India Vs Australia 4th Test day 1 Review

 Hello this is Sportscurator and here we are with another review but this time it is very different from my normal match reviews, because it is the review of a test match.  So this review will be for day 1 of the 4th test in the ongoing India vs Australia 4 match test series.  The series was heavily poised as India and Australia had drawn the series 1 all coming on to this series.  

So let us get to the session by session review of day 1 of the 4th test held between India And Australia.

The Toss:

          The Toss was won by Australia on a Gabba wicket which offers the pacers a lot.  Australia to no one's surprise won the toss and chose to bat first.

  Australia had one change to their squad as injured Pucovski was replaced by Marcus Harris.  India had 4 changes coming on to the 4th test.  As injured Ashwin, Vihari, Bumrah and Jadeja were replaced by Washington Sundar, Mayank Agarwal, T.Natarajan and Shardul Thakur respectively.  Out of which 2 were debutants and Thakur had bowled only 10 balls in his debut test two years back.

Day 1-Session 1:

         India started the Innings in great fashion as Mohammed Siraj dismissed David Warner in the first ever over of the match.  It was a wonderful delivery as Warner edged to Rohit Sharma who took a spectacular catching moving forward.

  Natarajan made his debut in good fashion as he bowled simple lines and length just relying on the natural angle made by a left arm quick.  Shardul Thakur came in and took the Wicket of Marcus Harris on his first ball of his spell.  And Steve Smith and Marnus Labushagne joined hands for the 3rd wicket.  India continued to trouble the Australian Batsmen, As Labushagne was leaving loads and loads of balls behind.  India should have got the 3rd wicket before the end of the first session but failed to do so as momentum shifted towards Australia after Steve Smith attacked Shardul Thakur just before the end of the first session.  However there was not a lot to offer for the Bowlers in the Gabba Wicket.  Just when the new ball had it's shine the ball was swinging a bit,  but with a very inexperienced, Second Order Line up India could not make a lot with the new ball.  Both teams went in to lunch with Australia having the momentum by their side.  And the Score was 65 for the loss of 2 wickets after the end of 27 overs that were bowled in that session.

Day 1-Session 2:

         Australian Batsmen started the session on high but Washington Sundar dismissed Smith 7 overs into the second session.  But then, Matthew Wade and Marnus Labushagne set up a wonderful partnership.  India had their chances but never utilised on any of those chances.  Saini got injured just before finishing his 8th over as he had pulled his groin.  But the ball he bowled before getting injured was edged to Ajinkya Rahane who dropped him and Labushagne was dropped a lot of times after that.

  Labushagne Was once again dropped but this time on the bowling of Natarajan.  India were cautious not to risk Saini's fitness  as he never took back the field again.  Labushagne and Wade went on to put a solid partnership that would take the game away from India completely.  They didn't lose any wicket going on to tea and the Inexperienced bowling attack lacked support from it's fielders.  As it lacked all series.  Due to the lack of support and lack of wickets in the session, the Indian bowlers went on to tea with no hope as Australia finished really very strong after the end of the second session.  They didn't lose any wickets after Smith's dismissal and Labushagne had just changed gears.  But Australia clearly dominated the session as their Run Rate went up in the session.  After the end of the second session, Australia finished at a score of 154-3 after another 27 overs in the session.  So A maximum of 36 overs were available in the last session and this last session is one of the most crucial session for both the teams as India needed wickets and Australia just had to continue scoring without losing a lot of wickets, so let us get to the third and final session of day 1.

Day 1-Session 3:

          Labushagne and Wade came on with the motive of building their partnership further.  And they do succeeded in the process as India continued to bowl their four available bowlers without any variation.  Natarajan looked a bit problematic as his balls were naturally going away from the batsman.  He too kept bowling the middle and leg line and tried to take the ball away from the batsman bowling over the wicket.  Saini didn't come to bowl and the bowlers were tiring.  Australia started to score at a rate of 4 runs per over in the 3rd session and the Indian bowlers were having no clues about what to do.  Wade was nearing his 50 and Labushagne was nearing his 100.  India were desperate of a wicket and that was when Wade gifted his wicket to Natarajan.  He pulled a good length delivery which was never going to be a short ball.  He hit the ball straight up as Shardul Thakur took a simple catch.  And India were relieved that they had finally broke the partnership.

         Then Cameron Green joined Labushagne.  Labushagne just after getting his hundred threw his wicket off as Natarajan set him up.  He bowled a series of short balls and bowled a good length ball then, which bounced unconventionally, Labushagne, who had been pulling balls for fun was surprised as he let his bat out top edging the ball due to the lateral movement and the catch was taken by Rishabh Pant.

  And for a moment, India had their confidence back and were back on driver seat but once again could not utilise it, as Green and Paine started to build a partnership, but their motive was simple, only to avoid further dismissals going on to day 2.  The Indian Bowlers had a very long day, duly because of Saini's abscence.  The other 4 bowlers had to cover it up for him.  And when the new ball was taken after the 80th over.  The bowlers could not make anything out of the new ball as they were very tired.  And out of the available 90 overs, the day could only muster up 87 overs.  At the end of the day, Australia were truly dominant, but were not rampant, as India pulled it back at some moments, but failed to capitalise on many of the moments which could've opened the game for India.  With 5 wickets to spare Australia go on to day 2 and India though will look to restrict the Aussies under a 400 on day 2.  If that happens India might just get back into the game.  But for now, truly the favorites are the Aussies.  It is the first session of day 2 that the game depends on now, whether Australia get past 400 or India pull it back.  If India has sights of winning the series, then the next session has to be India's session.  For Australia, they should continue to keep on doing the same things that they are doing now.