India's poor batting form continues in fifth Test against Australia at SCG

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Australia's Scott Boland was the star of the opening day of the fifth Test against India, taking four wickets to help dismiss the visitors for just 185 in their first innings at the SCG on Friday.

Boland's key breakthroughs came in the final session, where he removed Rishabh Pant (40) and Nitish Kumar Reddy in quick succession, swinging the momentum in Australia’s favor.

Pant had been India’s top scorer, and along with Ravindra Jadeja (26), he led a brief recovery after India had been reduced to 72/4.

 

 

 

 

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However, Pant’s resistance was ended when he top-edged a pull shot to Pat Cummins at short mid-wicket, with Boland taking another wicket immediately after, getting Reddy to edge behind to Steve Smith at first slip.

Mitchell Starc also played a crucial role in India’s collapse, dismissing Jadeja with a plumb LBW before claiming his third wicket, getting rid of Prasidh Krishna.

 

 

 

 

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Earlier, Starc and Nathan Lyon had made early breakthroughs in the morning session, dismissing KL Rahul (4) and Shubman Gill (20). Boland's introduction as first-change bowler saw him claim the wicket of debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), who was caught by Webster off his bowling.

India’s innings began with some controversy when Virat Kohli survived an early scare on the first ball of his innings, with a potential catch sent to the third umpire. The review showed the ball had hit the ground, and Kohli continued his stay, though he was eventually dismissed by Boland for 17.

At the toss, India confirmed Rohit Sharma's absence from the XI, opting to rest the captain for the series decider. Shubman Gill replaced him, and Prasidh Krishna came in for Akash Deep.

Jasprit Bumrah, captaining in Sharma’s place, won the toss and chose to bat despite overcast conditions and a greener pitch. Australia, which announced their XI a day before the match, handed Beau Webster his Test debut.