The West Test: Massive Test summer gets underway in Perth as Australia take on India
The summer of cricket has officially arrived as Australia and India prepare for their box office battle in The West Test.
India has been the final frontier for this Australian side as they look to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.
India is coming off a shock home loss and will be raring to go but can Australia land the first punch on day one of their heavyweight bout?
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Key Events
The players are back on the field
Mitch Marsh a slight surprise as he takes the first over after lunch.
He’ll have to do a fair bit of bowling this summer to help cover the loss of Cam Green.
Umpire expert Simon Taufel weighs in on the Rahul decision
“Richard Illingworth had a tough job there, but this camera angle is probably the best one for me, it shows that the ball does graze the outside edge… In my view the ball does graze the outside edge which has caused the scuff marks, but then the bat goes on to hit the pad,” he said on 7 and 7plus.
“So I think from a batter’s perspective, they are looking to see that evidence on the big screens as the decision is made. I think that’s exactly why KL Rahul has a question mark on his mind and Richard Kettleborough as well.
“I imagine there will be an interesting discussion in the umpires room in the lunch break.”
What a morning for Australia
Dominant stuff from Australia who barely put a foot wrong in the first session. Starc fired up early to remove Jaiswal before Hazlewood removed Paddikal and the danger man Kohil.
Kl Rahul played nicely for his 26 but was undone by Starc though not without controversy.
Pant is on 10 with Jurel on 4 with a mountain of work to do to get India back on track.
LUNCH 25th Over - IND 4-51
Starc beats Jurel with a beauty with a scrambled seam that moves away.
CLOSE! Jurel flashes one past gully it would have taken a screamer of a catch from McSweeney but just goes too quick for him.
And that’s lunch
24th Over - IND 4-47
Can Australia pick up another before the break?
Pant sees out the Lyon over. There are plenty of people not happy with the Rahul dismissal but it looked out live.
OUT!!! Starc strikes
Rahul vigil’s is over.
It’s not given by the umpire as Australia review but they seemed convinced.
Hard to tell from the replay but there’s a spike on snicko.
Rahul is not happy but he has to go, perhaps he thought the sound was his bat on pad.
22nd Over - IND 3-47
Big cheer from the crowd as Nathan Lyon comes on from the Justin Langer end in and out field set for him.
Pant brings the paddle out early to work him fine for four. Defends the rest of the over.
Australia burn a review
Starc comes back on for a burst before lunch.
BIG SHOUT as Starc hits the pads and after a long wait, Cummins sends it upstairs.
The ball jags after it pitches to beat the inside edge but it’s doing way to much swinging down leg and bouncing over. Poor review.
20th Over - IND 3-40
Cummins keeps it tidy outside off as Rahul resists the urge to bite at anything outside off.
Maiden.
19th Over - IND 3-40
In the air but beats point with a streaky drive and Pant picks up three to get off the mark.
EDGED! But drops short of third slip as Rahul plays it with soft hands.
