India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 at Sydney: India’s pitiable show, Australian batsmen’s form and other highlights

Australia ended the opening day of their fourth and final Test against India at a commanding position of 348 for two. While India continued to be hapless with the ball as well as with their fielding, Australia made merry on every chances they got. Devarchit Varma brings the highlights from the opening day of the Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

It won’t be exaggerating to say that with a score of 348 for two on board, Australia have put themselves in the drivers’ seat in the match. Unless the Indians mysteriously discover their mojo with the ball on the second day, there shall be no stopping Australia, who in all likeliness would like to post a total in excess of, say 550, ensuring that they only bat once. They might be missing the services of Mitchell Johnson, but the inexperience of the Indian batting and their regular collapses would make Australia red-hot favourites in this clash in case they notch up a big first innings total. But before all this, let’s take a look at how the first day panned out for both the sides:

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India’s same old disappointing story: The social media was somewhat flooded with this particular message in regards to India’s performance, with many claiming it to be their original idea: New Year, new captain but same old story. Into the third over of the day, all the excitement fizzled out as Australia started punishing the Indians for poor line and length, and kept scoring runs at ease. Both Chris Rogers and David Warner were merciless against hapless bowling, as India failed to pitch the ball in the right areas on a track that seemingly had nothing at all for the bowlers on the first day itself.

David Warner’s 12th Test century: It was surprising to see the manner in which Warner failed to score runs in the second and the third Test after starting the series in an emphatic manner. He had a couple of low scoring games and it looked like the Australian run-machine was finally wearing out. But then, Warner was expected to score at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), in memory of his ‘little mate’ Phillip Hughes and he did exactly that. The Indian bowlers were pathetic with their line and length, producing no opportunities whatsoever and Warner and his partner, Rogers, banked upon it. Warner was delighted to have completed his century, but what would have brought tears in the eyes of many in the stadium and those watching on television, was to see the batsman bending down and kissing the same field where his ‘mate’ fell after copping the fatal blow.

Chris Rogers cements his place: Before this innings Rogers had scored four half-centuries on a trot, and if there were any doubts about his participation in the next Ashes – in England – he demolished those. Rogers looked belligerent in the middle as he played one of his most fluent knocks in recent times, with the only minor blip being a dropped chance at second slip by the young KL Rahul off Mohammed Shami. Rogers pulled well and rotated the strike at will, and added as many as 200 runs for the first wicket with Warner, which is indeed their best opening stand. Rogers has admitted that this is his last Test in Australia, but he celebrated the occasion in style and also cemented his place in the team for the upcoming Ashes in the middle of 2015.

Umesh Yadav’s surprising slip: The right-handed pacer was India’s most experienced bowler in absence of Ishant Sharma, but his performance on the opening day would have let down him and his supporters. Umesh looked completely out of sorts, so much so that commentator Alan Wilkins termed him a ‘liability’ on-air. The right-arm pacer failed to make most of the first day pitch and a fresh body, raising concerns for the new captain Virat Kohli and the team management.

(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)