Scott Boland extended his dominance from the MCG to the SCG, delivering a sensational performance on day one of the fifth Test as he tore through India’s batting lineup with figures of 4-31 from 20 overs.
On a lively Sydney pitch, Australia bowled the visitors out for just 185, taking a crucial step toward reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Boland’s relentless accuracy was too much for India’s batters, who struggled to cope with his trademark seam movement.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins added to India’s misery, sharing key wickets as Australia’s bowlers capitalised on the rare seaming conditions. However, Australia faced their own batting setback late in the day, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja for two in a fiery spell that left the hosts at 1-9 at stumps.
The day wasn’t short on drama, with controversial third-umpire decisions capturing the attention of the packed SCG crowd of 47,566.
Steve Smith’s apparent catch of Virat Kohli from the first ball he faced was overturned, with third umpire Joel Wilson ruling that the ball had grazed the ground. Later, Washington Sundar’s dismissal was similarly contentious as replays showed only a faint spike on Snicko, prompting debate over the reliability of technology and umpiring decisions.
Despite the setbacks, Boland’s brilliance and India’s fragile batting were the defining stories of the day. The second day promises more intensity as both teams look to gain a crucial upper hand in this fiercely contested series.
