Share

Australia beat India by 8 wickets to win first Test in Adelaide

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates with Cameron Green of Australia after taking a catch to dismiss Virat Kohli of India during day three of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 19, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia.
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates with Cameron Green of Australia after taking a catch to dismiss Virat Kohli of India during day three of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 19, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia.
Daniel Kalisz

A devastated India crashed to their lowest ever score of 36 on Saturday as Australia ran riot to win the opening Test in Adelaide by eight wickets after Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins produced a bowling masterclass.

India started the third day of the pink-ball Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead, looking to build a competitive second innings total for the hosts to chase.

But their hopes were left in tatters by a wicket with bounce and deviation as Hazlewood took 5-8, including his 200th Test wicket, and Cummins 4-21. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine claimed five catches as the bowlers found the edge.

"I didn't expect it to come that quick, I was expecting a real dogfight," said skipper Paine.

"To hang in, give our bowlers a chance, and then turn up and start the day the way we did, full credit to our bowling attack again.

"It's nice to get off to a good start. Chuffed with the way we bowled in this Test." It was an incredible Indian collapse, with no batsman reaching double figures during a capitulation that lasted less than 22 overs, in contrast to their battling first innings' 244.

That included skipper Virat Kohli, who fell for four and now heads home for the birth of his first child, leaving his stunned team to face three more Tests, starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day, without him. Ajinkya Rahane will assume the captaincy.

"It's very hard to put those feelings into words," said a disconsolate Kohli.

"We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived, and then just collapsed. We played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour. It really hurts."

India's previous Test low was 42 against England at Lord's in 1974. Their 36 was the joint fourth lowest of all time, with New Zealand's 26 facing England in 1955 at Auckland the worst ever.

The carnage left Australia, who scored 191 in the first innings, needing 90 to win, with out-of-form Joe Burns hitting a confidence-building 51 not out, including a six to win the match.

Matthew Wade made 33 and Marnus Labuschagne six with Steve Smith not out one.

In trouble

Cummins wasted no time removing nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah for two in the second over of the day, temping him to push at a slower ball that popped back up to him.

That brought the stubborn Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease. He saw off an over from Cummins, but that was as good as it got for the veteran who fell without scoring.

Cummins, the world's number one Test bowler, sent down a delivery that had to be played and Pujara caught an edge that carried to wicketkeeper Paine.

It left India on 15 for three, and it only got worse with opener Mayank Agarwal back in the pavillon five balls later for nine, again caught by Paine on Hazlewood's opening delivery.

Hazlewood and Paine again combined to get rid of Rahane for nought, after which Cummins picked up the massive wicket of Kohli.

The superstar batsman had smacked Cummins for four but was gone the next ball after a review, caught by debutant Cameron Green as he attempted a cover drive.

At 19 for six, India were in real danger of making their lowest ever score and when Wriddhiman Saha (4) chipped a Hazlewood delivery to Marnus Labuschagne and Ravi Ashwin was out next ball it became a reality.

A four from Hanuma Vihari spared them some shame, taking India past New Zealand's all-time low.

But Vihari (8) didn't last much longer, caught by Paine with Hazlewood again doing the damage to complete an excellent five-wicket haul, before Mohammed Shami was forced to retire hurt after a Cummins thunderbolt hit his right arm.

Scorecard after Australia beat India on the third day of the first day-night Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday:

India first innings 244 (V. Kohli 74, C. Pujara 43, A. Rahane 42; M. Starc 4-53, P. Cummins 3-48)

Australia 1st innings 191 (T. Paine 73 no, M. Labuschagne 47; R. Ashwin 4-55, U. Yadav 3-40)

India 2nd innings (overnight 9-1)

P. Shaw b Cummins                     4

M. Agarwal c Paine b Hazlewood        9

J. Bumrah c & b Cummins               2

C. Pujara c Paine b Cummins           0

V. Kohli c Green b Cummins            4 

A. Rahane c Paine b Hazlewood         0 

H. Vihari c Paine b Hazlewood         8

W. Saha c Labuschagne b Hazlewood     4

R. Ashwin c Paine b Hazlewood         0

U. Yadav not out                      4

M. Shami ret hurt                     1 

Extras                                0

Total (nine wickets, 21.1 overs)     36

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Shaw), 2-15 (Bumrah), 3-15 (Pujara), 4-15 (Agarwal), 5-15 (Rahane), 6-19 (Kohli), 7-26 (Saha), 8-26 (Ashwin), 9-31 (Vihari), 9-36 (Shami - retired hurt) 

Bowling: Starc 6-3-7-0, Cummins 10.2-4-21-4, Hazlewood 5-3-8-5

Australia 2nd innings

J. Burns not out                     51

M. Wade run out                      33 

M. Labuschagne c Agarwal b Ashwin     6

S. Smith not out                      1

Extras (lb1, nb1)                     2  

Total (2 wickets, overs 21)          93

Did not bat:  Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Fall of wicket: 1-70 (Wade), 2-82 (Labuschagne)

Bowling: Bumrah 7-1-27-0, Yadev  8-1-49-0, Ashwin 6-1-16-1

Result: Australia won by eight wickets

Toss: India

Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed. 
Subscribe to News24
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Is the decision to give Aiden Markram the Proteas T20 captaincy the right one?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Markram is a natural leader
70% - 443 votes
No! He should have been left to focus on his batting
8% - 51 votes
I'm not sure yet. Let's see what results he brings.
22% - 140 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE