Peter Handscomb has posted his first Test half century for the reason that tour of Bangladesh in 2017 – in an inspiring comeback story for Australia.
The Victorian hadn’t performed a Test for the reason that Sydney Test in opposition to India again in January 2019, and lots of thought his playing cards had been marked by no means to play for Australia once more.
But the right-hander has overcome his demons, made refined enhancements to his approach, and returned by means of sheer weight of runs.
“This is a very, very important innings in Handscomb’s Test career and for the team,” Mark Waugh mentioned on Fox Cricket.
“I guess he would have been having doubts about his career. That’s a long time (out of the team).
“But he has got back through sheer weight of runs. If you get runs on the board, you deserve another go.”
FOLLOW LIVE WITH NEWS CORP CRICKET WRITER BEN HORNE BELOW
Handscomb has batted fantastically with captain Pat Cummins.
Earlier, Australia’s stoic efficiency got here crashing down when Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne fell simply earlier than lunch.
Indian celebrity Ravi Ashwin claimed yet one more Australian lbw wicket, additionally his 700th first-class wicket, by claiming Labuschagne, earlier than nicking off Smith in the identical over.
Then Khawaja (48 not out) – who had dominated the primary session – narrowly survived an lbw shout to Ravi Jadeja the very subsequent over in a significant aid to Australia.
It leaves Australia 3-91 within the shadows of lunch, with Steve Smith becoming a member of Labuschagne (18) and David Warner (15) within the sheds.
Labuschagne was given not out on-field, however India referred and replays confirmed the ball was impacting in-line and hitting – after lacking the within fringe of the bat.
The Australian reacted angrily to the tight dismissal.
Then Smith was out moments later after one other devilish Ashwin supply.
Australia had dominated the primary session thanks largely to the inroads made by Khawaja, however immediately the match has turned utterly.
9.42PM AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR 263
Australia’s innings has lastly completed at 263, with Peter Handscomb making a high-quality 72 not out.
India now has a difficult eight or 9 over interval to outlive earlier than stumps.
Australia can be looking wickets with Pat Cummins as their sole quick bowler after a radical assault was picked.
It stays to be seen who will open the bowling with Cummins.
Mohammed Shami completed with 4 wickets for India in a superb show.
9.36PM JADEJA NO BALLS ON LAST WICKET
Ravi Jadeja has blown the possibility to finish Australia’s innings after being nabbed for a entrance foot no ball.
Peter Handscomb ought to have been out for 67 and Australia on their method for 256, however earned a reprieve when the in-stadium blasted at Delhi.
Handscomb had smashed a ball straight to a fielder and India’s opening batsmen sprinted off the sphere to prepare for his or her innings, solely to be referred to as again by the umpires.
Jadeja is a freak of a participant however his penchant for bowling entrance foot no balls has been his achilles heel.
9.02PM AUSSIES FACE FIGHT TO REACH 250
Pat Cummins posted his highest Test rating since 2018, however Australia misplaced back-to-back wickets to be in peril of being bowled out on day one.
Cummins’ batted aggressively and properly, however after being trapped lbw by Ravi Jadeja, Todd Murphy got here and went simply 4 balls later to what Mark Waugh described as a “naive” shot.
Murphy made the third duck of the Australian innings (after Steve Smith and Alex Carey) and the innings is within the stability at 8-233.
Australia is actually in a a lot stronger first innings place than they have been in Nagpur when bowled out for 178, because of Usman Khawaja (81) and an excellent knock from Peter Hansdcomb (59 not out).
But India will nonetheless fancy their probabilities of taking a bonus within the Test if they’ll restrict Australia to underneath 250.
8.52PM MURPHY BOWLED
Todd Murphy doesn’t hassle the scorers as he leaves an enormous hole and Jadeja rips one by means of. Australia is 8-227 and Nathan Lyon joins Handscomb.
8.50PM CUMMINS LBW
Pat Cummins evaluations, but it surely at all times regarded out and DRS agrees. Ravi Jadeja fires a faster ball in that smashes into the Australian captain’s pad and it was hitting center stump midway up. That partnership was value a helpful 59 for Australia, of which Cummins made 33 from 59 balls.
