Indian players looked far from their best on the field during Australia’s first innings on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test in Adelaide. The pink-ball Test has been a hard-fought contest so far with both India and Australia dominating a few sessions over the course of the last two days. While Indian bowlers produced an emphatic show on Day 2, the fielders let them down on quite a few occasions.
India dominated the proceedings right from the start in Australia’s first innings as Jasprit Bumrah sent the two Australian openers packing cheaply. Bumrah got rid of Matthew Wade and Joe Burns on 8 runs each to give India a thumping start before R Ashwin capitalised by removing Steve Smith cheaply on just 1 off 29 balls.
India had the chance to pile up more pressure on Australia in the 18th over when Bumrah got an easy catch of Marnus Labuschagne near the boundary rope. However, Labuschagne was dropped by the Indian pacer, who made a mess of a sitter. Prithvi Shaw then dropped Labuschagne once again while he was batting on 22.
Both were sitters but the Indian fielders failed to grab them firmly as Labuschagne went on to score 47 off 119 balls. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was on air while commentating for Channel 7, took a sly dig at India’s sloppy fielding. Gavaskar said Indian players are looking in a festive mood and are giving out early Christmas gifts to Australia.
“All I can think of is the Indians are in a Christmas mood. Giving their Christmas gifts a week early,” said Gavaskar after Shaw dropped Labuschagne to hand him a second lifeline.
