It’s Yadav to begin, and India have a couple of slips and an otherwise ring field. After leaving the first, Finch then leans on a cover drive that pierces cover and point, and grabs three for it. He tightens his line to Harris, who meets a similar field to Finch. Meanwhile, Ed Cowan describes Yadav as bowling ‘medium pace swingers’, and his analysis seems right – for this over anyway. Harris then tucks Yadav off his hip for an easy one down to fine leg. A lackadaisical start from India here. It’ll be Shami from the other end.
We’re a couple of minutes away
The kiddies are forming a guard of honour for both sets of players, the Fox Sports aerial cam is zooming around wildly, and blokes (term used advisedly) to my right in corporate boxes are knocking back beers with abandon.
I have to say, it’s my first time at the new stadium, and it’s impressive. But like so many of these places, you wonder how often it will actually fill. Without a strong crowd, it’s pretty cavernous. Hope the Perthites(?) can make it out here.
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Possibly too early to draw inferences, but wonder if India may have missed a trick by leaving a spinner out. As I type this, Hanuma Vihari is out on the field rolling his arm over – given the heat, he may have to get through at least ten to fifteen overs today.
It was interesting to see Sharma down on pace too, no doubt a compound effect from bowling in the fourth innings in Adelaide, a quick turnaround, and going again here in temperatures hovering around the mid 30s and rising.
…and cheers for joining me as we head into the second session at a baking Optus Stadium (think it’s hitting 39 degrees here).
An impressive start for the hosts, who couldn’t have asked for a better set of conditions this morning. After consternation about their ability to handle India’s stellar bowling quartet, they’ve arrived today to a quick wicket and a depleted opposition attack.
Both Harris and Finch have prospered, though India did claw their way back in that last hour, with only 19 runs coming from drinks to the break. Curious of India to omit a frontline spinner, it must be said, given both batsmen’s clear susceptibility to the discipline in Adelaide.
With that in mind, I’m looking forward to rumbling through the post-Lunch period with you all. Would love to hear your thoughts on everything and anything. Can Australia bat themselves into an impregnable position here? Will India resume their strangle on Australian runs? There’s a huge opportunity for the hosts to set themselves up for the match, and the series. Hit me on Twitter at @sjjperry, or via email on [email protected].
Australia v India – 2nd Test: Day 1 Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
26th over: Australia 66-0 (Harris 36, Finch 28) Shami around the wicket to Harris, who races through for a tip-and-run single to cover to begin, Finch then back off strike himself with a leg bye. The left handed opener is able to leave the rest, tucking his bat under the arm and jogging down to Finch after the final ball so that they walk off together.
A fine session from the hosts. They may have only added 19 runs in the second hour but they way they repelled the new ball early gave them the chance to slow things right down before lunch without much risk. Harris is going beautifully, scoring down the ground and through midwicket with ease. Finch had his moments but he will be overjoyed at having the chance to bat through the hottest part of the day. That’s all ahead of us.
For the middle session, I’m handing over to Sam Perry who has just joined us in the press box. Keep him company as you have me. I’ll catch you tomorrow morning with Harris resuming on about 132. Bye!
25th over: Australia 64-0 (Harris 35, Finch 28) Bumrah to continue his stoush with Finch. It’s another accurate set, the big quick refusing to let the opener off the hook. Maiden. They are going to race through to get one more over in before the lunch break.
24th over: Australia 64-0 (Harris 35, Finch 28) Harris pushes Ishant to cover then Finch drives him for one, both singles controlled along the ground. A yorker jams up the southpaw but he is able to let the final ball go, as is his preference with five minutes till lunch.
“I am writing from Canada,” emails Raja Ajay. “It is nice and cold and near midnight. India sure got their selection wrong again just like they did in England. It’s better to have Jadeja and Umesh in the team rather than an extra inexperience batsman who is going to get 5&7 in the match. Jadeja could bowl a lot of overs and would surely score more runs than the extra batsman.”
That’s the bit I don’t quite get. Vihari is a good option, of course. But Jadeja is a proven campaigner against Australia with the bat as well as the ball – it was certainly the case in this series last year. And when he finally got his chance at The Oval against England, he slayed a lovely 80-odd.