7.45PM TEA – AUSTRALIA 6-199 (CUMMINS 23NO, HANDSCOMB 36NO)
Pat Cummins has thrown down the gauntlet to India with an impressed passage of batting earlier than tea.
Australian nice Matthew Hayden feared Australia could be “six out, all out” after the final recognised batsman Alex Carey went for a duck to go away the guests 6-168.
But Cummins (23 not out off 30) joined Peter Handscomb (36 not out) and went into IPL mode.
Cummins blasted Ravi Ashwin for 2 large sixes and put the stress again on India, to elevate Australia to 6-199 on the tea break.
The skipper adopted up with two boundaries off Mohammed Siraj within the final over earlier than tea to push the partnership with Handscomb as much as 31, with Australia only a run away from 200.
Hayden mentioned if Cummins and Handscomb can maintain going after tea, Australia might swing the momentum of day one – and the Test – of their favour.
“Another 50 or 60, they’re right in the game Australia,” Hayden mentioned in commentary on Fox Cricket.
Hayden mentioned factors have been cut up within the second session because of the Handscomb and Cummins partnership serving to elevate the scoring charge.
One of the problems Australia confronted within the first Test was having such a prolonged tail, accentuated with no Mitchell Starc or Ashton Agar within the line-up.
Cummins has produced nice batting moments up to now, however has been out of shape for some time.
But with the collection on the road, the captain stepped up and delivered.
Despite shedding six wickets, Australia’s scoring charge has been spectacular all day – with 90 odd posted in every of the primary two periods.
Handscomb has not reached 40 in Test cricket since September 2017 however is profiting from his return to Test cricket after a number of years within the wilderness.
Brought in as a sub-continental specialist – Handscomb has impressed in each Tests to this point.
7.30PM THE MANY HATS OF PETER HANDSCOMB
It’s been a hat’s off efficiency from Peter Handscomb to this point … actually.
The comeback Australian batsman has rocked a helmet, a saggy inexperienced and a white floppy throughout his spectacular unbeaten innings of 32.
Handscomb has labored very exhausting to make his method again to the Australian aspect and is doing it in fashion.
Australian nice Matthew Hayden put the stress on Pat Cummins and the staff’s lengthy tail to stay with Handscomb.
“It’s been a case of six out, all out. It’s not good enough,” mentioned Hayden.
Cummins’ has began positively and launched Ravi Ashwin out of the bottom with an excellent attacking six.
7.05PM RAHUL’S CATCH FOR THE AGES
Indian star KL Rahul has pulled off a one-handed screamer to eliminate Usman Khawaja in a “game changing” second in Delhi.
Khawaja was taking part in one of many innings’ of his life, 82 not out and placing severe stress again on the Indians in a 50-run partnership with Peter Handscomb.
But Khawaja middled a reverse sweep off Ravindra Jadeja and thought it was heading to the fence, just for Rahul to throw himself into the air and take the spectacular seize.
It left Australia 5-167 and altered all the really feel of the primary day’s play.
“No way. That’s a game changer that one. That is a great catch by KL Rahul,” Mark Waugh mentioned on commentary on Fox Cricket.
“Right out the middle, starting to tail away…that’s a beauty.
“That’s the sort of catch that can change the game.
“Khawaja has played beautifully and he will count himself very unlucky there.”
The distress for Australia was accentuated when the final of the recognised batsmen, Alex Carey was nicked off by Ravi Ashwin for a duck.Virat Kohli made no mistake with the primary slip catch after dropping a pair within the first Test.
6.45PM KHAWAJA’S HIGHEST SCORE VS INDIA
Usman Khawaja has surpassed his highest ever rating in opposition to India in a monumental batting show within the first Test.
Khawaja scored 72 in opposition to India in Perth again in 2018, however went previous that mark with a beautiful boundary off Axar Patel within the center session.
The Queenslander has carried Australia on his shoulders on his solution to 77 not out and has put the guests ready to construct a stable first innings complete that offers them an opportunity of combating their method again into the collection.
Khawaja missed out within the first Test, however the knock continues on from his big performances in Pakistan and Sri Lanka final yr.
