Australia vs India - 1st Test

That's it from this Pink Ball Test as Australia win comprehensively to lead the 4-match series 1-0. Virat Kohli goes home for the birth of his first child as Ajinkya Rahane takes over the mantle from him. Will a change in leadership bring a change in team India's fortunes? We will soon find out as the 2nd Test starts on the Boxing Day i.e 26th of December 2020. That game begins at 1030 local (2330 GMT, Previous Day). Till then, enjoy your Christmas, stay safe, take care and cheers.

Virat Kohli, India skipper, says that it is hard to find words to express and to lose from a lead of 53 runs is something we did not expect. He further, says that we did not take the morning session too well as they went hard at the ball. He goes onto mention that the Australian bowlers put them in situations where the edges were found but he says that there was nothing in the pitch which could be termed as drastic. Wishes his team for the remainder of the series and hopes that they come out stronger. On Mohammed Shami, he tells that right now he is going for a scan and then a decision would be made but mentions that he was in a lot of pain.

Australia skipper and Man of the Match, Tim Paine, says that he just asked his bowlers that they have the ability to take quick wickets and they just go out and try and exploit anything there on the surface. He further says that it is nice to get off to a good start but reckons that the first innings batting was poor. On Joe Burns, he says that it feels good to have him back in the runs as that gives stability to the team. On his own batting, he says that this was due for a long time and in the end, contributing to the team's success is what they strive for.

India's second innings was just like a haunted nightmare where there were ruins. They lost Shaw once again cheaply on Day 2 and when they resumed their innings on the morning of Day 3 what unfolded was sheer hara-kiri. Pat Cummins started the downfall for India when he sent Jasprit Bumrah packing but then Hazlewood came in with a lot of Josh (steam) to topple India's best in business with his precision bowling. In the end, India folded up for a paltry 36 runs on board in their second essay with the bat. For Australia it was just three bowlers who did the job for them, Cummins and Starc began the day but the star with the ball was Josh Hazlewood who ripped apart the Indian batting with a 5-wicket haul, his 8th in the format and also went past 200 Test wickets. In the end, Australia chased the target of 90 runs with ease to take a lead of 1-0 in the 4-match Test series. Don't go anywhere as we bring you the post-match presentations...

Australia's first innings also was no different from India. They too lost their top order cheaply and barring Marnus Labuschagne's 47 and Tim Paine's 73 none of the batters got going as they folded for 191 runs, conceding a lead of 53 in the process. For India, Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the lot as he ended with a 4-fer. The next best was Umesh Yadav who had 3 wickets to his name and Bumrah managed to get a couple too.

Earlier after winning the toss, India went onto post 244 runs in their first innings. The star with the bat then was Virat Kohli who stroked to a well compiled 74 before being run out. The others to contribute substantially were Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane who both contributed by scoring around 40 odd runs. Rest all the batters failed to get themselves in. On the Australian bowling, Starc was the pick of the bowlers as he ended with 4 wickets to his name. Cummins ended with 3 wickets as Hazlewood and Lyon ended with a wicket each. The debutant Cameron Green though went wicketless.

Chasing a target of 90 never looked to be a daunting one as the two Australian openers started their quest towards victory. Though, Burns began watchfully, as Wade was right into the 4th gear as he found the fence quite often. After the dinner break, Burns too joined the party, as the duo went onto score runs at will and in competition as well as in the company of each other they stitched a stand worth 70 runs. Though Wade departed followed by Marnus Labuschagne. Joe Burns though kept his cool and hit the winning runs as well as brought up his fifty too. There was nothing in India's bowling in the second innings of Australia as they sprayed all around and were hit for runs. Also, with fewer runs to defend and a bowler short they were under a lot of pressure. Only Ashwin got a wicket and was the one because of whom Wade was run out. All-in-all the day belonged to Australia.

A thumping win for Australia here in the first Border-Gavaskar Test. A complete performance from their bowlers and batsmen. A humiliating loss for India though who were just blown away in their second innings.

Marnus Labuschagne is the new batsman in.

DRINKS! Australia need 20 more runs to win. They will look to finish it quickly. India have not been able to test the Australian batsman as runs have flown with ease. They are starring down the barrel here as Australia inch closer to their 8th victory in pink ball Test.