Pat Cummins:
“The game moves pretty quickly at times. You have to manage your tempos. Though India played really well, their spinners are always going to be hard work when the wicket is spinning, and thought Rohit showed his class. That first innings, the wicket spun but wasn’t unplayable. Would have loved another 100 or so runs and put a bit more pressure on their first innings. Obviously starting here is tough but three or four of our guys got in and started to look pretty comfortable in the first innings. Those guys who do get in have got to turn it into big scores. [Todd Murphy] He was fantastic on debut. He’s been very impressive. Bowled plenty overs.”
: “Yeah, it was [a special hundred], considering a lot of things. The start of the series is very important for where we stand at the championship table and important for us to start well. We know playing a series like this it’s important to start well. Happy I could put up a performance that could help the team. I was unfortunate I had to miss a few Test matches but happy to be back. Since I was appointed I played only two Tests, got Covid in England, missed three in South Africa, freak injury in Bangladesh. Things can happen when you play for a long time, but I’ve had injuries in the past so know how to come back from them. The last few years the kind of pitches we have had in India has to have a clear mindset and plan to get runs. Since I started opening I have tried to figure out…my methods.
Have grown up a lot in Mumbai on surfaces that turn a lot. You need to use your feet, at the same time put pressure on the bowlers. You have to do something different, and that can be your way. You need to understand what you can do and not look at anyone else. [Moment of the game where you took charge] It was the first two overs from the seamers to be honest, 2 for 2 to start a game you are pretty much in the ascendency… the opposition is always under pressure because we know we have quality in the spin department but the seamers, not to forget, can be quite threatening on a surface like that. They know how to exploit those conditions. Glad all our batters could put up a show, get 400 and enough lead then the spinners came into the picture.”
The player of the match is Ravindra Jadeja: “It feels amazing… after five months, give 100%, taking wickets and scoring runs. Feels amazing. I’ve been working hard since I was at NCA, also doing my rehab. Would like all the NCA staff, physios, and trainers, they have been working hard with me. I looked to bowl in good areas, the ball was spinning, and the ball was going straight and also keeping low. I know the Australians will look to play sweep and reverse sweep. Generally, I look to keep things very simple [with the bat] and not change too much. I focus more on my batting now because it’s a crucial number, 5, 6, 7, so have to put myself in a pressure situation.”
India vs Australia Highlights today. 1st Test, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur, Saturday 11-2-2023, Australia tour of India 2023.
Toss: Australia chose to bat first.
India team: Rohit (capt), Rahul, Pujara, Kohli, Suryakumar, Bharat (wk), Jadeja, Ashwin, Axar, Shami, Siraj
Australia team: Warner, Usman, Labuschagne, Smith, Renshaw, Handscomb, Carey (wk), Cummins (capt), Lyon, Murphy, Boland
Head to Head In Test’s: 102
India Won: 30
Australia Won: 43
India Test Rankings: 2nd
Australia Test Rankings: 1st
Form guide
(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WWLWW
Australia DWWWW
Match Timings: 4:00 AM GMT | 9:30 PM Local
Umpires – Nitin Menon, Richard Illingworth
TV Umpire – Michael Gough
Match Referee – Andy Pycroft
Reserve Umpire – KN Ananthapadmanabhan
Match number – Test no. 2490
