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A closer look at how the pitch has changed over the two days showcased the drastic change it underwent in merely a day of chaotic play.
A side-by-side comparison of the pitch at Perth across the two days of play so far (X)
From a bowler’s haven to a batter’s paradise, Perth’s Optus Stadium has proven to be a mixed bag for both India and Australia, as the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series continues to progress.
A closer look at how the pitch has changed over the two days showcased the drastic change it underwent in merely a day of chaotic play.
Day 1 proved to be a pacer’s dream, with plenty of grass offering bounce and movement for the bowlers to have their hearts’s fill, while the pitch on Day 2 started showing signs of deterioration, seemingly favouring out the batters more.
Pacers from both teams sure did have their fill on Day 1, as Australia wreaked havoc over India, bowling them out for a mere 150 runs as veteran pace demons Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood did their part alongside skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh, to scalp all of India’s wickets.
But, Australia would soon get a taste of their own medicine, as Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah would have his revenge, scalping a fiery four wickets within the end of day’s play, with Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana chipping in to scalp their own as well.
In fact, 17 wickets fell on the opening day, a record on Australian soil, as the the hosts were in disarray on 67-7 at the end of the day’s play.
Now, Day 2 would go on to tell a different tale: one of the batters and their prowess.
India would finish what they had started with the ball, dismissing the remaining tail-enders after a gritty stand from Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who brought in 25 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah deservedly got his 11th five-wicket haul while debutant Harshit Rana bowled a fiery opening spell as Australia were bowled out for 104 at the stroke of lunch
Then, the fortunes would turn for the batters, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul would make use of all that the pitch had lost to their advantage.
The Indian opening duo would ransack the Australian bowlers, as Jaiswal faced 193 balls while Rahul fended off 153 to steer India to 172 without loss, becoming the first Indian opening pair to register a 100-run stand in Australia in Tests in the last 20 years.
By the end of the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal would go on to register a composed unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul a stylish 62 Saturday as India built an ominous 218-run lead over Australia to take a stranglehold on the Test as of now.
