Team India captain Jasprit Bumrah is leading from the front with the ball, taking three wickets in his first spell on Day 1 of the first Border-Gavaskar Test 2024-25 in Perth. He trapped Nathan McSweeney LBW in the third over, and later dismissed Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in consecutive balls in the seventh over.
With only 150 runs in the first innings, India needed Bumrah to deliver magic with the ball. He almost got Marnus Labuschagne out for a duck, but Virat Kohli dropped the catch, giving Labuschagne a lifeline.
Bumrah’s sharp delivery to the left-handed Khawaja, coming around the wicket, forced the batter to edge it to the second slip. This time, Kohli held on to the catch.
Steve Smith, batting at No. 4 for the first time since the Pakistan series in late 2023, faced a deadly delivery from Bumrah. It swung back sharply after pitching, catching Smith completely off-guard. He missed the ball, and it hit him in front of the stumps. The umpire quickly gave him out, and after a brief talk with Labuschagne, Smith didn’t go for a review, walking back with a golden duck.
Australia were struggling at 19-3 after seven overs, thanks to Bumrah’s brilliant over.
Bumrah’s figures so far: 5 overs, 2 maidens, 8 runs, and 3 wickets.
The skipper has been excellent in the first innings, using the pitch conditions to perfection. He has kept Labuschagne under pressure and has plenty of time to add more to his tally in the final session.
