Sydney, January 3, 2025 – Day 1 of the fifth and final Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) saw relentless dominance by the pacers on a pitch that tested the mettle of every batter. India, batting first, managed a modest total of 185 runs before being bowled out. In response, Australia stumbled early, finishing at 9/1 at stumps, trailing by 176 runs.
The day was a pacer’s delight, with the surface offering bounce, seam, and movement throughout. Australia’s Scott Boland stole the show, claiming a superb four-wicket haul. Boland’s precision and ability to exploit the conditions left India’s batting lineup in tatters. The visitors struggled to build partnerships, with Rishabh Pant’s gritty 40 being the lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing innings.
The drama unfolded further in the final session as India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, delivered a lethal blow to Australia’s top order. Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the day, ensuring India remained in the contest despite their modest total.
India’s innings started with cautious optimism, but the Aussie pacers, led by Boland, quickly turned the tide. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shubman Gill failed to capitalize on their starts, while Ravindra Jadeja and Pant provided some resistance. The duo added valuable runs, but Australia’s bowlers consistently hit the right areas, leaving India reeling at 134/7 before Washington Sundar and Bumrah’s late fight pushed the score past 180.
As twilight set in, batting became even more challenging. Australia’s innings mirrored India’s struggles, with Bumrah and company extracting bounce and movement from the lively track. The hosts will now face a challenging first hour on Day 2, as the pitch continues to favor the bowlers.
Day 1 saw only 75.2 overs bowled due to the slow over rate and frequent interruptions as batters faced physical blows from short-pitched deliveries. A total of 11 wickets fell, and just 194 runs were scored, underscoring the bowlers’ dominance.
The second day promises to be equally thrilling, with India’s pace attack aiming to replicate Australia’s success and restrict the hosts to a minimal lead. Play resumes on Saturday, January 4, at 5 a.m. IST (11:30 p.m. GMT, previous day). Both teams have everything to play for in this decisive clash.