Bumrah takes three as Australia end day 1 at 311/6.
Credit: X/@BCCI
Melbourne: Travis Head had been India's biggest problem in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. And India's biggest problem solver, Jasprit Bumrah, hadn't been able to find a solution to it.
On a day when the world's premier bowler, in a rare instance, was taken down a notch by a rookie in the opening session, the master craftsman produced a jaffa to remove Head for a duck. The ear-splitting roar from a huge contingent of Indian supporters here at the MCG reflected the significance of the moment. A moment that lifted India's sagging morale and deflated Australia's, even if fleetingly.
With the game seemingly headed towards Australia's way, Bumrah pegged the hosts back with a magic delivery. The ball pitched just outside off at full length and Head, trusting the bounce on the pitch, shouldered his arm. To his horror, the ball seamed back and hit the top of the off. Mitchell Marsh did what he has been doing all series -- returned to the dugout.
Going strong at 237/2, Australia suddenly slipped to 245/5, all three wickets falling to Bumrah, as India sensed an opening. Steve Smith (68 n.o., 111b, 5x4, 1x6), however, held firm to take Australia to 311/6 at stumps on Thursday's opening day.
Earlier, the audacity of a tyro and the maturity of veterans blended in fine fashion to give Australia a head-start in the Boxing Day Test even though Head himself could do little on the day. Debutant Sam Konstas produced a stroke-filled half-century while Usman Khawaja (57, 121b, 7x4) and Marnus Labuschagne (72, 145b, 7x4) sustained the pressure as India appeared clueless for most of the opening session
In the run up to the match, Konstas had presented a calm side of himself, betraying few nerves of a batter making his Test debut in front of over 87,000 spectators -- the highest ever attendance in a day for an India-Australia Test. His crisp replies and subdued enthusiasm gave little away about what the youngster was up to until went after the world's finest fast bowler at the moment in a methodical manner en route to his 65-ball 60 (6x4, 2x6).
Khawaja had a combined score of 63 from six innings prior to the day, and the left-handed opener found his footing in the company of Konstats who hit the unsuspecting Indians like a bolt from the blue. Khawaja, showing streaks of aggression amid adequate caution, brought up his first fifty of the series. Labuschagne, with a clear shift in approach wherein the right-hander deserted his overcautiousness, looked more purposeful.
It was a strange day in Melbourne which experienced a temperature of 35 degrees but remained cloudy through the day, providing the only respite for the Indians, who were asked to bowl first, for most part of the first two sessions. India's selections for the match were equally strange. They dropped Shubman Gill to bolster their spin without as much compromising on their batting depth. The move also allows Rohit Sharma to open with KL Rahul to follow at No. 3.
But it was Australia's newest and their youngest in over seven decades that stole the show, successfully neutralising Bumrah's early threat with a method few seasoned batters would dare to adopt let alone a debutant.
It was a classic tale of youth and audacity challenging experience and mastery. Konstas, with his bold shot selection -- particularly the scoops -- managed to unsettle Bumrah early on. The constant shift in approach—scooping, stepping out, or playing from the crease—kept the bowler guessing. It’s a calculated risk, but one that is paying off in this high-stakes encounter.
His fearlessness against a bowler renowned for his accuracy and ability to outthink batters, was a testament to the youngster's confidence and preparation. His pre-match comments about having “plans” for Bumrah were no bluff; they were a prelude to a methodical takedown.
Scoreboard
Konstas lbw Jadeja 60
(65b, 6x4, 2x6)
Khawaja c Rahul b Bumrah 57
(121b, 7x4)
Labuschagne c Kohli b Washington 72
(145b, 7x4)
Smith (batting) 68
(111b, 5x4, 1x6)
Head b Bumrah 0
(7b)
Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 4
(13b, 1x4)
Carey c Pant b Akash 31
(41b, 1x6)
Cummins (batting) 8
(17b, 1x4)
Extras (LB-7, NB-4) 11
Total (for 6 wkts, 86 overs) 311
Fall of wickets: 1-89 (Konstas), 2-154 (Khawaja), 3-237 (Labuschagne), 4-240 (Head), 5-245 (Marsh), 6-299 (Cummins).
Bowling: Bumrah 21--7-75-3 (nb-3), Siraj 15-2-69-0, Akash 19-5-59-1, Jadeja 14-2-54-1, Nitish 5-0-10-0, Washington 12-2-37-1 (nb-1)