India dropped skipper Rohit Sharma but their batting woes continued as they were dismissed for 185 on the opening day of the fifth and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
Scott Boland led the way with four for 31 as Australia’s bowlers revelled in seam-friendly conditions to restrict India’s scoring and knock over wickets with a regularity that delighted a sellout crowd of 48,000.
Only the suspicion of what Jasprit Bumrah, the outstanding bowler of the series and Rohit’s replacement as captain, might do on the surface constrained the joy of home fans packed into the famous old ground.
They got a hint from the last ball of the three overs India managed to bowl at Australia before the close of play when Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja for two.
Teenager Sam Konstas, who had a brief altercation with Bumrah just before Khawaja’s departure, will resume on day two on seven not out with Australia nine for one.
Australia lead the series 2-1 and will win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa with a victory in the finale.
Boland precipitated the end of India’s laboured innings early in the final session when he had Rishabh Pant caught at mid-on for 40 and dismissed Melbourne centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy off consecutive balls.
Washington Sundar was beaten by Boland’s hat-trick ball without making contact with it but Ravindra Jadeja was soon trapped plumb in front by Mitchell Starc (3-49) for 26 to leave India reeling on 134-7.
Sundar was unfortunate to depart for 14 when a TV review detected a brush of his glove on a Pat Cummins delivery and Bumrah wagged the tail with 22 runs from 17 balls before the Australia skipper had him caught at mid-wicket to end the innings.
Pant said he would have been happier with 40 or 50 more runs but felt that India’s score was not that far from par on a tricky wicket.
