“Australia vs India: Day 1 Highlights of the Adelaide Test, December 6, 2024”
Australia vs India Highlights – Day 1, Adelaide Test (December 6, 2024)
The second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia vs india began on December 6, 2024, at the Adelaide Oval. Under the glittering lights of a Day/Night Test, both teams showcased exceptional skills in a day packed with action and drama. Here’s a comprehensive highlight reel of Day 1, including scores and key moments.
The Toss and Australia vs India highlights Decision
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first, citing the traditionally favorable batting conditions on Day 1 at Adelaide Oval. The decision was well-aligned with their intent to put up a strong first-innings total. India, led by Rohit Sharma, had a clear plan to leverage the pink ball’s swing early on and restrict Australia to a manageable score.
Morning Session: Australia vs India highlights Strikes Early
Australia vs india highlights started their innings with openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja. While Warner looked comfortable, Khawaja struggled against India’s fiery pace attack. Mohammed Shami, with precise swing and seam movement, dismissed Khawaja for 15 runs, caught by KS Bharat behind the stumps.
Warner, in contrast, found his rhythm, playing exquisite cover drives and pulling anything short. His partnership with Marnus Labuschagne began to steady the Australian innings. By the time lunch was called, Australia had reached 85/1, with Warner batting on 38 and Labuschagne on 34.
Afternoon Session: Labuschagne Shines
Post-lunch, Labuschagne shifted gears, showing remarkable footwork against both pace and spin. He handled Ravichandran Ashwin’s flighted deliveries with ease, using the depth of the crease to accumulate boundaries. Warner’s promising innings, however, ended on 53 when he edged a Bumrah outswinger to the slip cordon.
Steve Smith joined Labuschagne at the crease, and together, they added 78 runs for the third wicket. Smith played cautiously, but Labuschagne continued to dominate, reaching his half-century with a stylish boundary through midwicket.
Ashwin provided India with a much-needed breakthrough, dismissing Smith for 47 with a delivery that spun sharply, catching the edge and flying to first slip. At tea, Australia stood at a solid 215/3, with Labuschagne unbeaten on 77.
Evening Session: India Roars Back
As the lights took full effect, the pink ball began to assist the Indian bowlers. Labuschagne fell just three runs short of a well-deserved century, edging a delivery from Bumrah to second slip for 97. This dismissal marked the turning point of the day, as India’s bowlers began to dominate.
Shami bowled with incredible accuracy, exploiting the conditions to trouble Australia’s middle order. Cameron Green (12) and Alex Carey (10) failed to capitalize on starts, both falling to Shami’s inswingers. Ravindra Jadeja, too, chipped in with the wicket of Mitchell Starc, who was bowled attempting a wild slog.
Australia ended the day at 298/7, with Pat Cummins (22*) and Nathan Lyon (8*) at the crease. While the score was respectable, India’s late-session resurgence kept them in contention.
Key Performances
- Marnus Labuschagne: The Australian star was the standout performer, scoring a fluent 97 off 163 balls. His innings included 14 boundaries and showcased his ability to anchor the innings.
- Mohammed Shami: The Indian pacer was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4/45 in 20 overs. His ability to swing the pink ball under lights was instrumental in India’s fightback.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah’s two crucial wickets, including Labuschagne’s, were vital in halting Australia’s momentum.
- Steve Smith: A steady knock of 47 laid the foundation for Australia’s middle order.
Match Summary at Stumps (Day 1)
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 298/7 | 90 |
Turning Points of the Day
- Shami’s Early Breakthrough: Dismissing Khawaja early helped India set an aggressive tone.
- Labuschagne’s Dismissal: Falling just short of a century, Labuschagne’s wicket gave India the opening they needed to attack the middle order.
- Late-Session Collapse: Australia’s inability to protect their lower order under lights shifted the momentum toward India.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
The second day promises a fascinating battle as India aims to wrap up Australia’s innings quickly and then face the challenge of batting under lights. With the pink ball likely to offer swing, the Indian top order will need to be cautious yet decisive.
This enthralling Day 1 has set the stage for an evenly matched Test, keeping fans on edge as the battle continues in Adelaide.