23rd over: Australia 62-0 (Harris 34, Finch 27) Three maidens on the trot, of course, helps build the pressure so India still feel close. Finch, facing Bumrah, wafts at the first ball of a new over, lucky not to nick behind. The outside edge of the blade is clipped later in the set, juuust evading the diving KL Rahul at second slip. As Mark Waugh notes on the telly, he played with soft enough hands that it may not have carried to a third cordon catcher. In any case, some rare runs for Finch – four of them – making seven for him in the last hour or so. Sure enough, Bumrah bites back with a quicker offering that beats the Victorian for the second time outside the off-stump. An excellent over of accurate fast bowling.
Daniel Brettig(@danbrettig)
Super over from Bumrah to Finch. India have been much better since drinks, but that first hour, when ball was new and batsmen not set, has already cost them #AusvInd
22nd over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) You know what? This is a touch boring. When was the last time you could say that about an Australian opening stand? It’s a beautiful feeling home fans who have longed for a quiet session as far as the top order is concerned. Harris is right in his happy place, leaving Ishant well alone with lunch nearing.
21st over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Back to back maidens, Bumrah not able to tempt Finch, who is leaving with purpose in this second hour. Might be time for some pre-lunch spin. Oh, right.
The Cricket Prof.(@CricProf)
India are straining to make something happen. At Adelaide, 20% of their new ball deliveries were full-pitched. Today, it’s been 40%. #AUSvIND
20th over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Ishant is back too, from the southern end. So, the openers have switched approach. The difference since the last time that he bowled is that Harris is now well set, happily jumping onto the front foot to defend with his off-drive. On the telly, they confirm that it is 36 degrees with 16 per cent humidity in the middle.
Good point from CricViz: the Indian seamers are getting the ball moving more than enough, they just haven’t found a way through.
The Cricket Prof.(@CricProf)
In Adelaide, the average seam movement with the new ball was 0.55°. So far at the Optus Stadium, the ball has moved 0.79° off the surface. India can’t blame the pitch – there’s plenty of assistance. #AUSvIND
19th over: Australia 58-0 (Harris 34, Finch 23) Bumrah back for another go, from the northern end this time around. Finch turns the strike over early in the set behind square, Harris taking a single from the final ball in the same direction off his thigh pad. India have to keep their cool here in the lead up to lunch.
Melinda Farrell(@melindafarrell)
The worst thing about India playing all quicks is that it means Rishabh Pant won’t be keeping up to the stumps mic. #AUSvIND
18th over: Australia 56-0 (Harris 33, Finch 22) Singles from Harris then Finch to begin, the former tickling to fine leg the latter doing likewise from the inside portion of the bat. Harris has the good sense to leave when the moving ball when he can, defending solidly to finish. As Chris Rogers says, what Harris has learned since leaving WA and moving to Victoria is how to time an innings by constantly ticking the board over with singles. He’s building very nicely here.
17th over: Australia 54-0 (Harris 32, Finch 21) Finch creams a dead-straight drive to begin but Umesh gets his foot down just in time; good cricket from both. He tries to beat cover with another stroke off the front foot a couple of balls later but picks out the fielder. Unlucky. A patient finish from the opener, who defends then leaves. Whisper it: I think he’s just about set.
Trent Copeland is doing a fantastic job on the Seven coverage with these Anderson Cooper-esque segments.
16th over: Australia 54-0 (Harris 32, Finch 21) Shami to Finch, who has been stuck on 20 for about half an hour. The Indian quick is striving to hit that front pad, bowling inducker after inducker. Shami is such a talented bowler thant the outswinger will come soon enough – all part of the plan, I’m sure. Oh, here it is, but Finch is up to it, defending solidly to cover. To finish the over, he turns one to midwicket to get his tally moving again, the first run taken from Shami’s three overs.
15th over: Australia 53-0 (Harris 32, Finch 20) Another productive over for Harris, clipping two more to that midwicket region to start the over and pass 26 (hoorah!) before smaaaaashing Umesh past point to record his sixth boundary of the morning. He loves that shot. There was a brief bit of concern in the middle of the over when India were interested in a catch behind, but it came off the flap of his pad the replay confirmed.
