Starc contrast: Oz show spirit, India toil

Indian batters struggle as veteran left-arm pacer takes six-fer to put hosts in position of strength on opening day

- GOMESH S

IT was the 18th over of the day at The Adelaide Oval on Friday. Pat Cummins, having tried everything he could till then, was looking for a breakthrough. India, despite losing Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first delivery of the day-night Test to Mitchell Starc, had cruised to 61/1 with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill looking at home.

A desperate Cummins turned towards his most experienced campaigner in Nathan Lyon. Three balls in, Lyon floated one outside off in an attempt to make Rahul reach out. The Indian, stood firm on the crease in his backfoot, leaned forward with a big stride and pushed —not drove, not sliced or punched—but pushed the ball through cover point, trying to get to the other end. It's something he and Gill had been doing well in till then to keep the scoreboard moving. The ball, however, found the gap and kept getting further away from the fielders before racing to the boundary.