India vs Australia 2017 First Test has got off with an interesting twist as when R.Ashwin finally managed to dismiss Mitchell Starc early on the second day on a minimalistic total of 260 runs, almost everyone thought that the first clash of the Border Gavaskar Trophy would be dominated by the hosts but Cricket was never the game of expectations and that has been proved today.
The whole Indian batting lineup sand Lokesh Rahul went for cheap and little did we know that Aussies will create a havoc in their first outing of the tournament, especially, Steve O’ Keefe. The spinner, new to Indian soil and even more so for the Indian team, took 6 wickets while conceding just 35 runs in his 13.1 over spell. From Lokesh Rahul (64), the sole performer of the day from Indian side, to the whole lower order, no one had answers to the magical spin of O’Keefe, and as expected, the turning pitch further made matters worse for the host.
The whole lineup went back on just 105 runs and the minimalistic first innings total now became impossible to achieve. During the second innings, the hosts went from 94/3 to 105 for all out in around 45 minutes, making this one of the darkest day of modern Indian Cricket.
Australia, in their second innings, managed to score 143 runs with the loss of 4 wickets at stumps, giving India a trail of 298 runs. Steven Smith (59*) and Mitchell Marsh (21*) will kick off the proceedings on the 3rd day.
As for Virat Kohli, after setting up records after records since stepping up as the all time skipper, this is not the record that he would have expected to be on his name this soon. Kohli also went on duck in the second innings, which was a first in the last 104 innings that the 28-year-old has played.
There were several other records that defined India’s downfall in the ongoing India vs Australia 2017 First Test, and as harsh as it might be for a die-hard Indian Cricket fan, the records reflect the truth which is again, hard to digest.
- This was the first time when Virat Kohli got out for a duck in a Test match in India and 5th overall. Also, this was the first time in the last 104 innings played by Virat Kohli that he went back with a Zero.
- For the first time in Test Cricket, India lost 4 wickets in a span of 8 balls.
- Steve O’Keefe became the 3rd Australian left-arm spinner to take a 5-wicket haul on Indian soil in Tests, Ray Bright and Michael Clarke being the other two.
- Steve O’Keefe recorded his best bowling figures of 6/35 in an innings in Test cricket.
- Steve O’Keefe also took 6 wickets while conceding just 5 runs in 4.1 overs after the lunch break.
- India recorded their worst 7-wicket collapse in Test cricket after losing the last seven wickets for just 11 runs.
- India managed to add only 44 runs before losing their 3rd wicket, which is the lowest by the team since 2009 (31vs Sri Lanka) in home Test while batting for the first time in a game.
- India registered their second lowest innings total of 105 runs against Australia in a home Test, 104 being the lowest in the 2004 Mumbai Test.
- This was also the first time since 2008, that India lost seven wickets for less than 100 runs in a home Test.
As expected, Twitter cracked up after Australia decimated one of the best batting line-up and the No. 1 team and the reactions are one of the sharpest ones.
Just a minute Steve Okeefe has gone all Bishen Bedi and taken 3 wickets in an over 👍👍👍😀#SOKItTooThem#IndvAus
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) February 24, 2017
Step out for a break and all hell breaks loose. Smoking really is injurious to (Indian cricket’s) health. O'Keefe #demonbowler #IndvAus
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) February 24, 2017
The way India are choking, they already made Australia and Pakistan proud. #INDvAUS
— Chiggy Viggy (@IdlySambhar) February 24, 2017
Give Jayant this much, he looked good with that forward defence, kept his pose, didn't even bother with the back foot.#IndvAus
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/835029530767052800
India's score reads like an FM radio station
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 24, 2017
After making Moeen Ali as MoeenAlitharan, the Indian batsmen are trying their best to make SOK as Steve O'Singh Bedi #INDvAUS
— Chiggy Viggy (@IdlySambhar) February 24, 2017
Headlines you didn't expect to write this series, number one #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/d79STFOmzh
— Dave Middleton (@Dave_Middleton) February 24, 2017
On the destruction caused by Steve O’Keefe.
SOK….. very well deserved. He has worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. Great captaincy from @stevesmith49 as well.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) February 24, 2017
Well bowled Steve O'Keefe, quality spell. #INDvAUS
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) February 24, 2017
What an amazing day here in Pune. Great cricket to watch & congrats to SOK who found his mojo after switching ends – awesome ! ✔👊🎉👍
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 24, 2017
Top performance from Steve O'Keefe. The pitch might be an ally but still need to bowl well on it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2017
This is now a full blown collapse. And fair to say you will see lots of spin from now on!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2017