14th over: Australia 47-0 (Harris 26, Finch 20) Not lost upon anyone on social media or the TV call that Harris is 26, the score he was dismissed on in both digs at Adelaide. It’s Shami to Finch this time though, the match-up that so nearly won India their first wicket during his first over. Really welly handled by the Victorian this time around, defending the first half of the over before leaving the rest. I keep saying it, but what a massive day for him.
“Loving your work right now,” Kellie Brandenburg kindly tweets. “Interminable day at the hospital now enlivened by the #AusvsIndia cricket. Just hope the phone battery holds out for the next few hours.”
This is what we’re here for, Kellie. Stick with us! All I want for Christmas is several phone charger cables and a couple of big, portable USB batteries.
13th over: Australia 47-0 (Harris 26, Finch 20) Umesh sends down the final over of the first hour. Harris starts it well with a straight blade in defence before the bowler finds a bit of movement to beat the edge. Good nut. Harris keeps his cool, clipping the final delivery through midwicket along the carpet to take Australia to drinks without losing a wicket.
12th over: Australia 45-0 (Harris 24, Finch 20) Masssssive shout from India, Shami’s first ball coming back off the seam at Finch and crashing into his pad. They go upstairs to review the not out decision but they have been hurt by the bounce, the ball shown to be going just over the leg stump. Next ball it is a carbon copy, Shami even more insistent but this time unable to convince Kohli to review again. It wouldn’t have mattered as not enough of the ball was hitting the stumps. Phew. Finch fights through, getting his bat down on the final four induckers, all defended off the stumps. Wonderful bowling, compelling Test Match cricket.
11th over: Australia 45-0 (Harris 24, Finch 20) Magnificent batting from Harris, driving Umesh down the ground for a delightful boundary to start the new over. “You might have found one here,” says Michael Vaughan on the Fox call. The over finishes with four more for him through the gap in the cordon, steered with control. Fine work.
10th over: Australia 37-0 (Harris 16, Finch 20) Bumrah gets another over and it doesn’t go to plan, Finch timing three through midwicket then Harris driving a half-volley for three more out towards the cover rope. Shami a lock to get a chance from the southern end next up.
“I’m at the staff Christmas party sneaking in as many looks at the cricket as I can,” says Dan Guidone. “I don’t think Australia could’ve asked for much more. Really proud of these two.”
Ooooh, of course, this is Christmas do Friday isn’t it! Don’t be shy about sending me loose emails as the afternoon moves along. I don’t miss much about having a real job but Christmas parties I do.
9th over: Australia 31-0 (Harris 13, Finch 17) Aaron Finch will breathe a sigh with Ishant’s opening spell dealt with, Umesh Yadav on to replace him, the experienced seamer brought in to replace Ashwin. The opener does the job with the bat but is nearly run out by Kohli! He wanted Harris to come through for a single but was sent back, the throw not far from ending his morning in terrible fashion. Phew. Responding to that missed opportunity, Kohli took a ping at the non-strikers’ end from the next ball, allowing the pair to turn for a couple of overthrows.
8th over: Australia 28-0 (Harris 13, Finch 14) Finch more convincing here, defending Bumrah well before taking a single to cover. Harris saw off the rest of the over without concern. “India have got their team wrong,” says Michael Vaughan on telly, getting in nice and early. He wanted to see Jadeja in the side. “But also their batting. They have Umesh Yadav coming in at number eight.”
Adam Collins(@collinsadam)
THIS IS THE PROBLEM! That probably wasn’t a noey. But what if a wicket fell? There would have been no recourse for Ishant. I’m glad the shocking decision the ICC made to scrap the move to technology has been scrutinised this week. Keep the pressure on. #AUSvINDhttps://t.co/KxJ3wRYv4B
7th over: Australia 27-0 (Harris 13, Finch 13) Harris really going now! It took him 14 balls to get off the mark but he’s creamed Ishant for three attractive boundaries in this over. The first was a well-timed clip, then came a lurrrrrvely on-drive and finally an equally correct off-drive. Between times, Ishant was called for a no-ball. Sure enough, given the headlines this week about the 16 non-called foot faults he bowled in last week’s first innings at Adelaide, the crowd give a nice little Bronx cheer.
