The Battle of Modern Superpowers: Australia vs India Test Series
At the dawn of a new Test summer, on a Perth morning so perfect the Swan River seemed almost fluorescent, everything old was new again. It’s Australia and India, a rivalry of modern superpowers now granted the distinction of a five-Test series. Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar were on hand to present the trophy their names adorn, in front of a patch of fake grass used to create a makeshift hill inside the cavernous Perth Stadium. Everywhere you looked, generational gaps were being bridged.
A Clash of Titans: Past vs Present
Little did the WACA know it need not have worried about manufacturing nostalgia. By stumps, the Australians would have that covered with the sort of batting collapse they hoped was a relic of a bygone era. The theme for this summer will be the desperate war waged by some greats of a game that is leaving them behind, a battle largely fought against themselves and their own waning powers.
The Teams’ Dynamics
Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, this is a familiar Australia, a settled Australia. Only one spot out of this Australian XI was ever up for debate, and as such that debate very briefly became the talk of the town. Nathan McSweeney won the race to open the batting for Australia, a decision that was met with a range of reactions largely borne out of a lack of anything else to talk about. In the other corner is an Indian side forced into regeneration through untimely absences.
The Star Players: Kohli and Smith
A glimpse into India’s Test cricket future is a welcome one, but for as long as he is part of this Indian team, and probably for many years after, Virat Kohli will be the headline act. When these teams have met in years gone by, series have been decided by Kohli’s battle with Steve Smith, two era-defining greats who could wear the weight of pressure like a suit of armor. Both Kohli and Smith will have come into this series knowing they are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning.
The First Day of the Test Series
From the start of play until the declaration of stumps, fast bowlers feasted on unprepared batters with ruthless efficiency. Mitchell Starc started it and Josh Hazlewood intervened, but Jasprit Bumrah stole the show. For a batter anywhere short of the top of his game, there can’t be a worse opponent to face than Bumrah. Bumrah is every angle, all the time. Sleight-of-hand fast bowling with a vicious edge, like the street magician who makes off with your watch. He is unlike anything we have ever seen before, and this summer already feels like it could become the coronation of a legend.
Challenges Faced by Star Players
It couldn’t come at a worse time for Smith, who found himself lost in Bumrah’s storm and was blown away before he could even get his bearings. Meanwhile, Kohli is trying anything and everything to pull himself out of his extended funk. In fairness to both Kohli and Smith, they certainly didn’t look much worse than anybody else who attempted to bat on the day.
Batting Crisis for Both Teams
This was a pitch with life, but was nothing of the minefield it was being made to look like. On the evidence of the first day of this Test series, both of these sides are on the precipice of a batting crisis. Australia may have already tipped over into it. It’s times like these that you naturally turn to your leaders and lean on experience, and so the weight will inevitably return to Kohli and Smith.
Conclusion
If the players of old are still in there, their teams need them to re-emerge and quickly. If they are not, the search for the savior of a new generation begins in earnest.
FAQs
What was the highlight of the first day of the Test series?
The highlight of the first day was the exceptional bowling performance by the fast bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, who stole the show with his unique style and efficiency.
How did the star players, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, perform on the first day?
Both Kohli and Smith struggled on the first day, facing challenges from the opposing bowlers and failing to make a significant impact with the bat.