At the Sydney Test, Australia finished the first day at 9/1 in 3 overs. By the middle of the second session on Day 2, Pat Cummins’ side was bowled out for 181 in 51 overs, giving India a slim 4-run lead after their first-innings score of 185.
This marks only the second instance in the last 70 years where both teams were dismissed for under 200 in the first innings at Sydney. The previous occurrence was during the 1979-80 season when England managed 123, and Australia replied with 145.
Australia added 92 runs in 26 overs during the morning session but lost 4 crucial wickets. The day began with Jasprit Bumrah striking in the fourth over, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne (2) caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Just four overs later, Mohammad Siraj dealt a double blow in the 12th over, removing opener Sam Constas (23) and Travis Head (4) within four balls.
From there, debutant Bo Webster and Steven Smith began the repair work for Australia, putting together a crucial 57-run stand off 92 balls for the fifth wicket. However, just before lunch, Smith fell for 33, just 5 runs short of completing 10,000 Test runs, caught off Prasidh Krishna. Webster, meanwhile, stood firm and played the anchor role.
Webster later formed a 41-run partnership with Alex Carey for the sixth wicket and a 25-run stand with Pat Cummins for the seventh. Along the way, he brought up a well-deserved half-century—the only fifty across both innings so far. Notably, Webster is only the second Tasmanian player after Ricky Ponting to score a fifty on Test debut.
At 164/7 after 46 overs, it seemed Australia might secure a first-innings lead. However, India struck back quickly. In the 47th over, Nitish Kumar dismissed Mitchell Starc with the first ball. An over later, Prasidh Krishna removed the well-set Webster (57 off 105 balls) with a catch at gully, leaving Australia reeling.
India’s bowling effort is even more commendable considering the loss of Bumrah, who left the field after bowling just one over post-lunch due to an injury and had to be taken to the hospital. Despite being without their ace pacer, India bundled out Australia by taking the last 5 wickets within 20 overs. Siraj and Prasidh picked up 3 wickets each, while Bumrah and Nitish claimed 2 each.
Brief Scores:
India: 185
Australia: 181 in 51 overs (Webster 57, Smith 33, Constas 23, Carey 21; Siraj 3/51, Prasidh 3/42, Bumrah 2/33, Nitish 2/32)—Day 2 in progress.