The left-hander’s transformation in opposition to spin bowling since 2018 when he was recalled to the aspect in opposition to the Pakistan within the UAE has been unbelievable.
6.25PM HEAD’S MISSED CHANCE TO PROVE ASIAN CREDENTIALS
Travis Head has did not ship selectors the pointed message he would have desperately hoped, falling for 12 taking part in a unfastened shot exterior off-stump.
Australia feared that Head’s abilities wouldn’t be as much as the problem of utmost spin circumstances in India, therefore why they left him out of the primary Test in Nagpur.
However, it was to the wily tempo of Indian fast Mohammad Shami that finally claimed Head’s wicket.
Head will shake his head on the dismissal to an pointless shot to a large ball, however you need to say it’s the method he performs.
That swashbuckling fashion got here off at dwelling and helped spearhead Australia’s triumphant win over South Africa.
Still, Mark Waugh famous the one method Head can enhance in these circumstances is to play in them and Head regarded higher in opposition to the spin than he did in Sri Lanka final yr.
Selectors earlier defined their resolution to backflip on Head and decide him forward of Matthew Renshaw.
“…The other thing driving the key point between Renners and Heady was really we thought we were short of fifth bowling support in Nagpur … so we feel Heady, even though he’s an off-spinner that goes the same way, that he’s a more robust option for a fifth (bowler) as a chop out as required,” Selector Tony Dodemaide mentioned.
“Renners is really stiff. There’s no slight on him. He’s very much a valued player in our team planning moving forward. He was quite stiff, particularly in the first innings there. So he hasn’t been dropped for those performances.”
6.05PM HEAD CAUGHT
KL Rahul holds onto a pointy probability within the slips and Travis Head has to go for 12.
From 1-91, Australia has misplaced 3-17 and India is on high.
5.45PM CAN HEAD SEND SELECTORS A MESSAGE?
Travis Head’s file on the subcontinent value him a spot within the first Test staff however he has an enormous alternative now to ship a message.
Head and Usman Khawaja have the job of ressurecting Australia’s innings after Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have been out simply earlier than lunch.
Head has already confronted extra balls than Matt Renshaw did within the first Test.
“This is a completely different kettle of fish here,” says Mark Waugh, referring to Head’s dominance of the Aussie summer time.
4.55PM KHAWAJA REVIEWS SUCCESSFULLY
Wow! That’s an enormous reprieve. India thought it had Usman Khawaja lbw too however Ravi Jadeja’s ball landed simply exterior leg stump.
“India have fought back and levelled it right on the lunch break,” says Mark Waugh in commentary.
4.51PM SMITH GONE TOO!
Disaster for Australia as Ashwin lands a double blow.
He goes across the wicket, will get one to go straight when Steve Smith performs for flip and he’s out for a duck.
Travis Head now will get his probability with Australia 3-91.
4.50PM DANGER MAN FALLS WITH LUNCH IN SIGHT
Indian dangers its second evaluate of the morning on Marnus Labuschagne and it pays off.
Ravi Ashwin will get a ball to show sharply from exterior off stump and it’s simply in step with off stump when it strikes the Australian No.3.
Australia is 2-91.
That was completely plumb and also you’ve obtained to surprise the way it was given not out reside.
4.35PM MANKAD WARNING
There has been the primary trace of a Mankad within the Test tour of India.
Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin held the ball within the seventh over when Marnus Labuschagne had ventured half a metre out of his crease.
Ashwin spun on his heel after not going by means of along with his supply and walked again to his mark – not acknowledging Labuschagne or motioning in direction of the stumps.
However, it was clearly a silent warning and the primary trace {that a} Mankad might happen on this collection.
Ashwin has carried out Mankad dismissals up to now and has in all probability been its loudest advocate as a official dismissal.
He triggered controversy in the course of the IPL in 2019 when he used the dismissal to take away Jos Buttler.
4.15PM WARNER GONE!
The around-the-wicket plan works in opposition to David Warner once more.
Shami will get a supply to angle again on the Aussie opener who edges behind to wicketkeeper KS Bharat.
