Courtesy: Cricket Australia
On Thursday, December 26, the Australian cricket team had the better of day one against India in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, reaching 311/6 at stumps after 86 overs of play. Debutant Sam Konstas took the attack to the Indian fast bowlers in the first hour, putting them completely off their game before reaching his fifty, to set up the Australian first innings on which the rest of the top order built upon.
After winning the toss, Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, decided to bat first in overcast conditions in the morning session, but the temperatures were expected to reach around 40°C in the afternoon. Sam Konstas took down Jasprit Bumrah in an unorthodox manner, executing the reverse ramp shot to perfection in the seventh over of the Australian innings, collecting 14 runs in boundaries before reaching his fifty.
Following the opening stand of 89 runs for the first wicket alongside Usman Khawaja, the 19-year-old Sam Konstas was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja lbw on 60 off 65 with six fours and two maximums. It led to the three experienced players in the Australian top order, including the likes of Usman Khawaja (57 off 121), Marnus Labuschagne (72 off 145), and Steve Smith (68* off 111) got past their fifties, playing a key role in their progress on day one of the fourth Test.
Khawaja and Labuschagne shared a 65-run stand for the second wicket before the latter was involved in a vital partnership of 83 runs for the third wicket alongside Smith, to put Australia in a very strong position before India pegged them back with three quick wickets of their own. Alex Carey wrestled back the momentum from the opposition during his 53-run stand for the sixth wicket with Steve Smith before he lost his wicket a few minutes before stumps.
Jasprit Bumrah was once again the pick of the bowlers for the Indian cricket team, and his cleaning-up Travis Head for zero was one of the best moments of play on day one of the fourth BGT Test at the MCG.
