The West Test: India dominate day two to take control against Australia
The wicket-fest from day one continued into day two at Optus Stadium, as Australia look to launch a fightback against India.
CRICKET : An unbelievable 17 wickets fell on an extraordinary opening day of the First Test between Australia and India at Perth Stadium.
India captain Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets in a scintillating spell to leave Australia reeling at 7-67, chasing just 150.
Alex Carey (19*) and Mitchell Starc (6*) will return to the crease with the hosts trailing by 83 runs with three wickets remaining.
Follow all the action from day two in our blog below.
SPIN COMES IN
Nathan Lyon comes into the attack with Australia in dire need of a wicket.
The hosts trail by 118 runs with Indian openers Jaiswal and Rahul settled at the crease with a partnership of 72.
Can Lyon, as he so often has, get the breakthrough for the Aussies?
SHOT!
Party at Perth Stadium
Indian fans are bringing the party to Perth Stadium, captured in this video by The West Australian’s Ben Smith.
Ominous signs
India’s openers have put on more than 50 runs and looked untroubled as they take their lead back out to triple figures.
Australia have turned to Mitch Marsh for the breakthrough but he still looks very cautious through the crease and can only manage speeds in the low 120km/h.
Jaiswal and KL Rahul are both opening up as the pitch starts to become flat.
IND 0-57 leading by 103
In other news...
Cameron Bancroft has been dismissed for a duck in WA’s Sheffield Shield day-night clash with South Australia.
Just tuning in?
The West’s chief cricket writer Jackson Barrett can get you up to speed on all the action from the morning.
Starc the man?
Following their resistance with the bat, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have opened the bowling for Australia.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are at the crease for India, who now lead by 56.
Starc dismissed both openers in the first innings, with the dangerous Jaiswal out for a duck.
He’s on the board with a single and a boundary early.
Here we go!
Mitchell Starc has the ball, India lead by 46.
India’s plan of attack
We’re just under 10 minutes away from resuming, with India leading by 46.
What’s their plan of attack for the second innings? Seven’s Aaron Finch has his say:
“I think Jaiswal is going to play his natural game which is aggressive. We saw him driving in the first innings, big drive, caught in the gully for a duck. If he can just tame that slightly. I think KL Rahul his opening partner showed the way. He was prepared to punch the ball, not play expansive drives, used his footwork really well. He can get away though. He’s the type of player where you look after the scoreboard after half an hour and he could be on 30. That could be enough to swing the momentum India’s way, albeit they do have it at the moment.”
ALL OUT
Harshit Rana picks up the final wicket and Australia are all out for 104 in just over 51 overs.
A stubborn partnership of 25 - the highest of the innings - comes to an end for Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who remains unbeaten on 7.
Starc’s 26, the highest by an Australian batter, came to an end as he skied Rana straight up in the air for one of the easier catches keeper Rishabh Pant will take.
But the pair have trimmed the Aussies’ deficit below 50. Can they be the saviours with the ball as well?
