3 things Australia need to do right to dominate Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 Test in Adelaide
Australia dominated proceedings on the opening day (December 6) of the second Test against India at the Adelaide Oval. Bowling first, Mitchell Starc gave the hosts the perfect start by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first delivery of the game.
That set the tone as the hosts kept on picking up wickets at regular intervals after a 69-run stand between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Eventually, they bowled India out for just 180 runs, as Starc was the star of the show with the ball, claiming six wickets. It was also his maiden five-wicket haul against India in Tests.
Apart from Starc, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were also among the wickets, grabbing two apiece as the pace trio put up a solid display.
In reply, Australia's batters did a decent job of negating the Indian bowlers and also adding crucial runs on the board. They finished the day at 86/1, trailing by just 94 runs. Nathan McSweeney (38*) and Marnus Labuschagne (20*) will resume the innings for the hosts on Day 2.
Heading into the second day, the hosts will be keen to replicate what they did on the opening day in Adelaide and continue to hold their firm grasp on this game. That said, here are the three things Australia will have to do right to dominate Day 2 of the BGT 2024-25 Test.
#3 Negate the Jasprit Bumrah threat and attack the other bowlers
India's bowlers did not appear as effective as they would have liked to be on the opening day, failing to create much pressure on the Australian batters. They managed to pick up just a solitary wicket while the hosts added 86 runs from 33 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah was the only wicket-taker, dismissing Usman Khawaja. He returned with impressive figures of 1/13 from his 11 overs, bowling four maidens at an economy rate of 1.2. He received no support from the other bowlers as such.
That said, the hosts will have to sit on Bumrah, play him out without giving him wickets, and look to attack the other bowlers as they will have to get past India's total and build a healthy lead in quick time. None of the other bowlers looked as threatening and the hosts could attack them and look to score quickly.
#2 Put Ravichandran Ashwin under pressure
Ravichandran Ashwin is the most experienced bowler in this Indian line-up. Although he bowled just a solitary over on the opening day, he will be expected to play a key role on the second day.
Ashwin will not only have to keep things tight but also try and pick up a few wickets. The Australian batters will also have to put pressure on Ashwin, look to keep scoring here and there off him, and not give him wickets.
By putting pressure on Ashwin and playing Bumrah carefully, Australia can put pressure on Rohit Sharma to operate with other bowling options outside Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj struggled to pick wickets while Nitish Reddy did not seem to have as much control either. This could leave India short of options with the ball.
#1 Australia will have to score quickly and bowl at India under the lights
As mentioned above already, Australia's primary target has to be to score quickly on the second day. They will have to get to India's score without losing many wickets first thing and then go past to build a healthy lead.
If they can manage to play Ashwin and Bumrah carefully and attack the other bowlers to score quick runs, they can build a sizeable lead by batting two and a half sessions on Day 2.
The hosts will be keen to bowl a few overs at the Indian batters in the final session on the second day. Getting India to bat under lights during the twilight period can help them pick up a few quick wickets and put the visitors under further pressure, which will help them dominate the day and continue to hold their grip on this Test.