Will Pucovski scored a fifty on debut while Marnus Labuschagne came back to form with a solid knock as Australia ended day 1 of Sydney Test on top.
A new opening combination made a difference for Australia, although not as per the usual intention. One solid batsman came back to form. The other showed attacking intent. A bit of rain and sluggishness from India allowed Australia to have one of their best days in the ongoing series against India after the Adelaide Test. Will Pucovski scored a fifty on debut, Marnus Labuschagne roared back to form with a superb fifty and Steve Smith showed attacking intent against his nemesis. At stumps on day 1, Australia were the happier team as they finished on 166/2 against India in a rain-curtailed opening day of the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
At the toss, the teams had a similar dynamic. Both handed debuts. Both welcomed their x-factor players. Will Pucovski and Navdeep Saini were the debutants of their respective teams while Rohit Sharma and David Warner were the X-men. Australia chose to bat in what looked like the best batting wicket of the series and Pucovski, whose career was stalled with concussion injuries and mental health issues, strode out with David Warner.
Mohammed Siraj, who had tears of emotion when the national anthem was played, shared the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah and it was the Hyderabad pacer who struck when he dismissed David Warner cheaply for 5, with the left-hander edging the drive to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip. However, the majority of the first session was curtailed by rain and an early lunch was taken.
Labuschagne, Pucovski solid
Australia were helped by an uncharacteristically sloppy display from India in the field. Rishabh Pant dropped two catches in three overs off Pucovski while a run-out chance was also missed. Pucovski made them pay and he notched up his first fifty with two fours off another debutant Navdeep Saini. Marnus Labuschagne, who missed out on 50s in Melbourne and Adelaide, stepped up and played a mixture of attacking and defensive cricket.
After the tea break, Navdeep Saini dismissed his debutant counterpart Pucovski for 62 with a delivery that cut back in sharply. That brought in Steve Smith. India got back R Ashwin. The contest was once again reignited. However, unlike the tentativeness shown in Adelaide and Melbourne, Steve Smith showed his attacking intent as he clobbered Ashwin for three fours. Steve Smith raced to 25 off 27 balls but slowed down later as he got his eye in. Labuschagne, on the other hand, notched up his fifty.
Australia ended the day the happier team. However, they still have plenty of work to do on day 2 of the Test.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Will Pucovski")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}