Australia’s opening pair placed on 50, with Warner out for 15 from 44 balls.
“You get the feeling even during this innings that the way he watches the ball normally is not the same,” Ravi Shastri says on SEN.
3.55PM INDIAN BOWLERS WORKING WARNER OVER
David Warner is having to place his physique on the road as he faces a baptism of fireside from India’s bowlers.
Warner was struck underneath the elbow early within the first session, inflicting a delay in play, and has additionally been hit on the helmet.
Usman Khawaja has finished many of the early scoring as Warner digs in and tries to defy his nemesis Ravichandran Ashwin.
3.35PM PITCH ‘COULD EXPLODE’ BY DAY THREE
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden fears the Delhi pitch might “explode” by the third day of the second Test.
Hayden mentioned the pitch was akin to a day two or three wicket already and vital cracks at both finish would make life troublesome for batsmen.
Media have been banned from getting too near the wicket earlier than the Test to take pictures after the Nagpur pitch triggered days of controversy.
“When you go down this track it does look like a second (or) third day wicket,” Hayden mentioned.
“Particularly right there, that’s on about a five or six-metre length that (crack).
“Then it tends to go a nice cover of grass through that middle phase…as we get to the back end, again shaved down.
“Muddy conditions and big plates. You just hope that it doesn’t get too hit otherwise I think this wicket could explode on day three.
“Dusty, dry and it’s going to turn.”
3.05PM WARNER GETS DRS REPRIEVE
David Warner survives after being given out lbw — and boy did he want that.
Mohammad Shami will get a ball to tail again from across the wicket (Warner’s achilles heel in case you haven’t heard) and he’s given out lbw.
But Warner at all times regarded assured in his evaluate and DRS reveals he hit the ball onto his pad.
2.33PM AUSTRALIA’S BOLD SELECTION CALLS PAYS OFF
Australia has received an important toss in Delhi after selecting a dying or glory staff for the second Test.
David Warner will get the possibility to show his critics mistaken straight off the bat after Pat Cummins elected to bat first for the must-win conflict.
Cummins is the only real seam bowler in a radical Australian aspect that includes three spinners, together with debutant Matthew Kuhnemann – a left-arm spinner.
Ex-greats Allan Border and Brett Lee praised selectors for admitting they obtained it mistaken by dumping Travis Head for the primary Test, after he was instantly recalled for the second Test instead of Matthew Renshaw.
Head may have an opportunity on day one to point out why it was a mistake to go away him out of the collection opener, with Border describing his recall as an admission from selectors that they’d obtained it mistaken first up.
“That’s basically what they’re saying. Apparently his net form hasn’t looked that good. But I know a lot of players that wouldn’t have played a Test match on net form,” Border mentioned on Fox Cricket.
“He deserves the opportunity. Well, he gets it now. Fingers crossed it works for him. He’s a very good player and I think he’s improved. You’re allowed to improve and I think he has.”
Lee mentioned profitable the toss had given Australia a superb begin.
“The first win of the day. Now they’ve got to convert that into some runs. if they can get some big first innings runs they’re a chance,” Lee mentioned on Fox.
Border mentioned Kuhnemann was a superb addition.
“He’s a great lad. Great work ethic. Bowls to Marnus Labuschagne hours and hours on end,” Border mentioned, after Labuschagne offered Kuhnemann along with his saggy inexperienced cap.
“He won’t let us down. He’ll bowl nice and steady. As long as he doesn’t try and do too much. He’ll get those natural variations himself.”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma lamented not profitable the toss on a dry deck in Delhi.
“Batting first would have been ideal,” Rohit mentioned.
“But the kind of application we showed in the last game put the toss factor away.
“We pride ourselves even though we lost the toss we came back well. And that’s what will be required here again. Don’t worry about the toss.”
12PM: Can King Kohli snap three-year type stoop?
– Robert Craddock
There’s extra to this Test than Australia’s mysterious alternatives … like Virat Kohli attempting to snap a three-year type stoop within the shadows of the Virat Kohli Pavilion.
If ever there’s a floor on which Kohli will fancy his probabilities of turning his type round it’s absolutely the one on which he grew up on, the Arun Jaitley Stadium previously the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in his dwelling metropolis Delhi.
