renshaw even labelled it the “best catch ever”.

Starc gets second to bring Kohli to the middle

India was left staring down a top order collapse with Virat Kohli forced to come to the crease after just seven overs of play.

Mitchell Starc secured the second breakthrough when he removed Murali Vijay with a pitched-up ball outside off stump.

Vijay went hard at the delivery and sent a thin outside edge through to keeper Tim Paine.

It left India 2/15 after Vijay was sent packing on 11 from 22 deliveries.

Hazlewood gets first scalp in ‘horror’ start for India

Josh Hazlewood has struck early for Australia at the Adelaide Oval, claiming KL Rahul.

Josh Hazlewood struck with the final ball of his first over to remove opener KL Rahul with a darting delivery that swung away from the right-hander.

Hazlewood’s beauty took the outside edge of Rahul’s cover drive and sailed into the safe hands of Aaron Finch at second slip.

Rahul appeared furious with himself at trying to drive so early in his innings against the new ball.

Hazlewood got the ball to move just enough to cost Rahul his wicket. The dismissal left India 1/3 from two overs. Rahul fell for two from eight balls.

India wins the toss and bats first

Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Adelaide Oval.

The crucial toss means Australia’s attack is staring at the prospect of an entire day in the field in sweltering 39C heat.

Neither side sprung team selection shocks with India confirming Hanuma Vihari has been overlooked for Rohit Sharma.

Aussie captain Tim Paine is hoping his team can find some juice in the pitch in the first session of play.

“There’s something on this pitch early on, we’ve seen that in domestic cricket here,” he told Channel 7.

“Difficult to leave Mitch Marsh out, but we believe three fast bowlers and Nathan Lyon can get the job done.”

The crucial victory puts India in the box seat straight away with history suggesting teams win 60 per cent of matches when they win the toss and bat in Adelaide.

AUSTRALIA XI:

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

INDIA XI:

KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

— with AAP

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