It was the first time that Tim Paine won the toss this in a Test Match morning. Way to go. Sure enough, Andrew Samson is all over that.
Andrew Samson(@AWSStats)
Most tosses lost before winning one as captain of Australia: 5 WL Murdoch 1880-1882 4 R Benaud 1958 4 TD Paine 2018 World record: 7 BE Congdon (NZ) 1972-1973.
6th over: Australia 14-0 (Harris 1, Finch 13) Edge, four! It was Finch steering Bumrah through the gap to the right of gully down to the rope to finish the over. “What’s a real WACA shot,” says Mark Waugh on the Fox call. “Using the pace down to third man.” Earlier, Harris got himself off the mark via an inside edge that spat down to fine leg, one of two times that part of his bat was located in the over.
Dylan Leach(@leachitup)
Who would of thought that moving from a small, purpose built cricket ground to a huge multi purpose stadium would make it look empty on TV? #AUSvIND
5th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 0, Finch 9) Three times in three overs Ishant has beaten the outside edge. This time it is Finch, played for the considerable inswing but didn’t make contact, lucky not to lose his off-stump in the process. The Indian attack leader is going after the Victorian’s woodwork, finding an inside edge and hitting a pad through the over as well. Can Finch get through to the other side of this spell?
Just realised that I never posted the final XIs as named. Hamuma Vihari is also into the Indian middle order with Rohit Sharma picking up a back niggle in Adelaide. He’ll also send down some offies, as he did in England.
Australia: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
4th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 0, Finch 9) Putting to one side the first couple of balls, this is a nice start from Finch. To the first of Bumrah’s new set he is clipping with control through midwicket for a couple. The off-cutter is too good for him when it comes, but he responds calmly, tucking another single in front of the square leg umpire to finish.
The Cricket Prof.(@CricProf)
India are struggling to get their radar going this morning. Not one delivery in India’s first three overs would have hit the stumps. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/kbmQAAheOJ
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Harris 0, Finch 6) Finch pushes his second single to cover. Much better batting. Harris gets another ripper from Ishant, angling in and moving away, passing his outside edge by a coat of varnish. Fantastic delivery. This should be a brilliant first session.
Daniel Brettig(@danbrettig)
The first over of this match was the first time in his entire first-class career that Marcus Harris has faced the first ball #AusvInd
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Harris 0, Finch 5) Some gold from Ricky Ponting on Seven’s call, which Geoff Lemon picked up to my left. The former Aussie captain noted that India set their backward point deep to protect against Harris’ best shot, the cut. Next ball, he creamed it right there, the fielding saving four. Earlier in the over, Finch nervously negotiated the start of Bumrah’s day with an awkward defensive stroke that found the splice of the bat before missing a wild hook second up. He was much better third time around, nailing a pull shot from to the rope to collect Australia’s first runs.
“How do Adam.” If it isn’t my old mate Andy from Shakerfaker. Good morning to you. “Was that Luciano Pavarotti singing the Australian national anthem from the grave? Sounded amazing. How did he hold that last note for so long?”
Too right. Stand down, Julie Anthony, we have a new dude for the official version. “Also I’ve got 26-1 India 4-0. So come on India.” As I detailed on Monday, there is always, always value backing against Australia in Australia. We shouldn’t talk about punting on here really, but given that Cricket Australia now have sponsored tweets from a betting agency, I guess all bets (ho ho ho!) are off.
The Cricket Prof.(@CricProf)
As this @CricViz graphic makes clear, India’s seam attack were better than Australia’s at Adelaide by every metric – apart from pace. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/kHsvxAI4lE
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Harris 0, Finch 0) All the build up and tension… and Ishant sprays the first ball well down the legside. I’m so glad that I got my big camera out to capture it. His maiden to Harris involves the bat only once, the opener beaten by a beauty but leaving well otherwise. We’re away at Perth Stadium.
