Twitter Reactions: Bumrah leads India's fightback after Australia's solid start
A record crowd of 87,242 witnessed the action on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, December 26.
Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) turned out to be a blockbuster affair with both teams showing why they are two of the best in world cricket.
After Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first, debutant Sam Konstas put the Indian bowlers to the sword by playing some audacious strokes. Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja bided his time from the other end. Konstas hit the in-form Jasprit Bumrah for three boundaries in an over on two different occasions in his first spell. Mohammed Siraj and Virat Kohli tried to unsettle the youngster with their heated antics. However, the teenager showed nerves of steel and played a swashbuckling innings of 60 off 65 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes.
The first wicket fell at the score of 89 as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed the debutant in the 20th over. Marnus Labuschagne joined Khawaja in the middle, and the duo stitched a sedate 65-run partnership off 150 balls. Siraj changed the bails once again and this time, Khawaja was dismissed shortly after for a 121-ball 57.
Steve Smith and Labuschagne stitched an 87-run stand-off 127 balls. The latter battled hard during his innings and had to counter a probing spell from Akash Deep. His knock eventually ended for 72 off 145 balls after he had hit seven boundaries.
From 237/2, the home side slumped to 246/5 as Travis Head (0 off 7) and Mitchell Marsh (4 off 13) fell cheaply to Bumrah's class. The keeper-batter Alex Carey played a counter-attacking knock of 31 runs off 41 balls before being dismissed by Deep with the second new ball. Smith (68*) and Cummins (8*) took Australia through to Stumps on Day 1, finishing at 311/6 in 86 overs.
Bumrah took three wickets, while Akash Deep, Jadeja, and Washington Sundar chipped in with a wicket each. Deep could have easily had a couple of more wickets had luck been on his side. Nonetheless, he would be hoping to strike early tomorrow morning.
Here's how 'X' users reacted to the action on Day 1:
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