Australia saw the light on a Friday evening. In a packed Adelaide Oval and on a rather unusual day when the expected rains failed to materialize and the floodlights failed twice, the hosts scored 86 for 1 in reply to India’s first innings score of 180.

The opening day of the second Test consisted of two parts. The first showed the Indian team was vulnerable and the second showed Australia’s willingness to fight back in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where the hosts are trailing 1-0.

Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney survived the first 10 overs before Jasprit Bumrah provided the first breakthrough. Right off the bat, Khawaja forwarded a Bumrah special to Rohit Sharma. The nervous Marnus Labuschagne then survived an inquisition by Bumrah before finding his voice.

McSweeney also freed his previously dour arms and that was echoed by Labuschagne’s bat as the second-wicket partnership, unbeaten for 62 runs, took shape. Pat Cummins and his men might think they are slightly ahead, even if they still have a 94-run deficit to overcome.

-KC Vijaya Kumar

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AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Starc stars with six shots as Australia hits back against India

Australia saw the light on a Friday evening. In a packed Adelaide Oval and on a rather unusual day when the expected rains failed to materialize and the floodlights failed twice, the hosts scored 86 for 1 in reply to India’s first innings score of 180.

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