Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Usman Khawaja sets the tone for Australia with maiden Test hundred against India
Usman Khawaja #UsmanKhawaja
Australia made the most of the best pitch of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they reached 255 for 4 at stumps on the first day of the fourth Test against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green secured a commanding position for Australia with a unbroken 85-run stand for the 5th wicket. Khawaja hit his first hundred India and 14th overall to continue a great run in the series. While most of Australia’s batters have failed to make an impact in the 2023 BGT, Usman Khawaja added to his scores of 81 in Delhi and 60 in Indore with a masterclass in the final Test of the series.
Cameron Green joined the party with Usman Khawaja and is now just 1 run short of his 7th Test fifty in a stunning partnership which is certain to put a lot of pressure on India.
4th Test, Day 1: HIghlights
The pitches for the first three Tests in Nagpur, Delhi and Indore had copped a lot of criticism – in fact, the ICC rated the pitch for third Test poor after Australia wrapped up a 9-wicket win in a little over two days. After the defeat, Rohit Sharma defended the surface and said India were playing to their strengths even after his batsmen failed miserably against Australia’s spinners.
India, however, chose to play on a flatter surface when run-scoring was easier and the spinners struggled to make regular breakthroughs. After Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat, India’s pacers were erratic and KS Bharat was poor behind the wickets. The Australians raced away to a quick start courtsey of Travis Head who showed a lot of intent on a pitch clearly different from the three other venues in the series.
R Ashwin, India’s most threatening bowler in the morning, dismissed the dangerous Travis Head with a full and tossed up delivery bowled just outside off stump. Marnus Labuschagne, the No.1 ranked Test batter in the world, continued his poor run of scores in India, chopping a ball from Mohammed Shami on to his stumps.
That dismissal paved the way for a stubborn partnership between Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith who added 79 for the 4th wicket. The pair took their time and frustrated India’s bowlers for 41.4 overs on a hot day in Ahmedabad and batted Australia to a position of strength, denying the hosts a single wicket in the second session.
Steve Smith was finally removed by Ravindra Jadeja for a 135-ball 38. It was an innings of immense patience and the purpose seemed to be to grind the Indian bowler in less than helpful conditions. But that wicket brought another when Peter Handscomb fell to Mohammed Shami and Australia slumped to 170 for 4.
2nd NEW BALL BACKFIRES
Cameron Green joined Usman Khawaja with a more aggressive approach at the crease. While Khawaja continued to frustrate India with astute footwork, solid defence and a penchant for punishing the loose balls, Green used his long stride to keep the Indian bowling attack at bay. After failing repeatedly on turning pitches for the last one month, Australia’s batters looked a lot more assured and reaped the rewards for their patience on a typical Asian pitch.
Usman Khawaja, easily the best Australian batter on tour, continued his good run. He was happy to play second fiddle to Travis Head in the morning and the determination to stay at the crease saw him inch towards his first hundred against India. It took Australia four Test matches for one of their players to finally score a hundred but as has been well documented in the 2023 BGT, batting has not been the easiest task.
It was a strange day for India’s bowlers. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami were taken for 18 runs in the first two overs with the second new ball before Rohit Sharma turned to R Ashwin. But nothing the Indian bowlers did seemed to bother Australia. Steve Smith was resolute in the second session but he perhaps missed a trick by not being a little more proactive. Cameron Green made up for his captain’s overtly subdued knock and stepped on the accelerator in the closing minutes of the first day.
A lot will depend on how many Australia add on the second day while India will look to bounce back with quick wickets after a difficult day in the final Test of the series. Rohit Sharma said India are ruthless, not overconfident after severe criticism following their Indore defeat. The time to show some ruthless for India and Rohit Sharma is now.
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