In a historic day of cricket at the Optus Stadium in Perth, 17 wickets tumbled on the opening day of the first Test between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, marking the first such occurrence on Australian soil since 1952.
In a historic day of cricket at the Optus Stadium in Perth, 17 wickets tumbled on the opening day of the first Test between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, marking the first such occurrence on Australian soil since 1952. Fans were treated to a gripping contest as both teams struggled to adapt to the lively pitch, with batters from both sides finding themselves at the mercy of the bowlers.
Seventeen wickets in the day!
🥵 pic.twitter.com/OqRGjc6WE1
🚨 HISTORY AT PERTH 🚨
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER 17 WICKETS FALL IN A DAY IN TEST MATCH IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1952...!!!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BeToIUDceK
India, opting to bat first on a green top, were bowled out for a modest 150 in just 49.4 overs. The Australian bowling unit, led by Josh Hazlewood (4/29) and Mitchell Starc (2/14), exploited the conditions to perfection. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy provided a glimmer of hope for India with a gritty 41, supported by Rishabh Pant’s 37, which included a jaw-dropping no-look six off Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
However, the highlight of the day was India’s sensational bowling performance in the final session. Jasprit Bumrah (4/17) spearheaded the attack, reducing Australia to a precarious 67/7 at stumps, trailing by 83 runs. Mohammed Siraj (2/17) and debutant Harshit Rana (1/33) provided crucial breakthroughs as Australia’s top-order imploded under pressure. Alex Carey (19*) and Mitchell Starc (6*) remained unbeaten at the crease, attempting to salvage the innings.
The day’s play was dominated by the bowlers, with extra bounce and seam movement proving to be the undoing of batters on both sides. For India, the top-order faltered against Starc and Hazlewood, with debutants Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal dismissed for ducks. KL Rahul (26) showed resilience but fell to a controversial caught-behind decision just before lunch.
Virat Kohli’s struggles continued as he was undone by a short ball from Hazlewood, managing only 5. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh chipped in with two wickets, dismissing Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar to ensure India’s innings ended swiftly.
Australia’s reply was even more catastrophic, as their batters crumbled against India’s relentless pace attack. Travis Head (11) and Nathan McSweeney (10) were the only other players besides Carey to reach double figures. Bumrah’s precision and Siraj’s aggression left the Australian top-order in disarray, with debutant Rana claiming his maiden Test wicket.
The dramatic collapse on both sides revived memories of old-school Test cricket, where the bowlers dictated terms. Social media was abuzz with fans celebrating the sheer unpredictability of the day’s play. Many drew comparisons to historic low-scoring thrillers, hailing the lively Perth track for producing a true test of skill.
That's Stumps on what was an engrossing Day 1 of the 1st Test!
7⃣ wickets in the Final Session for ! 👌👌
4⃣ wickets for Captain Jasprit Bumrah
2⃣ wickets for Mohammed Siraj
1⃣ wicket for debutant Harshit Rana
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/gTqS3UPruo pic.twitter.com/1Mbb6F6B2c
This was the first time in 72 years that 17 wickets fell on the opening day of a Test in Australia, with the last such instance occurring during the 1952 Sydney Test between Australia and the West Indies. Beyond Australian soil, iconic instances include the 2018 Trent Bridge Test between India and England, where 17 wickets fell on Day 1.
With 17 wickets already falling, Day 2 promises more riveting action as Australia attempts to narrow the deficit while India looks to wrap up the innings quickly. The pitch’s unpredictable nature and the dominance of the bowlers set the stage for a thrilling continuation of this evenly poised contest.
Brief Scores:
India: 150 all out in 49.4 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 41, Rishabh Pant 37; Josh Hazlewood 4/29, Mitchell Starc 2/14)
Australia: 67/7 in 27 overs (Alex Carey batting 19; Jasprit Bumrah 4/17, Mohammed Siraj 2/17)
Unbelievable day of Test cricket. 17 wickets fall for just 217 runs. Pitch is fine, just some great fast bowling and not so great batting against a moving ball.
Test cricket is always the best to watch when the bowlers are on top!
Jasprit Bumrah has 177 wickets at an average of 20.17. Just one bowler in the 147 years history of Test cricket has more wickets than him at a better average.
16.43 Sydney Barnes
20.17 Jasprit Bumrah
Unbelievable day at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25! 😱 17 wickets fell on Day 1 as India were bowled out for just 150, and Australia are struggling at 67-7. Who will come out on top? pic.twitter.com/8YE18MdkTh
— Raftar Sports (@RaftarSports)17 wickets on day one, how long the test last? 2 days.. max 3
I guess 5 day tests will soon be obsolete!!
The opening day of this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has been 🔥
17 wickets fall as India's bowlers, led by captain Bumrah, fight back after being dismissed for 150
History at Perth.
For the first time ever, 17 wickets have fallen in Test Cricket in a day in Australia since 1952. pic.twitter.com/mdiZu8cIt0
17 wickets have fallen today and all we are seeing are praises for the fast bowlers who have been brilliant today mostly.
Starc and Hazlewood earlier and now Bumrah and Siraj but now shift it to South Asia and imagine spinners took 17 wickets in 1st day, we would have seen cries
17 wickets to fast bowlers in 77 overs of play. If this was in India to spinners, the world would've gone on about how India had prepared a dustbowl and are ruining test cricket, but because we're watching in 4k in Australia, it will be termed as the beauty of test cricket.
— Zucker Doctor (@DoctorLFC)What an iconic frame. 🥶🇮🇳
First day 17 wickets fall most in cricket history. pic.twitter.com/ld28RHr5NV
Intriguing opening day of test cricket. 🙌
17 wickets in the day. 🤯
Fast bowling of the highest order. 🔝
Both team’s batting was very ordinary. 🙈
India bowlers keeping them in the match. 👊 https://t.co/eJhFZUhP39
India fight back against Australia as 17 wickets fall on day one - India rally to seize the initiative despite being dismissed for just 150 by Australia on the opening day of the first Test in Perth. via https://t.co/izCMiaCNXq pic.twitter.com/cPBwRgUriC
— Viking Resistance HQ (@VikingFBR)