Published By: Sayan Guha

BGT: India Bowled Out for 150 but End Day on Top: Crazy Day 1 Facts You Can’t Miss!

Seam, swings, and surprises – a fiery start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Day 1 of the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth was not for the faint of heart. A spicy pitch, unrelenting seam movement, and spectacular collapses set the tone for a Test encounter to remember. India crumpled for 150 in just 49.4 overs, yet Australia was limping at 67/7 at stumps, leaving everyone perplexed and wondering, “What on earth just happened?”

Let’s go into the most bizarre facts and incidents from a historic opening day.

17 wickets, seamers feast

Who needs spinners when the pitch itself becomes a threat? On Day 1, seamers took all 17 wickets, a rarity in Australian conditions. This is the most wickets to fall on a Day 1 in Australia since 1952.

If you think that’s remarkable, consider this: the ball seamed an average of 0.793 degrees, causing havoc that recalled many of the notorious Brisbane 2022 Test, when batters averaged only 9.16 runs.

India’s lowest overs faced in a decade

India’s innings lasted 49.4 overs, their lowest on the first day of an away Test since Kingston in 2011. Since 1980, India has only been bowled out on the first day of an away series nine times.

Reddy joins the elites

When the top order collapsed like a deck of cards, newcomer Nitish Reddy and the ever-flamboyant Rishabh Pant put up a critical 48-run stand. Reddy joined L Amar Singh and Stuart Binny as one of just a few Indian batters to top-score on their debut from No. 8 or below.

Bumrah’s ball of the day: Smith’s Golden Duck

Forget the runs; let’s speak about Steve Smith, who was sent back for a golden duck! Bumrah’s full delivery swung back sharply, trapping Smith squarely in front. Smith’s golden duck was only his second in Tests, the last one coming against Dale Steyn back in 2014.

Fun fact: Bumrah is currently one of the few bowlers who averages higher away (22.48) than at home (33.30) with the new ball.

Virat Kohli: Butterfingers alert!

The batters weren’t the only ones suffering. Kohli lost a sitter in the slips, depriving India of the opportunity to inflict more misery on Labuschagne. What’s the irony? Kohli has a dropped catch ratio of 29.6%, second only to James Anderson in Tests (minimum 100 chances). Get those slip drills in, Virat!

Labuschagne’s torturous two

Labuschagne recorded his lowest aggregate after 50 deliveries for only two runs. When was the last time he battled like this? In 2023, The Oval will see five runs off fifty balls. But he wasn’t just sluggish; Indian bowlers tied him down with an average seam movement of 0.91 degrees, nearly double Australia’s 0.72 in the first ten overs.

Australia’s worst collapse in years

At 38/5, Australia had not been in this position at home since Hobart 2016, when South Africa had them reeling at 17/5. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Mohammed Siraj paired for a stunning performance that stunned the Australians, losing 5 early wickets before 40.

Stat attack: Catch these nuggets!

Rishabh Pant vs right-arm seam over the wicket in SENA countries? His average falls to 16.55 when balls are aimed at or wider than the off-stump. Today, however, he faced 78 balls for his 37.

Despite some resistance from Australia’s lower order, Pat Cummins’ catch percentage of 60% says much about both sides’ fielding woes.

What’s next?

Day 2 promises more drama as both teams are neck and neck. Can India’s bowlers do it swiftly and give their batters another opportunity on this minefield? Will Australia’s tail wag enough to tip the balance? One thing is sure: this test is a seam bowler’s dream and a batter’s nightmare.