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Australia Gains Key Advantage in Top Order on Boxing Day
Australia Gains Key Advantage in Top Order on Boxing Day
Australia's top four, Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith, hit fifty plus scores.
Australia's top-order batsmen took advantage of the festive season to regain their form, making it easier for the home team to score first on Boxing Day. After winning their first toss in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the top four—Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith—each reached scores of over 50. Although the first three couldn’t convert their efforts into centuries, their performances were crucial in setting a solid opening-day total of 311 for 6. For India, Jasprit Bumrah's two wickets in the last session and Akash Deep's determined effort kept them in the hunt.
Having played three Tests, Australia aimed to bring a fresh approach to their strategy against India, leading them to give 19-year-old Sam Konstas a chance to disrupt Bumrah's domination over their top-order. The debutant lit up the festive crowd at the historic stadium with his fearless and exciting batting style.
After three Tests, Australia sought to introduce a fresh tactic against India, which led them to 19-year-old Sam Konstas. He was chosen to challenge the dominance that Bumrah held over the Australian top order. The debutant lit up the lively holiday crowd at the iconic stadium with his bold and fearless batting style.
He reverse-scooped and aggressively approached India’s fast bowlers, showing no fear in confrontations and creating significant disruptions for India early on this well-prepared pitch at the MCG. Luck was on his side too, particularly in the first over when he was beaten by Bumrah four times. His response was to attempt reverse scoops, though he only managed to miss the deliveries.
However, the dynamic shifted in the seventh over when Konstas successfully executed three reverse scoops. Two of them raced to the boundary, and one even cleared it—marking the first six Bumrah had conceded in the format since the 2021 Sydney Test. This unexpected turn of events unsettled India and forced Bumrah, typically a strategic bowler, to adjust his lengths to suit shorter formats. In his six-over opening spell, Bumrah conceded 38 runs, with Konstas making 34 runs from his 33 balls. Crucially, this allowed Khawaja, who had previously fallen to Bumrah four times in this series, to face only three balls from him during that initial spell and find his footing against other bowlers.
Australia started strong in the Test match, thanks to a fearless knock from young Konstas. He hit the Indian bowlers aggressively, reaching his half-century in just 52 balls. His attacking play, including eight boundaries, helped set the tone before he was dismissed for 60 by Jadeja. Konstas’ effort gave Khawaja and Labuschagne a solid platform.
India struggled in the first session, conceding 112 runs in 25 overs. However, they tightened their bowling after lunch, focusing on accuracy and leg-side fields. Bumrah and Akash Deep bowled with discipline, slowing Australia’s scoring and keeping them to 26 runs in 13 overs. Despite this, Khawaja reached his fifty, though Siraj troubled Labuschagne with sharp deliveries.
India’s persistence paid off when Bumrah removed Khawaja, breaking a 65-run stand. Smith then joined Labuschagne, and the duo accelerated scoring, adding 61 runs in 12 overs. Smith looked comfortable, often attacking Jadeja. However, Labuschagne’s dismissal after drinks triggered a collapse, with Australia slipping from 237/2 to 246/5 as Bumrah struck twice more.
Smith and Alex Carey steadied the innings with a 53-run partnership before Deep dismissed Carey for 31. Smith, unbeaten on 68, guided Australia through the remainder of the day alongside Cummins, ensuring they ended in a solid position despite India’s fightback.
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