Australia was bowled out for just 104 runs on Saturday after a spectacular performance from Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed his 11th five-wicket haul to help India gain a 46-run lead at lunch on Day 2 of the first Test in Perth.
Bumrah set the tone for the day right from his first delivery, which was back-of-a-length and seamed away from the left-handed Alex Carey, with keeper Rishabh Pant taking the catch behind the stumps. Australia’s batting collapsed under pressure, leaving the team in deep trouble at 67-7 by stumps on Day 1.
In a dramatic opening to Day 2, debutant Harshit Rana claimed the second wicket of the day, bowling a short, fast delivery to tail-ender Nathan Lyon, who could only slice the ball into the hands of KL Rahul at gully. Despite the continued collapse, Mitchell Starc, who had resumed his innings at 15, fought back with resilience, contributing a valuable 26 runs. He denied Bumrah a career-best haul by edging between Pant and the first slip and went on to hit Rana for a boundary through midwicket.
Starc, who was struck on the helmet and shoulder during his 112-ball stay, showed great determination, refusing to give in to the relentless Indian attack. He combined with Josh Hazlewood for 25 runs, carefully rotating the strike when necessary. Starc’s gritty innings was one of the few bright spots for Australia as they struggled to cope with India’s devastating bowling performance.
With India’s dominance and Australia’s batting woes, the second day of the first Test turned into a challenging contest, with Australia hoping to regroup and mount a defense on the remaining play.
