Boxing Day Test: Steve Smith out for a duck, his 1st vs India in international cricket
Boxing Day Test: Australia star Steve Smith on Saturday suffered a rare failure as he recorded his first duck against India and the first in Test cricket since November 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ashwin got Steve Smith out for a duck at MCG on Boxing Day
- Steve Smith recorded his first duck against India in international cricket
- Ashwin rocked the hosts as he removed Matthew Wade and Steve Smith
Australia batting stalwart Steve Smith, who otherwise enjoys a brilliant record vs India, registered his first duck in international cricket against the visitors as Ravichandran Ashwin sent him packing in the morning session of the Boxing Day Test.
Smith suffered a rare failure at MCG where he averages 113.5 in Tests comfortably his best at any ground at which he has played at least five matches including four centuries and three fifties. Notably, this is also the first time that Steve Smith has been dismissed for a duck in the first innings of a Test match.
India vs Australia Live Score 2nd Test Day 1: Live Score
India's stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane produced a masterclass by keeping close-in fielders against the fidgety Smith, and it worked. Ashwin, who got Smith for 1 in the Adelaide Test, pitched it around the middle and turned towards Smith's legs. Smith was looking to nudge it behind square but ended up getting an edge. Pujara, at leg slip, dived across to his left and took a nice catch.
Ashwin was delighted when he got the big wicket of Steve Smith and celebrated the wicket in a rather uncharacteristic manner as he nearly ran to the boundary ropes.
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah struck early to remove Australia opener, Joe Burns, for a duck after Tim Paine won the toss and opted to bat first. Ashwin then dismissed Matthew Wade for 30 as India took the early advantage in the Boxing Day Test.
Under the leadership of Rahane, India has made four changes to their playing XI that lost in Adelaide. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj are making their debuts while a fit-again Ravindra Jadeja has come in for regular captain Virat Kohli while Wriddhiman Saha has been replaced by Rishabh Pant.
WATCH: Ashwin outfoxes Steve Smith again, gets him for a duck. Sunil Gavaskar says ‘it was a plan’
India vs Australia: Ravichandran Ashwin removed Australia’s Steve Smith for a duck by setting up a leg-side trap on ay 1 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Sunil Gavaskar said it was a plan to restrict Smith.
Ravichandran Ashwin once again emerged as India’s most successful bowler after Australia won the toss and elected to bat first on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ashwin got two important wickets including one of Steve Smith to give India the early advantage of the second Test.
There was a lot of talk around how Ashwin dismissed Smith with a slider in the first innings of Adelaide and chances are high there would more chatter this time after he removed Smith for a duck – his first against India in Tests – on Saturday.
“First and foremost, I’m pretty surprised at the fact that on Day 1 there’s a lot of turn for the Indian spinners. He’s been bowling straight, he’s been bowling on the middle and leg, it’s been pretty much a plan to try and restrict the batsmen from playing any shot through the offside. If you look at Smith’s dismissal because maybe he was on zero he wanted to get off the mark, wasn’t able to control it. On the other hand, there were a couple of deliveries when Labuschagne was playing and he shouldered arms, Smith could’ve done that as well but I’m not complaining,” Gavaskar told 7 cricket.
This was only the fifth duck for Steve Smith in Test cricket. He has now been dismissed by Ashwin five times – twice in Australia and three times in India.
Ashwin, who was brought into the attack in the 11th over by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, struck in his second over by removing Matthew Wade for 30.
Earlier, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah gave the tourists a flying start, having opener Joe Burns caught behind for an uneasy 10-ball duck in his second over.
It was an exquisite delivery that did for Burns, nipping back off the seam and tickling an edge on the way through to recalled wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Australia batsman Steve Smith has a great Test record against India. He has an even better record when it comes to Boxing Day Tests at the MCG, as he averages 113.50 in 7 Tests.
However, Steve Smith has been dismissed for a duck for the first time against India, on Day 1 of the 2nd Test. The video of the dismissal was uploaded by Cricket on BT Sport on Twitter.
Ravichandran Ashwin seems to have the measure of Steve Smith this series and has again provided a massive breakthrough on the morning of Day 1. Smith was dismissed in the 15th over by Ashwin and walked back to the pavilion after scoring 0 runs off 8 balls.
The Indian spinner got the better of Steve Smith with a classic off-spinner. Ashwin’s delivery pitched around middle and spun towards leg, and the Aussie No. 4 attempted to nudge it behind square.
However, Steve Smith couldn’t keep his shot down and Cheteshwar Pujara dived to his left at leg slip to complete the catch. The wicket meant that Smith was dismissed for a duck for the 1st time against India in Tests.
Steve Smith’s struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin
This is the second time Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed Steve Smith in ongoing India vs Australia Test series. The first instance was during the first innings of the 1st Test, albeit with a different delivery.
Instead of the traditional off-spinner, Ashwin bowled one that went on straight, with Steve Smith poking at it and getting an edge. The catch was completed by Ajinkya Rahane at first slip, and the 32-year-old departed after scoring 1 run off 29 balls. The instance was then the first time Steve Smith had been dismissed for less than 5 against India.
With India on top in the first session, Steve Smith will look to bounce back in the second innings. The Australian batsman has scored just 2 runs across 3 innings till now and hasn’t done enough as the side’s best batsman.
However, Steve Smith will be buoyed by his record against India when he comes to bat in the second essay. He has registered 10 centuries against India and has scored 1429 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 84.05.
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