AGENCY
DHARAMSALA: Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav made a memorable debut with a four-wicket haul that negated Steve Smith’s defiant hundred as India bowled out Australia for 300 on an engrossing opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test, here today.
The 22-year-old Kuldeep, who replaced injured skipper Viart Kohli, returned figures of four for 68 in 23 overs after Australia decided to bat and made a resounding start.
India’s first ever left-arm wrist spinner in Test cricket, Kuldeep bamboozled Australian batsmen in a terrific post-lunch spell, accounting for David Warner (56), Peter Handscomb (8) and Glenn Maxwell (8).
India did not score any run or lost wicket in the single over bowled by Josh Hazlewood before stumps were drawn.
This was after the visitors were on a roll during the opening session, courtesy skipper’s Smith quality knock of 111. Scoring his third century of the series, Smith along with Warner added 134 runs for the second wicket before Kuldeep weaved his spin magic.
Keeper-batsman Matthew Wade’s (57) rear guard effort stemmed the rot after the middle-order collapse with Australia managing to reach 300-run mark. Umesh Yadav (2/69 in 15 overs) once again played his part to perfection while Ravichandran Ashwin (1/54 in 23 overs) got the all-important wicket of Smith, who edged one to stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane at slip at stroke of tea. Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also had a wicket apiece. But it was the Kanpur lad, who turned things around after a gloomy first session. In fact the second session saw Australia lose five wickets for 71 runs with home team taking control of the proceedings.
It was surprise element in Kuldeep’s bowling that caught the Australian team on wrong foot. Credit should be given to Rahane, who showed a lot of faith in the youngster by giving him an extended spell.
All three batsmen dismissed during the post-lunch session were guilty of not reading Kuldeep from his hand, trying to play him off the pitch.
score board
Australia 1st innings
DA Warner c Rahane b Kuldeep Yadav 56
MT Renshaw b Yadav 01
SPD Smith* c Rahane b Ashwin 111
SE Marsh c †Saha b Yadav 04
PSP Handscomb b Kuldeep Yadav 08
GJ Maxwell b Kuldeep Yadav 08
MS Wade† b Jadeja 57
PJ Cummins c & b Kuldeep Yadav 21
SNJ O’Keefe run out (†Saha/sub [SS Iyer]) 08
NM Lyon c Pujara b Kumar 13
JR Hazlewood not out 02
Extras 11
Total 300/10
India 1st innings
KL Rahul not out 00
M Vijay not out 00
Extras 00
Total 0/0