Kohli feels a lot at dwelling when he returns to Delhi that he resisted the possibility to catch the staff bus to coaching this week however drove himself by means of streets he knew so properly and broke the web with a submit over how “nostalgic’’ it was.
Kohli has been a fascinating case study in recent years with his Test average falling from just under 55 to its current mark of 48.69.
That’s quite a slide.
In seven of his last eight Test series Kohli has averaged less than 29. His last Test century was 11 series and three years ago against Bangladesh. That is some drought for a man who once scored 10 Test tons in three years.
Kohli had a four-year period in Tests between 2016-20 when he averaged 65 in Tests and over 40 against every team he played against.
He brought an electric crackle to the crease and so impressive was the package that Steve Waugh once said to his son Austin “if you want to look at just one batsman to learn from look at Kohli.’’
His tough run started at the start of the Covid era in 2020 but it’s almost too convenient to say Covid life corrupted the fluency of his play.
The absolute peak of his career was his dam-busting 2017 which featured five Test tons, 1322 runs at an average of 75 and a blistering strike rate of 76.
But his strike rate has slowed down with a lack of success. Over the last four years his strike rates have been 40, 44, 39 and 46. From a batsman who used to roar along at 60-70 runs per 100 balls a few years before, these numbers represent a significant change of gear.
The world’s most confident batsmen has been lacking confidence.
No-one really knows why Kohli’s Test numbers faded. Did he drain too much from himself while shining in all three formats? Did the captaincy drain him? Is he not as hungry as he was?
Kohli is so treasured in his home city that he has had a pavilion named after him while he is still playing, a rare honour.
The crowd will give him a rapturous welcome when he bats on his home turf. Whether that vibe that reignites the Kohli of old is the big question.
ICC EXPLAINS WHY AUSSIES WERE ‘STRIPPED’ OF NO. 1 RANKING
Australia remain the world’s top-ranked Test team, the International Cricket Council said, as it apologised for briefly and “erroneously” itemizing India as primary.
India demolished Australia by an innings and 132 runs within the first Test in Nagpur, and on Wednesday the ICC confirmed the hosts as taking on on the high of the Test rankings.
The ICC subsequently clarified that Australia have been in truth nonetheless primary in Tests. India high the Twenty20 and one-day rankings.
“The ICC acknowledges, for a short period of time on February 15, 2023 that, due to a technical error, India were erroneously displayed as the No. 1 Test team on the ICC website,” it mentioned.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
FOLLOW DAY ONE LIVE WITH NEWS CORP CRICKET WRITER BEN HORNE
The second Test begins on Friday and India could have historical past on their aspect at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium — beforehand Feroz Shah Kotla — the place they haven’t misplaced a Test since 1987.
But coach Rahul Dravid mentioned they won’t get carried away by information and can deal with the approaching 5 days of motion.
“We don’t look at previous history and go back in time,” Dravid instructed reporters. “We cannot get carried away by that. Australia are an experienced team and have good players who know they want to come back.” India hammered Pat Cummins’ Australia inside three days in the course of the first match to maneuver nearer to securing their berth in June’s World Test Championship ultimate at The Oval in London.
They must win the collection 3-1 or 3-0 to make the ultimate.
Returning batsman Shreyas Iyer has joined the squad for the second Test after a again harm made him miss the opener.
Dravid mentioned a totally match Iyer will stroll into the XI.
“We will assess it and tomorrow as well, when he comes in for a light hit and see how he feels,” mentioned Dravid.
“But certainly if he is ready to take the load of a five-day Test match, then without doubt, with his performances in the past, he will walk straight into the side.” Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the entrance in Nagpur along with his 120 in India’s 400, adopted by key knocks from left-handed all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
“Ability to put pressure back on bowlers made the difference and that’s what Rohit did,” Dravid mentioned.
“That’s what Axar and Jadeja did very well during that partnership. It is not the only way you can play but in these conditions, being able to put pressure back is important.”
Originally printed as India v Australia cricket: Second Test reside, Matthew Kuhnemann debut, staff news
Source: www.news.com.au
