 "Ruturaj Gaikwad is India A's captain for the tour of Australia. Image: PTI")
India A had a tough start to the 1st unofficial Test against Australia A on Thursday as the visitors were bowled out for just 107 on Day 1 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. This is the first Test for Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A on the tour of Australia. Batting first in the match, India A lost their first wicket on a score of zero as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad got out for a duck in the second over of Day 1 by pacer Jordan Buckingham.
Jordan Buckingham soon dismissed Abhimanyu Easwaran (7) before the second change bowler Brendan Doggett ran through the Indian batting lineup. Easwaran is also a part of India’s Test squad and is expected to play in either the first or second match as skipper Rohit Sharma will reportedly be on leave .
Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal forged a 15-run stand for the third wicket before the former was dismissed by Doggett for 21. Next to fall was Baba Indrajith who got out on 9 to Australia off-spinner Todd Murphy.
Ishan Kishan on his return to the India A team could only score 4 and was dismissed by Doggett who took Padikkal’s (36) wicket next.
Navdeep Saini with a gritty 23 off 43 balls was the only batter to offer resistance from the lower order before perishing to fast bowler Fergus O’Neill.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNitish Reddy (0), Manav Suthar (1), and Praisdh Krishna (0) were also dismissed by Doggett while Mukesh Kumar (4) stayed unbeaten on 4.
Australia were reduced to 80/4 in the third session at the time of publishing this report with Mukesh Kumar and Praisdh Krishna taking two wickets each.
Skipper Nathan McSweeney and Cooper Connolly are at the crease.