The players are on the field! Aaron Finch and local boy Marcus Harris are striding out to open the batting for Australia. Ishant Sharma is preparing to bowl the first ball ever at this stadium from the broadcast or northern end. Harris to face. PLAY!
Huuuuuge innings ahead of Aaron Finch. Before the Adelaide Test had even finished, Justin Langer was talking about a potential shuffle of the order where the Victorian could drop down to the middle order. But they have backed him in and now he walks out on a greenish pitch on morning one. These are the moments that can make or break a Test career.
In front of us there are kids with flags, which means the teams can’t be far away for national anthems. I neglected to note that by going with Umesh, India have also overlooked Jadeja. A side must be going well to consistently leave out the fifth ranked bowler in the world, a man who also boasts a batting average of 43 over the last couple of years.
James Sherry is welcoming the players and match officials. That won’t mean much to readers outside of Australia, but for my generation, his voice will be forever that of Saturday Disney and A*Mazing. I spent 20 minutes googling everything about him yesterday. I need better hobbies.
Amod Paranjape gets us underway on the email. “All I can say with regards to the Bhuvneshwar Kumar situation is that the skipper and coach are not comfortable playing him where the ball doesn’t swing,” he writes. “Absurd in my opinion but there it is.”
I’m with you, I can’t believe Bhuvi isn’t in the XI. That’s no reflection on Umesh, who has some of the best reverse swing skills in the world. But Bhuvi! Oh well.
Here is a bit more about Perth Stadium from the CricViz polymaths.
Kohli says he would have batted too. But he’s very happy to bowl. “I’ve seen a one-day game happen here and it had quite a bit for the bowlers so we’re pretty excited.”
In the ODI at this stadium in November, CricViz tells me, there was more average bounce than in any game played in Australia since 2015.
Umesh playing, Bhuvi isn’t. Four quicks for India! Australia unchanged.
Paine explains his decision: “It is really warm today and this wicket in the Shield game played pretty well to start with and with some hot weather around, we expect it will crack and up and be hard work.”
The good oil. The goss in the lift on the way up is that Australia are going to bat and India are strongly considering having a bowl. The captains are about to make their way out to the middle so we will know shortly.
Welcome to the first day of Test Cricket at Perth Stadium! It’s the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy fixture between Australia and India, the visitors going one-nil up at Adelaide on Monday. This becomes only the tenth venue used in the 141 years they have been playing Tests in Australia, so we have that considerable piece of history ahead of us today in WA.
It’s HOT outside. In the ten metres between the front door and my uber, I’ve sweated through my shirt. To that end, the toss will be complicated. I don’t doubt for a moment that bowling first could be on the agenda for both captains given how much grass is on the pitch. With so much hot weather ahead, the best time to take advantage of that is session one.
However, as Tim Paine said yesterday at his press conference, bowling first in 39 degree heat is something his quicks may never forgive him for. In short: a good toss to lose, ‘innit?
Speaking of the track, the WACA curator is apparently in strife according to one outlet this morning, for indicating to the local paper yesterday that he made the pitch as bouncy as possible to make life tough for the tourists. Putting to one side the wisdom of this given India’s superb pace attack, it forced CA to put out a statement to essentially denying the claim that they are pitch doctors. Sigh. Can’t we all just get along?
I can see tweeted reports that Umesh Yadav is marking out his run up, all-but confirming that India will go in with four quicks after Ashwin dropped out with a side strain. That’s a touch surprising as I think we all expected Bhuvi to play. Maybe there’s something going on that we don’t know about? All will be clear when the coin is tossed in about 20 minutes from now. As for Australia, they’re unchanged with Finch again to open.
I’ve timed this quite nicely as my car is just pulling up at the ground, so I’ll hop out and run upstairs. Between times, drop me a line to get this OBO started for we have a lot to discuss. Would you go the Full Nasser and stick the oppo in if the coin came down your way on a day like this? I reckon I would. Email, tweet – you know the drill. Back with you shortly.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime you can read his preview of the Test, featuring an excited Virat Kohli …
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Peter Lalor (@plalor)
