GUWAHATI, Dec 26: Australia took the honours on Day 1 of the Boxing Day fourth Test at the MCG today as the hosts, batting first after winning the toss, were 311/6 at the end of the first day’s play.
The hosts rode on half-centuries from the four top-order batters — debutant Sam Konstar making a 65-ball 60, Usman Khwaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Steve Smith unbeaten on 68 — to reach a commanding position at Stumps on Day 1.
Alex Carey also chipped in with a useful 41-ball 31.
Bumrah scalped three Australian batters, including the wicket of the dangerous Travis Head for a duck, while Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar — who was drafted in replacing Shubman Gill — picked up a wicket each.
The five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is tied 1-1. India had won the first test at Perth, registering their biggest test victory over Australia in Australia by defeating the hosts by 295 runs.
Rohit’s men, however, lost the second Test at Adelaide as Australia won by 10 wickets.
The rain-truncated third test at the Gabba in Brisbane had ended in a draw.
