Australia’s top-order batsmen utilized the festive season to regain their form, enabling the hosts to secure early accolades on Boxing Day. After winning their first toss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Australian quartet of Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith each surpassed the 50-run mark. Although the first three were unable to convert their innings into centuries, their contributions were crucial in achieving a total of 311 for 6 on the opening day. For India, Jasprit Bumrah’s two wickets in the final session, along with Akash Deep’s commendable performance, helped them remain competitive in the match.
Sam Konstas's splendid batting display on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test
Following three Tests, Australia sought to introduce a fresh approach against India, leading them to 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who was assigned the challenge of disrupting Bumrah’s dominance over the top order of the hosts. The debutant electrified a lively holiday crowd at the renowned stadium with his bold and audacious stroke play.
He executed reverse scoops and aggressively attacked India’s fast bowlers, displaying a willingness to engage in confrontations, thereby significantly hindering India’s progress early in the match on a favorable pitch at the MCG. His journey was not without a stroke of luck, particularly in the opening over when he was outmaneuvered four times by Bumrah. In response, the young player attempted a couple of reverse scoops, but his bat only met the empty air of Melbourne on both occasions.
However, the dynamics of that contest shifted dramatically in the seventh over when Konstas successfully connected with his reverse scoops three times. Two of these shots reached the boundary, while the third sailed over it—marking the first instance Bumrah had conceded a six in this format since the Sydney Test of 2021. This development unsettled India during a phase of play that compelled even the astute Bumrah to adjust his bowling lengths to those typical of white-ball cricket.
In his initial six-over spell, Bumrah conceded 38 runs, with Konstas accumulating 34 runs off the 33 deliveries he faced from India’s star bowler. More crucially, this meant that Khawaja, who had previously fallen to Bumrah on four occasions in this series, faced only three balls from him during that first spell, allowing him to settle into his innings against the other bowlers.
Once he’d forced India into putting a fly stop in the first hour of a Test match, Konstas set about on a new plan: to back away and drill the fast bowlers through the off-side. He swatted away anything short through mid-wicket, unafraid to hit the ball in the air. He became Australia’s second youngest Test match half-centurion, getting to the feat off just 52 balls and marked that feat by smashing Siraj for a four and a six off the next two deliveries, taking his tally of boundaries to eight (6x4s;2x6s). His enterprise eventually ended on 60 when Jadeja beat him on the inside edge and won an LBW appeal to break the 89-run opening stand.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith take the charge
The young player, who returned to a thunderous ovation, had laid the groundwork for the remaining batsmen, particularly benefiting Khawaja and Labuschagne, who both enjoyed relatively smooth beginnings to their innings. After allowing 112 runs in just 25 overs during the first session, India improved their bowling strategy in the subsequent session, maintaining straight lines and adding an extra fielder on the leg side. Akash Deep and Bumrah each bowled two maiden overs to start the second session, before Khawaja broke the momentum with a boundary pulled to the boundary.
Both Deep and Bumrah managed to find the edges of the bats, but the softer ball and a lack of pace off the pitch meant that the catches did not reach the slips. Only 26 runs were scored in the 13 overs leading up to the drinks break, during which Khawaja reached his first half-century of the series. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj troubled Labuschagne with deliveries that sharply cut back into the right-hander. Ultimately, India’s persistence paid off when Bumrah returned for another spell and dismissed Khawaja, ending the 65-run partnership. This dismissal was somewhat fortunate, as Khawaja’s toe-ended pull shot went directly to midwicket, surprising even the bowler.
The conclusion of one partnership brought Australia’s two most accomplished batsmen to the crease. Smith, coming off a century in Brisbane, quickly found his rhythm, particularly against Jadeja, stepping down the pitch to loft the ball over the top with ease. Labuschagne and Smith were keen to capitalize on a ball that was 53 overs old at the start of the final session, accumulating 61 runs in the first 12 overs. Deep delivered another probing spell but was unfortunate, having Smith in trouble on two occasions, with the experienced batsman being reprieved once by Umpire’s call and another time when India wasted a review.
But their luck turned straight after the drinks break when Labuschagne charged out to Washington Sundar and hit a catch straight to Virat Kohli at mid-off. Australia then went from 237 for 2 to 246 for 5 as Bumrah produced another probing spell with the old ball. He cleaned up Travis Head for a duck when the series’ top scorer shouldered arms and then had Mitchell Marsh caught behind for 4 attempting a swipe across the line.
It was at this stage that Australia found a useful 53-run stand between Alex Carey and Smith before the former fell for 31 to the tireless Deep when India took the second new ball. Smith and Cummins saw off the remainder of the tricky session under lights with the star batter finishing unbeaten on 68. Australia ended Day 1 on the score of 311/6 while Steve Smith and Pat Cummins will be continuing the innings on Day 2.
SCORECARD: Australia 311/6 (Marnus Labuschagne 72, Steve Smith 68*; Jasprit Bumrah 3-75) vs India (Yet to Bat)
