india vs australia 5th Test – India’s Young Pacers Shine in Bumrah’s Absence to Edge Ahead
india vs australia 5th Test – India’s Young Pacers Shine in Bumrah’s Absence to Edge Ahead
india vs australia – India’s pace attack delivered a spirited performance on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match, restricting Australia to 181 all out, thus earning a slender first-innings lead of four runs. While India’s star bowler and captain, Jasprit Bumrah, was absent for a period after reportedly leaving the ground for scans, the team’s younger talents took the spotlight, showcasing remarkable depth in their fast-bowling unit.
With Bumrah sidelined for a crucial period in the second session, India’s attack continued to make inroads. Nitish Reddy emerged as a key figure, claiming two wickets in as many balls to remove Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, and left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc. The visitors’ middle and lower order crumbled under the pressure, with the slip fielders having been sharp throughout the day maintaining a flawless record.
Beau Webster, the lone Australian batter to show resilience, top-scored with 57. His partnership with Steve Smith was vital, especially in the early exchanges of the second session, when Australia was under intense pressure. Webster played with composure and steered his team past some difficult phases, but his efforts couldn’t avert the collapse. He was eventually dismissed by Prasidh Krishna, who had him caught at gully. Krishna’s probing spell was instrumental in containing Australia’s recovery, and the wicket added to his impressive figures of 3-42 by the end of the day.
India’s pacers had made significant strides on the first day, with Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj setting the tone early on Day 2. The Australian batters, while getting some good balls, found it difficult to counter the sustained pressure exerted by the seamers. With the pitch retaining its seam movement, even the occasional appearance of the sun did little to ease conditions. Bumrah was once again effective, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne early on Day 2, who was caught behind after a review.
Sam Konstas, opting for a bold strategy, played some attacking shots against Bumrah, reverse-lapping and driving the pacer. His aggressive style offered Australia brief hope, but the counterattack was short-lived. Siraj, working up a good rhythm, was successful in getting Konstas to edge one to gully, leaving Australia reeling at 39/4 within the first hour of play.
However, it was Smith, on his home ground, who managed to withstand the storm. He survived several plays and misses while also showing patience and discipline, leaving balls outside the off stump. When Krishna entered the attack, Smith found opportunities to punish him, pulling and driving to pick up vital boundaries. Smith’s stabilizing presence was complemented by Webster, and together they formed a defiant stand of 57 runs for the fifth wicket, a partnership that showed signs of resilience from the Australian middle order.
Despite their best efforts, Australia’s resistance was finally broken when Smith, on 33, fell just short of a milestone—his 10,000 Test runs. His edge off Krishna found its way into the safe hands of second slip, giving India a much-needed breakthrough and a crucial momentum shift ahead of the final session.
India’s bowlers had been superb throughout the day, sticking to disciplined lines and lengths, and their efforts were rewarded with wickets. Their performance was especially commendable given the absence of their leader, Bumrah, who was expected to provide a spearhead role. Yet, the team’s depth was evident as younger players stepped up admirably, providing ample support in his absence.
With Australia trailing by just four runs, India will look to extend their advantage on Day 3, while Australia, despite their setbacks, will hope their tail end can push them beyond India’s modest lead.
india vs australia Score
Australia 181 all out (Beau Webster 57, Steve Smith 33; Prasidh Krishna 3-42) trail India 185 by 4 runs.
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