All the pre-series talk was around R Ashwin. Well before the first ball was bowled, the experienced off-spinner, returning to the ODI set-up after a long time, attracted most of the attention. The three fixtures vs a packed Australian side were being looked at as an opportunity for Ashwin to get game time and get used to the format where he had featured only twice in the last six years before the Mohali game. It was a decent outing for the 37-year-old in batting friendly conditions but what stood out was the way other Indian bowlers operated to keep the visitors under check, right through the game.
The 2023 Asia Cup made it clear that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be the preferred new-ball pairing and Mohammed Shami, who played two games in the tournament, is likely to be rotated. Shami didn’t feature in the two fixtures against Pakistan, the final vs Sri Lanka but there was no sign of less game time when he bowled under the unforgiving sun.
The ball was leaving beautifully from his hand and the absolute upright seam was a treat to watch. Early in the spell, he showed why the conditions below or above don’t matter as it’s his wrist and seam which do most of the magic. Mitchell Marsh was undone by a delivery which did just enough to find the right-hander’s edge and Shubman Gill completed formalities at first slip.
IND vs AUS 1st ODI Live Score
Shami’s class
It was a probing first spell but lasted only four overs and Shami made his way to the dressing room to cool down. The temperature hovered around the mid-30s but felt over 40 due to the sun which was shining in full glory and clear sky and no breeze meant life was difficult for the players of both teams. When he returned for the second spell, the condition of the ball didn’t matter as the seamer got the better of a well-set Steve Smith with the one which came into the right-hander.
Two good wickets at two different stages of the match showed Shami’s class and he stamped authority on the game with three more wickets late in his spell to pick his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. First with the new ball, then in the middle overs and then the accuracy at the death. It was a complete performance by the seamer and would do his confidence a world of good before heading into the World Cup.
Around him too, Bumrah continued to ask questions with the incisive angles, Shardul Thakur continued to induce false shots, one nearly resulted in a wicket. Shreyas Iyer, however, dropped a regulation catch to hand David Warner, batting then on 14, an early life but not much damage was done as the southpaw, after scoring a half-century, miscued a big hit off Ravindra Jadeja.
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Unforgiving heat
Credit also goes to KL Rahul for rotating his bowlers well and giving short spells to the seamers. It was really hot and Thakur gave everyone a little scare when he had his head down with hands on his knees. It was during his first spell where it was literally baking in the middle but a quick hydration-break and some attention by the support staff allowed him to resume proceedings.
The heat was felt by the opposition camp too as the Aussie batters took numerous drinks break during their innings. Opener Warner called for a change of gloves after just four overs, changed them, and his bat too, after another seven overs and had enough with the helmet so took it off after the 16th over.
The little passing shower and strong wind eased conditions towards the end of the innings and gave the players much-needed respite.
Ashwin and a performance of two halves
Ashwin was introduced into the attack in the tenth over but his first spell – 6-0-36-0 – looked like a warm-up of sorts. The offie operated from around the stumps for his first three overs vs Warner, delivered from wide of the creased but was on the shorter side against the southpaw.
The length allowed enough time for Warner to go back and find the gaps with ease. Ashwin tried to do things differently in the second half of his first spell and went over the wicket vs Smith. He went closer to the umpire while releasing the ball but the length – this time a bit full vs Smith – made life comfortable for the crafty right-hander.
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After a wicketless burst of six overs, Ashwin returned much improved in his second spell. Was accurate, found the right areas and got the better of a well-set Marnus Labuschagne. He varied his pace nicely in the second spell and kept the batters guessing with a fine mix of floaters and quicker-ones. The numbers, too, improved and he returned with 4-11-1 to end with figures of 10-0-47-1.
This game started with talk around Ashwin but will end on how the bowling group continues to grow from strength to strength and how they can keep even the best in the business quiet in batting-friendly conditions.
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