Match Blog: Warner, Marsh Out; Australia Score 128/2 in 50 Overs

Shaun Marsh is on his way back after playing a gritty innings of 16 runs off 55 balls. He was playing the perfect Test match innings before he tried to sweep Jayant Yadav.

While trying to sweep, the ball hit his pads and then his gloves and thereafter looped for Virat Kohli to take a simple catch.

The Indian team have used up both their reviews for the first 80 overs of the first innings. Umesh Yadav hit Steve Smith on the pads and the Indians went up straight away.

Umpire Kettleborough ruled it not out, but Virat Kohli wanted to have a look and called for a review. The replays showed that the ball would have gone down the leg-side and the umpire’s decision stayed.

India don’t have any more reviews for 41 more overs.

Australia: 104/1 after 39 overs.

Australia have got off to a terrific start in the first Test! Warner and Renshaw saw off the spinners beautifully and were cruising before Umesh Yadav knocked off David Warner’s stumps just before lunch.

Warner walked back for 38 runs and soon after Matt Renshaw retired ill on the same individual score.

Steve Smith (1*) and Shaun Marsh (1*) are at the crease for Australia at the moment.

Matt Renshaw has decided to leave the field. It looks like he is not feeling well. He has retired ill for 38 runs.

Shaun Marsh walks into the middle.

India suddenly can attack two new batsmen at the crease.

Australia: 82/1 after 28 overs.

India have finally managed to get a breakthrough and it’s Umesh Yadav who has broken David Warner’s defense. It would have been perfect for Australia, if they got to lunch without losing a wicket, but it’s not to be.

Nevertheless, Warner goes for 38 off 77 balls, the Baggy Greens need to capitalise on a fantastic start.

Former media manager of the Indian Cricket Team Nishant Arora has joined our cricket party at The Quint and in his first Facebook Live yesterday shared a lot of interesting insights into a player’s mind. He played the sport himself as a youngster and has been associated with it for the last 25 years - all of that is now coming to The Quint.

Email us on sports@thequint.com if you have questions for him.

The two oldest bowlers in the Indian team start the proceedings against Renshaw and Warner. Eight overs down and there are 19 runs on the board.

Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test match against India.

India have preferred spinner Jayant Yadav over paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar along with main spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Yadav picked up an injury during the England series and had to sit out of the last Test of the series, followed by the one-off Test against Bangladesh.

Australia have fielded two specialist spinners in Nathan Lyon and left-armer Steve O'Keefe.

Australia have fielded two specialist spinners in Nathon Lyon and left-armer Steve O'Keefe.

Teams:

India: Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

Australia: Steven Smith (C), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood

Aus Series Starts in Pune

In the fourth and last home series of the 2016-17 season, India take on Australia in the first match of a four-match rubber in Pune. On a record 19-match unbeaten streak, the hosts would seek to extend their incredible dominance at home.

Virat Kohli has been spearheading India’s stupendous purple patch with his performances. Excellent bowling by spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, also the top two bowlers in the ICC rankings, have also had a major contribution.

Here’s what captains of both teams had to say ahead of the series.

While India haven’t lost a Test since August 2015, Australia have not been able to win a Test on their last three visits to India. In the recent past, the visitors lost the tour of Sri Lanka in July-August 2016, following which they lost to South Africa 1-2 at home. Most recently, Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 and are currently ranked second in the ICC Test rankings.

India coach Anil Kumble however felt that Australia are like any of the other teams his side faced in this home season.

Also Read: In Stats: Why India Are Overpowering Favourites For Aus Series