India Vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja starred with a five-wicket haul as India bowled Australia out for just 177 on the opening day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Jadeja’s impressive return to Test cricket after an absence of five months saw him end with figures of 5/47 as the left-arm spinner dismissed four of Australia’s top six, including Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Important wickets included.
Australia were all set to test spin in India, with the home side naming three front-line spinners in their XI as expected. However, Jadeja stated that there are days when batsmen face the turning ball.
“When you travel to India you have to play spin very well, that is what your first priority is,” the 34-year-old said. “Whenever a team comes to India they always prepare for spinning (conditions). Sometimes you don’t get away with it – it’s a part of the game.
“We looked to get them out as early as possible, looked to bowl in good areas, that helped me a lot.”
Australian debutant Todd Murphy also took his maiden Test wicket between the wickets when he bowled an off-break that caught the leading edge of KL Rahul’s bat and offered a comeback.
Rahul was the only Indian wicket to fall on the day as they closed at 77/1, exactly 100 runs behind. And Jadeja says patience and frequent changes in angle and approach will be the key for each of the five front-line spinners to perform in the remaining Tests.
“I think their spinner also bowled well. It’s a matter of time, you have to keep bowling, it’s not like you just keep bowling and you’ll get wickets in every over. It’s patience.
“You have to keep changing, over the wicket, around the wicket, when partnerships are going on you have to mix it up. I think they also tried that. You have to just keep bowling in good areas.”
The opening Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series continues on Friday, with India captain Rohit Sharma to resume out in the middle of 56* alongside nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin.
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