Mitchell Starc disrupted the Indian batting order on the first day of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, posting brilliant figures of 6/48 in the first innings. The left-arm pacer struck on the first ball of the game – Starc achieved the feat for the third time – when he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and despite the break in momentum, Starc came back with a 68-run stand for the second wicket strong to trigger an Indian collapse.

While India were bowled out for 180, Australia got off to a strong start despite the early wicket of Usman Khawaja (13) and ended Day 1 at 86/1. The Indian bowlers were criticized for their erratic length, with former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar insisting that none of the bowlers forced the Australian batters to play.

Starc was asked in the press conference after the first day of play to comment on whether he observed a similar pattern among Indian bowlers. However, wary of revealing important information about pink ball bowling, Starc dropped a blunt statement that left the press room divided.

“I’m not their bowling coach,” Starc said, smiling.

Jasprit Bumrah was the only wicket-taker in the Australian innings on Day 1 when he took out Khawaja and found an outside edge that made it to second slip where Rohit Sharma took a simple catch.

Starc, meanwhile, was praised by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, who picked two wickets each. After the stubborn duel between Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, Starc broke the momentum when he dismissed Rahul for 37. After that, Australia didn’t look back as the left-arm pacer dismissed the dangerous Virat Kohli for just 7 points.

Starc also dismissed the dangerous-looking Nitish Reddy for the last wicket of the innings; Reddy had taken an aggressive approach as he was tasked with forming partnerships alongside the closers, but was denied by a fuller shot from left-back Starc, leaving Travis Head to make a simple catch just before midway through the game.

India leads the series 1-0

Team India registered a comfortable win in Perth, defeating Jasprit Bumrah-led Australia by 295 runs. Rohit returned as captain in the second Test but the side faces a tough challenge after the hosts gained a lead at the end of the first day of the Test in Adelaide.