Australia vs India. 1st Test. Perth. 2024/25. Day One.

The first day of the first Test of the summer is almost always fascinating, and can often set the tone for the whole series. What yesterday in Perth did was suggest there could be very little cricket on Day five of any of the five Tests. 

Finally, we have a real Perth wicket. Not as much pace and bounce as the WACA but not far off, and certainly more movement off the seam. It was great to watch after seeing barren flat pitches around the country for so long. It will be interesting to see if the bounce and pace in particular can carry through the whole Test match (no pun intended).

The bowlers of both sides thrived. Starc and Hazlewood’s opening spell was just brilliant. The benefit of playing Shield prior to the Test came to the fore. And Mitch Marsh must have been out the back bowling to Shaun for the last week or so as he showed the benefit as well. The skipper was a little off but that spell will have done him good. He’ll need it today.

Jasprit Bumrah showed again why he is the best in the world. My word he is fun to watch. How happy must he have been to finally see a pitch with something in it apart from a couple of white lines down the middle or a raging dust bowl. He did not waste one delivery and it was a pleasure to see him go about his work. Siraj and Rana on debut backed him up superbly.

The batting had some excuse given the conditions, but overall just proved once again that the deterioration in technique caused by the plethora of T20 cricket means that if the pitch is not a road, batters around the world are in trouble. Only the two wicket keepers and Indian stalwart KL Rahul showed any real ease against the constant attacks. Rahul was unhappy with his 50/50 decision, and perhaps didn’t get the benefit of the doubt especially as Kettleborough had given him not out on the field. That’s the age we live in with referrals. That one went against India (though I still think for all money he hit it). Pant again played the rescue job in his own inimitable way, and Reddy on debut contributed 41 runs that now look like the difference between teams being level on first innings or India have a substantial lead. Alex Carey, the form batter of the summer for Australia, carried it into this game and is now the one thing between India and a 50+ first innings lead.

Today should be fascinating. Can India start better in their second dig. Can Kohli finally break his shackles and regain the powers of old. Can Australia limit India to a total that could possibly be chased down.

Cricket is back and the dash are better for it.