The First Day at the Gabba: A Recap
Mohammed Siraj finds himself in the midst of another mid-pitch moment, while Travis Head and Jasprit Bumrah continue to shine for their respective teams.
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Here are the key highlights from the action-packed first day at the Gabba.
1. Bumrah’s Dominance
Despite a limited amount of play on day one, Jasprit Bumrah showcased his true potential on day two at the Gabba. Initially struggling to find his rhythm, Bumrah bounced back strongly and ended up taking five wickets in a spectacular spell. His performance in the series has been outstanding, with a total of 17 wickets so far.
2. Siraj vs. Marnus II
The tension between Mohammed Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne continued in Brisbane, with the two players involved in a heated on-field confrontation. Despite facing criticism from the crowd, Siraj remained focused on his bowling, while Labuschagne fought hard to protect his wicket. The exchange between them added an extra layer of drama to the match.
3. Labuschagne’s Unexpected Turn of Events
Marnus Labuschagne’s concentration seemed to waver following the altercation with Siraj, leading to his dismissal by Nitish Kumar Reddy. In a bizarre incident, Labuschagne almost missed out on his chance to bat due to a fielding mishap by Jasprit Bumrah. However, after a video review, Labuschagne was back on the field only to fall to a catch by Virat Kohli shortly after.
4. Smith’s Century Drought Ends
Steve Smith, known for his consistency in Test cricket, had been struggling to score centuries leading up to the Border-Gavaskar series. However, on day two in Brisbane, Smith managed to break his century drought with a gritty innings. His timely century provided much-needed relief for the Australian team, showcasing his resilience and determination at the crease.
5. Head’s Heroics
Travis Head’s exceptional form with the bat continued at the Gabba, where he put on a masterclass in batting. Breaking free from a streak of dismissals in previous matches, Head displayed aggressive and calculated batting, reaching his century in style. His remarkable performance under pressure has been a highlight of the series, with Head accumulating an impressive 392 runs at an average of 98.
The Biggest Australia-India Moments
Throughout the summer, fans can relive the best moments from Australia and India’s cricket history by participating in live blogs and radio discussions. Cast your vote for the top 10 moments, which will be revealed ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG on January 3.