Handscomb maintains faith after Aussies’ dismal day

Recalled Australia batter Peter Handscomb believes the tourists can fight their way back into the first Test despite India delivering a fearsome blow on day one.

Handscomb’s valiant 31 was one of the few shining lights for Australia on Thursday as they collapsed, bundled out for 177 after winning the toss at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

India then rammed home their advantage by surging to 1-77 by stumps thanks to an unbeaten 56 from captain Rohit Sharma.

After spending more than four years out of the Test team, Handscomb said Australia would stay positive despite finding themselves in a tough position.

“The morale’s good,” the 31-year-old said.

“The music was back on straight after we walked back in.

“The feeling in this group coming back in is really nice and seems really calm.

“No matter what happens on the field, when you walk back into the dressing room at the end of the day it’s the same emotions no matter what.

“Try and stay nice and level about the whole thing no matter what happens out there.

“Yes, it’s not how we wanted to start the series, but by all means we’re still in this game.”

Australia arrived in India full of confidence that they could end a 19-year Test series drought in India after losing just one match in 2022.

But they were given a brutal reality check on the opening day of the four-Test series as India capitalised on spin-friendly conditions.

Since Australia claimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2004, they have won just one match on Indian soil across four tours.

India’s dominance at home is unrivalled, having not lost a Test series in their own country since going down to England in 2012.

Australia’s batters had to contend with allrounder Ravi Jadeja, who took 5-47 in his first Test since July.

Jadeja and fellow star Ravichandran Ashwin took eight of Australia’s 10 wickets in a display sure to strike fear in the tourists for the remainder of the series.

The 34-year-old defended the state of the pitch after it came under criticism before the match for unusual tactics used by ground staff.

“This wasn’t a rank turner,” Jadeja said, which was translated from Hindi.

“Compared to other wickets it was slow and had low bounce.

“I felt defending wasn’t very difficult but as the game progresses, defending will become increasingly difficult – but that’s the nature of Test cricket.”

Australia are missing star quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as well as allrounder Cameron Green, in a huge blow to their bowling stocks.