Head scores fifty, Ashwin takes three
Adelaide, Dec. 7: Travis Head hit a stubborn halfcentury to keep Australia in the hunt on Friday after their top order slumped under sustained pressure from India’s bowlers, leaving the first Test in Adelaide finely poised. Batting on his home ground, Head kept his cool in the humid conditions to be 61 not out at stumps on day two, with Mitchell Starc unbeaten on eight.
His efforts helped steer Australia to 191- 7 in reply to India’s 250. Off- spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled beautifully to take three wickets, while Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah grabbed two each.
It was Head’s second 50 in his third Test, with the Adelaide- born 24- year- old playing the sort of gutsy innings that his more experienced teammates couldn’t match. All of Australia’s top four were back in the pavilion without passing 30, with Aaron Finch ( 0) and Shaun Marsh ( 2) notable failures.
It once again reinforced how much Australia are missing Steve Smith and David Warner, who remain banned over their part in the South Africa ball- tampering affair.
“It was nice to do a job for the team and it will be an exciting day tomorrow,” said Head.
“We hung in there. India bowled except i o n - a l l y we l l . It was ( a) fantastic little fightback in the end and it will be an important first hour tomorrow. Every run will valuable.”
Debutant Marcus Harris, who made 26, added: “It was a tough day, it wasn’t easy to score. I think we’re in a decent position.”
India resumed on 250- 9, but they were unable to add to the total with tailender Mohammed Shami out for six on the first ball of the day, caught behind by Tim Paine off Josh Hazlewood, leaving Bumrah unbeaten on 0. Hazlewood finished with 3- 52. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon all took two wickets each.
In reply, Australia got off to a horror start with Finch’s credentials as an opener again called into question after he was spectacularly bowled without scoring on only the third ball he faced. A lovely delivery from Sharma took out his middle and off stumps after getting an inside edge as Finch attempted a drive.
Harris looked in good nick and unruffled by the occasion, hitting three fours in his solid 26. But he was undone by a drifting ball from Ashwin, getting an edge to Murali Vijay at silly mid- off and ending a 45- run partnership with a slimmeddown Usman Khawaja who was back after knee surgery.
India ( 1st innings): M. Vijay c Paine b Starc 11, KL. Rahul c Finch b Hazlewood 2, C. Pujara run out ( Cummins) 123, V. Kohli c Khawaja b Cummins 3, A. Rahane c Handscomb b Hazlewood 13, R. Sharma c Harris b Lyon 37, R. Pant c Paine b Lyon 25, R. Ashwin c Handscomb b Cummins 25, I. Sharma b Starc 4, M. Shami c Paine b Hazlewood 6, J. Bumrah ( not out) 0. Extras ( lb1) 1. Total ( in 88 overs) 250. FoW: 1- 3, 2- 15, 3- 19, 4- 41, 5- 86, 6- 127, 7189, 8- 210, 9- 250.
Bowling: Starc 19- 4- 63- 2, Hazlewood 20- 3- 52- 3, Cummins 19- 3- 49- 2, Lyon 28- 2- 83- 2, Head 2- 1- 2- 0 Australia ( 1st innings): A. Finch b Sharma 0, M. Harris c Vijay b Ashwin 26, U. Khawaja c Pant b Ashwin 28, S. Marsh b Ashwin 2, P. Handscomb c Pant b Bumrah 34, T. Head ( batting) 61, T. Paine c Pant b Sharma 5, P. Cummins lbw b Bumrah 10, M. Starc ( batting) 8. Extras ( lb9, b6, nb2) 17. Total ( for seven wickets in 88 overs) 191.
FoW: 1- 0, 2- 45, 3- 59, 4- 87, 5- 120, 6- 127, 7- 177.
Bowling: Sharma 15- 6- 31- 2, Bumrah 209- 34- 2, Shami 16- 6- 51- 0, Ashwin 33- 950- 3, Vijay 4- 1- 10- 0.