1st Test 
Australia VS India, Border Gavaskar Trophy, Vodafone Test Series 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps, Day One 
India 233/6 (Virat Kohli 74, Cheteswar Pujara 43, Ajinka Rahane 42, Mitchell Starc 2/49, Pat Cummins 1/42, Josh Hazlewood 1/47, Nathan Lyon 1/68) 

The eagerly awaiting India Australia test series during the Pandemic days has kicked off in bio bubble situation. But a sense of relief that very disciplined crowd could witness the proceeding for the first time after a while. The afternoon at Adelaide Oval was much cooler than expected at this summer time in Adelaide.
 
Day night test, pink Kookaburra cricket ball brings all together a different dimension, a different contest of skills, technique and application. Australia has played a few, India is relatively novice yet. India reached 233/6 at stumps on day one at Adelaide Oval. Given the bouncy nature of the wicket and relative strength of the teams would rather say the test is evenly poised. Another 50-60 runs from here would rather put tourists in comfortable position. Ball was not suing much but was bouncing a bit. Australian bowlers kept plugging away at the right channel always testing and teasing Indian batsmen. But the application of Pujara and skill of Kohli saved Indian innings from total disarray. Off course if Tim Paine would have claimed DRS to a ball of Lyon getting a feather touch of Kohli gloves early in his innings situation could be very different. On this wicket Sami, Bumra, Yadab and Ashwin are not going to make life easy for depleted Australian batting line up. But before that one must have to observe whether at all Indian tail wags. Saha and Ashwin are no mug with the bat. 280-290 will definitely be a challenging first innings score, as Australia will have to bat last. 

These days Australia -India contest in any format of cricket attracts huge attention of global cricket admirers. To cricket worshippers in India and Australia it is equally important as Ashes. Moreover, to Australians this series is an occasion for avenging their series loss last time when India toured Australia. Indian captain Virat Kohli for family priority will not be available for the rest of the series. As such both sides are equally keen for winning and taking the noses in front. India off course is far less experienced with day night cricket playing only one test and that too against test minor Bangladesh at Eden Gardens Kolkata. Australia has played a few and in Australia all at Adelaide Oval. From that point of view Australia started as favorites. 

Virat after winning the toss elected to bat. We do not think Tim Paine would have batted as he could have liked exposing India to fresh pink ball early on. Both teams have issues with opening partnership. Prithivi Shah is still raw and Maynak Agarwal is also not much experienced. Starc and Hazlewood started pitching everything at pace in the right channel right from the word go. Starc rattled the furniture of Shah with the second ball in his first over. In came new Indian Wall, Cheteswar Pujara, thorn for Australian bowling attack to join Maynak. The ball was not swinging at all. But bowling at probing length Starc, Hazlewood initially and later Cummins kept Indian batsmen guessing. Very often ball was missing the bat or dropping short of fielders after taking edge. Cummins coming to the attack as first change cleaned up Agarwal. Virat and Pujara had to use all the tricks out of their hats to confront and contain very aggressive Australian bowling. Paine had plans in place. Lyon coming to the attack was using flight to break the patience of Indian batsmen. Pujara was concentrating on dogged defiance. But all few occasions threatened cutting lose against Lyon. India could be in dire state had Paine taken DRS against Kohli batting on 5 off the bowling of Lyon. Later replay showed that the ball had a feather touch of Kohl’s gloves on way to Paine. But after discussion with Wade fielding close at silly Mid-on Paine did not take the DRS. This pair added 68 priceless runs for the 3rd wicket. On many occasions the ball beat the bat or dropped in no man's land after taking edge. Finally, Lyon curtained Pujara’s long innings off a bouncing turning delivery. Kohli Rahane were steering India out of woods applying skills and temperament. But a mistake of Rahane caused Kohli getting run out when his innings started flowering. Kohli got out scoring 74 scored of 180 deliveries. But the major damage to Indian innings was done with the second new ball. Under floodlights Kookaburra swung prodigiously. Starc trapped Rahane (42) and Hazlewood accounted for Hanuma Bihari. Still 233/6 at stumps appeared far better outcome in the match so far given the state of the wicket and very high-quality Australian bowling.
 
The wicket is expected retaining bounce. It would be assisting Indian pacers and Ashwin as well. Australia will rely a lot on Smith and Labuchagne. The opening partnership of Burns and Wade will have task at hand and so does late middle order. However, a large Australian lead may make it extremely difficult for India. Hence the key now how much India adds to overnight score this morning against ball still pretty new and shiny.

BDST: 1405 HRS, DEC 18, 2020
AP