After dominating Day 1, Australia once more completed the next day on top within the ongoing ICC World Test Championship last in opposition to India at The Oval on Thursday, June 8. Travis Head and Steve Smith resumed Day 2 and the latter took solely two deliveries to record his thirty first Test hundred. Head additionally took no time to carry his maiden away 150 however as anticipated the pitch supplied much-needed assist for the pacers with a brand new ball.
Mohammed Siraj gave India a gap with Head’s wicket, which was sufficient for Indian bowlers to make a comeback. Shardul Thakur bowled out Smith and Siraj picked two extra wickets to bowl out Australia’s first innings on 469.Â
Indian openers began with an attacking strategy by including 30 runs within the first 5 overs. But they weren’t capable of make something out of it as Australian bowlers delivered 5 wickets to win Day 2’s battle as properly. India nonetheless path by 318 runs with Ajinkya Rahane and KS Bharat within the center with Shardul Thakur subsequent to come back.
IND vs AUS, WTC Final Day 2, Talking Points
Steve Smith’s century
Travis Head’s 163 off simply 174 was clearly overshadowed by Steve Smith’s 121* off 174 on Day 2. Smith broke some vital information throughout his knock to steal the limelight once more. He surpassed the likes of Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting to record the second-highest 9 a whole lot in India-Australia Tests. Smith additionally joined Joe Root to register essentially the most Test centuries in opposition to India as he additionally accomplished 2000 runs in opposition to India within the longest format of the sport.
Mohammed Siraj’s 4 wickets
After giving India a gap with Usman Khawaja‘s wicket on Day 1, Siraj dismissed Travis Head to offer his breakthrough on Day 2. He persistently fired bouncers and used the circumstances properly to get an additional bounce as properly. Siraj took two extra wickets to complete Australia’s first innings. His 4/108 figures at the moment are amongst his top 5 spells in red-ball cricket, all coming in away circumstances.
Indian top-order collapse
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a sensational begin however it lasted just for 5 overs. There was clear that the Indian crew lacked preparation for red-ball cricket after spending the final two and half months in IPL 2023. Kohli appeared in good rhythm as he confronted essentially the most balls, 31, among the many top-four batters however his hesitation to skip Mitchell Starc’s bouncer price him his wicket.Â
India’s top-order scores of 15, 13, 14, and 14 had been embarrassing in comparison with Australia’s top-four’s scores in the identical circumstances. The returning Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja appeared like a bail-out bundle for India however Nathan Lyon dismissed the latter within the final 5 overs of Day 2 to dealt an enormous blow on India
