Key posts
Brettig: Aussies chase big runs
By Daniel Brettig
Australia will hope to make big runs on a beautiful early afternoon in Adelaide after surviving the session under lights on day one for the loss of only one wicket.
However, there should be one thing that gives them pause: the more temperate weather and bright sunshine mirrors conditions on the fateful third day of the previous game between India and Australia here in 2020, when Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins razed the tourists for 36.
While the pink ball is 33 overs old whereas in 2020 it was only six overs old, the right line and length may still result in some nics on a pitch with plenty of carry.
Ponting, Gavaskar: A difference of opinion
By Jon Pierik
Test greats Ricky Ponting and Sunil Gavaskar have had a difference of opinion over whether Indian skipper Rohit Sharma should have opened the batting.
Rohit has been India’s opening plank but, having missed the first Test to be at the birth of his child, opted to return via No.6. He did not look comfortable, and was dismissed for three when trapped lbw by Scott Boland.
Gavaskar, the legendary former Indian opener and now prominent commentator, said Rohit made the right call not to open after the success the team had in Perth.
Unhappy: Rohit Sharma has a short stay at the crease on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
“Yes, because the previous Test, we had a partnership of 200 between Rahul and Jaiswal, and you don’t want to break that because they have that confidence. Besides, Rohit Sharma hasn’t played any serious cricket for more than a month,” Gavaskar told Seven.
“The last time he played for India was November 3 … [and the] pink ball is not easy to play. India hasn’t played a pink ball Test for maybe two or three years. Dropping down the order was to me a correct move.”
However, Ponting, the former Australian skipper, said Rohit should have resumed in his regular role.
“I actually disagree with what Sunny just said. I felt he should have come back in the side and opened the batting,” Ponting told Seven.
“KL Rahul has been a fringe player around this team for a number of years. Yes, he got his chance and, yes, he played well in Perth, but what that says to me now is that Rohit Sharma will spend the rest of his career down the order.
“Because KL Rahul has played well, Shubman Gill looked good in the first innings here, the only spot for Rohit Sharma in the side now is going to be at number six. That might be where he stays for the rest of his career. Who knows?
“He is a class player to come back in. Although his record is not that good against Australia, I think he has only made one Test match hundred against Australia, the captain coming back in and batting in the middle was a bit of an eye-opener, but that’s just one of the decisions the captain has to make.”
Want to know why the lights went out on Friday night
By Daniel Brettig
An Australian team request for an evening hit in the Adelaide Oval nets led to the bizarre spectacle of the ground’s new LED lights going out twice in an over on the first night of the day/night Test.
And then there was darkness ….Credit: Fox Cricket
According to three sources with knowledge of events, the ground control room at the top of the Western Stand received a request for the net lights to be turned on for a throwdown session as Australia’s top order battled India.
And the lights went out
On a couple of occasions in the final session, Adelaide Oval’s brand spanking new floodlights went out, holding up play for two minutes in all and momentarily stunning 50,186 otherwise raucous spectators.
Dark days: The lights went out at Adelaide Oval.Credit: Getty Images
Had Australia’s top order folded similarly to their surrender to Jasprit Bumrah in Perth, it would have been all but lights out for the hosts, given that only once in 147 years of Test cricket had a team come back from 2-0 down to win a series.
‘I wouldn’t say he was angry’
By Jon Pierik
Mitchell Starc was the hero of the first day, bagging a career-best 6-48, the first time he had taken a five-for in 20 Tests against India.
“It’s always a nice way to start these big Test matches. It is a big series,” Starc said after play on Friday night.
“As I said, nothing changes too much. I’m still running in trying to attack the stumps (and) trying to swing it. Some days it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t know (the reason why). I can’t tell you.”
Grand day: Mitchell Starc finished with career-best figures of 6-48.Credit: Getty Images
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, a former Dutch international, said Starc was well suited to the pink ball.
“I think Ashwin’s dismissal was a very good example of why Starc’s so effective with the pink ball,” ten Doeschate said.
“He’s somebody who presents the seam nicely and he has obviously used that other ball very well in setting up batters, but I thought Australia set us up nicely. And when the ball swings back to a certain degree, a lesser degree, the batters can generally figure it out, but when you’re guessing on both sides, it makes him far more effective.”
Cummins was also in fine form, regularly topping 140km/h, after his air speed had been questioned in the thumping loss in Perth. The Australian captain snared the wicket of Rishabh Pant with a rearing delivery, and later removed Jasprit Bumrah for a duck.
Starc said Cummins had regained his best form.
“He looked in a good rhythm. It looked like he took the handbrake off a little bit and bowled some nice fast stuff, some short stuff,” Starc said.
“(But) I wouldn’t say he was angry at all. I just thought he was in a good rhythm. And we know how skilful Pat is. Sometimes he’s not going to take (five for), but he’s always going to be up for the challenge.
“I thought he bowled a lot of good stuff (and) probably a lot of unlucky stuff today as well. That’s Patty. And on any other day, it could have been five (wickets) for him.”
Welcome to day two
Hello and welcome to day two of the second Test between Australia and India from the Adelaide Oval.
My name is Jon Pierik and I’ll be guiding you through the day along with our resident cricket correspondents at the Adelaide Oval, Daniel Brettig and Tom Decent.
Nathan McSweeney’s concentration was unwavering at the start of Australia’s chase.Credit: AP
The home team begins the day in a commanding position, having rolled the tourists for 180 on day one and gone to stumps at 1-86. Nathan McSweeney resumes on 38, while Marnus Labuschagne is 20 not out.
