Australia v India: Visitors in disarray as Ravi Jadeja removes Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith combined in an unbeaten 74-run third-wicket stand as Australia rallied before lunch after India dismissed both openers to have the tourists in immediate trouble at 2-2 Thursday after winning the toss and batting in the first cricket test.

But the stumping of Labuschagne to Ravi Jadeja immediately after lunch has left the visitors in huge trouble, especially when Matthew Renshaw was trapped LBW for a golden duck.

The third-wicket pair resisted India’s penetrative bowling as Australia reached 76-2 at lunch on Day 1 of the four-match series. Labuschagne was unbeaten on 47 at the interval and Smith was not out on 19 from 74 balls.

India made a rollicking start with the new ball with Mohammed Siraj (1-13) trapping Khawaja lbw with his first delivery in the second over and Mohammed Shami (1-12) bowling David Warner to start the third over.

The Indian pace bowlers made the new ball swing, even if there wasn’t enough bounce in the Nagpur deck.

Siraj hit Khawaja low on the pad in front of leg stump and had an original not out decision overturned on review.

Six balls later, Shami sent Warner’s off stump cartwheeling with a quick, swinging delivery that snuck between bat and pad as Australia slumped to 2-2 after 2.1 overs.

Spin was introduced in the seventh over as Ravindra Jadeja (0-14) coming on to bowl and immediately followed by Axar Patel (0-11).

Labuschagne and Smith were in a defiant mood, negating spin with clever footwork and raising a 50-run partnership off 123 balls. Jadeja got purchase off the surface but the two batsmen were rarely troubled.

Camera IconDavid Warner of Australia is bowled by Mohammed Shami of India during day one of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 09, 2023 in Nagpur, India. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Veteran Ravichandran Ashwin (0-18) entered the attack late in the session but gave away runs at a faster clip than the other two spinners.

Both teams made changes to their starting lineups for the start of the Border- Gavaskar Trophy series.

Australia dropped in-form batter Travis Head, bringing Peter Hanscomb back into the middle-order after all the attention on the pitch preparation and the perception it will disadvantage left-handed batters.

Australia also gave a debut to 22-year-old off-spinner Todd Murphy, who will work in tandem with Nathan Lyon.

Camera IconSteve Smith of Australia bats during day one of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 09, 2023 in Nagpur, India. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

India handed test debuts to Srikar Bharat and Suryakumar Yadav. Bharat replaces wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who is recovering from injuries sustained in an car mishap. Yadav replaced the injured Shreyas Iyer.

The pitch at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium was the center of attention ahead of this first test. The surface of this red-soil wicket is expected to come off easily, with enough rough patches to trouble left-handed batters from the outset.