India has taken a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after thumping hosts Australia by 295 runs at Perth Stadium.
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Captain Jasprit Bumrah claimed eight wickets across the match to make a mockery of Australia’s top-order, while opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and superstar Virat Kohli each cracked classy hundreds in the second innings.
Travis Head notched a counterpunching half-century on day four, but it was a lone highlight in an otherwise disappointing week for the Australians.
Australia’s top four collectively contributed 29 runs across the match, the lowest figure in the nation’s Test history.
NATHAN MCSWEENEY — 2
10 and 0
Batting out of position as an opener, McSweeney looked completely out of his depth when tasked with taming Jasprit Bumrah at Perth Stadium this week.
The South Australian was dismissed LBW in both innings by deliveries that nipped in and beat the inside edge, plumb on both occasions.
He’s a work in progress, but McSweeney has failed to silence any doubters on whether he’s a capable Test opener.
Australia lose 3-12 in NIGHTMARE start! | 01:03
USMAN KHAWAJA — 2
8 and 4
Khawaja nicked behind in the first innings, a common dismissal among Test openers, but he only has himself to blame for his sloppy departure on day four.
Facing Indian quick Mohammed Siraj, the left-hander attempted a pull shot but only managed a top edge, with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant settling underneath the high chance.
Khawaja was also far from his best in the field, dropping two catches across the match, one of which was regulation.
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Is there a divide in Aussie locker room? | 02:51
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 1
2 and 3
For the first time in more than five years, Labuschagne is under pressure to keep his spot in the Test side.
Averaging 13.66 across his five most recent Tests, the right-hander was struck on the knee roll in both innings at Perth Stadium, twice wasting a review before sheepishly trudging off.
Labuschagne’s knock on day one was painful viewing, soaking up 52 deliveries for two runs while copping several body blows.
Meanwhile, his spells with the ball, both seamers and spin, were amateurish.
“Definitely need runs” duo under fire | 02:52
STEVE SMITH — 3
0 and 17
Smith had his front pad blasted off by Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings, dismissed for a golden duck for just the second time in his Test career.
The right-hander has been dismissed LBW in three consecutive knocks, but he made a minor technical adjustment in the second innings at Perth Stadium, scrapping his shuffle across the pitch.
He undeniably looked more settled on Monday, even when India’s quicks targeted his stumps, but nicked behind late in the morning session.
TRAVIS HEAD — 7
11 and 89
After copping an absolute rip-snorter from debutant Harshit Rana in the first innings, Head looked sublime at Perth Stadium on day four.
The only Australian to reach fifty in the match, he counterpunched after an early collapse in the second innings, falling 11 runs short of an eighth Test hundred. It was a welcome return to form Head and one of the few silver linings from a disastrous match for the Australians.
However, the South Australian’s bowling on Sunday was ineffective, and he missed a run-out chance in the field.
Head departs painfully close to century! | 00:56
MITCHELL MARSH — 6
6 and 47, 2-12 and 1-65
Marsh ripped the heart out of the India’s middle-order with two crucial wickets on day one and also knocked over centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal on Sunday — albeit with one of his worst deliveries of the match.
With the bat, the West Australian edged behind in the first innings before forming a handy partnership with Travis Head on day four, chopping on three runs short of a fifty.
Bumrah takes out Carey with first ball | 00:42
ALEX CAREY — 6
21 and 34, five catches and one stumping
Carey made starts in both innings but couldn’t convert either into substantial scores, dismissed while batting with the tail.
The South Australian’s glovework was tidy, but he did leak 22 byes in the second innings, the most he’s conceded in his Test career to date.
MITCHELL STARC — 7
2-14 and 1-111
Starc’s new-ball spell on Friday was one of his finest, hooping the Kookaburra around corners and removing both of India’s openers.
However, the left-armed quick failed to back it up in the second innings, far too often dropping short and leaking 4.27 runs per over.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old top-scored for Australia in the first innings, forming a handy tenth-wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood on Saturday.
Starc’s cheeky CHIRP at IPL teammate | 00:12
PAT CUMMINS — 4
2-67 and 1-86
Much like last year’s Old Trafford Ashes Test, Cummins looked clueless during India’s second innings, with pundits questioning his tactics in the field.
The Australian skipper bowled a fraction short throughout the match, also missing a run-out chance at the non-striker’s end with Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on 101.
Cummins should be applauded for leading from the front by marching out as nightwatcher on Sunday evening, but he couldn’t survive to stumps.
NATHAN LYON — 5
0-23 and 2-96
Lyon is at his most dangerous on a deteriorated pitch on days four and five — unfortunately, the veteran tweaker didn’t get an opportunity to work his magic in Perth this week.
The 37-year-old bowled commendably across the match, but lacked penetration. His lone two dismissals came when India’s middle order started tonking late in the second innings, with Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar departing after slogs.
Hazlewood reflects on horror day 3 | 08:14
JOSH HAZLEWOOD — 8
4-29 and 1-28
Hazlewood was perhaps the only Australian cricketer than can take pride from their performance in Perth this week.
The Bendemeer Bullet was flawless during his second spell on day one, knocking over the dangerous Virat Kohli before cleaning up the tail.
He didn’t receive much assistance from the benign deck in the second innings, but he remained disciplined with the ball, only conceding 1.33 runs per over.
