Mitchell Starc has faced more balls in The West Test than any other player to put India’s wicket-fest and Jasprit Bumrah’s masterclass briefly on hold.
But his wicket fell just balls before lunch, leaving Australia on 104, 46 runs behind India’s 150 on the opening day.
Starc and Josh Hazlewood batted for an hour-and-a-half to add 25 runs at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
The left-armer copped a worrying blow to the helmet and another to the arm on his way to 26, facing 112 deliveries.
They were eight wickets down when the passed 76, their lowest score ever in Perth, and nine down when they cleared 83, the country’s worst-ever total against India.
Bumrah’s show continued into a second day when he removed what appeared to be Australia’s last great hope, Alex Carey, with his very first ball of day two. He finished with 5-30 off 18 after unleashing the best spell ever at the venue on Friday evening.
India will now return to the crease with an eye to piling on a significant advantage for the hosts to chase on a treacherous wicket that has already cracked up.
There are hopes a warmer Perth day will help bake the pitch that saw a remarkable 17 wickets fall on day one. Australia resumed at 7-67.
But The West Australian has been told both teams told curators on Friday evening they were comfortable with the state of the pitch.
Bumrah bowled 108 balls and looked like taking a wicket with almost all of them. Ironically, the ball that claimed Carey for 21 wasn’t one of them.
The wicket-keeper, who resumed on 19, trusted Starc enough to drop a single into cover but not enough to resist unfurling into a booming drive he almost chopped back onto his stumps.
His hands then followed a Bumrah ball he didn’t need to play at and he edged behind to Rishabh Pant.
Nathan Lyon got to five and was the only Australian to hit the imposing Indian quick off the wicket square when he prodded one for three through gully.
Then he top-edged a Harshit Rana ball that reared up towards his gloves.
Lyon is now tied with England nemesis Stuart Broad for the most runs scored at No.10 in Test history.
Debutant Rana’s Saturday spell was fiery and appears to be another selection the visitors have got spot on. He bowled a vicious ball tracking for Starc’s chest and the pair, who play Indian Premier League together for Kolkatta Knight Riders, were involved in some by-play.
“I bowl faster than you Harshit. I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory,” Starc said after the delivery.
Eyes will now turn to Indian megastar Virat Kohli, who continued a worrying form decline in the first innings when he was dismissed for just five.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/the-west-test-australia-look-to-dig-their-way-out-of-trouble-on-day-two-against-india-c-16850664
