Team India’s spinners wreaked havoc on Australia’s batsmen as the Pat Cummins-led side were bowled out for just 91 runs in their second innings of the first Test in Nagpur. Ravichandran Ashwin took 5/37 in a devastating 12-over spell as India handed Australia an innings and 132-run victory. Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, Jamtha on Saturday (February 11).
The experienced Indian spinner bowled his overs from the north end of the ground and in 50 balls took the Australian team to their lowest total ever in India. The previous lowest score for Australia was 93 which they made in 2004. Australia were bowled out in less than a session, their innings lasting 32.3 overs and lasting only 131 minutes.
Ashwin, who claimed his 450th wicket in the first innings, registered his 31st five-for as the Australian batsmen failed to read his bowling and returned in a procession. (Read: WATCH: Virat Kohli drops David Warner during IND vs AUS 1st Test; Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin react)
Australia’s Steve Smith remained not out on 25 as only four of Australia’s batsmen managed to reach double figures in a disastrous batting display. At one point they were looking to get out for the lowest total at the VCA Stadium, Jamtha – 79 by South Africa in 2017.
Only 2 bowlers have 200+ Test wickets against SENA teams in Asia:
M Muralitharan 232 wickets @ 22.04
R Ashwin 229 wickets @ 21.01 pic.twitter.com/zwicI9yDH9– Random Cricket Stats (@randomcricstat) February 6, 2023
Ashwin claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja (5) as he was deceived by turn, David Warner (10) was trapped LBW who stayed down, dropped Matt Renshaw in front of the wicket who stayed down Gone and Peter Handscomb was lbw, hitting the pad in front of a roll of the knee.
Alex Carey played a premeditated reverse sweep and missed it completely to be hit on the back pad as Ashwin destroyed the Australian batting.
Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed 5-47 in the first innings, took 2 for 34 while Mohammed Shami claimed 3-13 from five overs as he wiped out the tail.
The Australians came to India well prepared to play spin bowling. They had a camp in Sydney and Alur near Bangalore, where they found pitches similar to those they would face in India. Their batsmen were given extensive practice for sweep and reverse sweep shots and it was clear from their two innings in the First Test that they were asked to sweep or reverse sweep as much as possible against the spinners.
With the wicket offering slow pace and little bounce, the Australian batsmen had to use their feet and get on the ball to prevent LBWs from coming into the equation, which they could not do and crashed to a huge defeat. .
Abbreviated Score:
Australia 177 and 91 all out in 32.3 overs (Steve Smith 25 not out; R Ashwin 5-37, R Jadeja 2-34, M Shami 2-13) India 400 all out in 139.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 120, Ravindra Jadeja) 70, Axar Patel 84, Mohammed Shami 37, Todd Murphy 7-124, Cummins 2-78) by the innings and 132 runs. (With IANS inputs)
