So, that's the end of opening day's play. India will be happy to walk out having picked six wickets. The day started on a positive note for Australia, but Indian bowlers fought back hard in the second and third session. Tim Paine and Pat Cummins finish the day unbeaten on 16 and 11 respectively. Full Scorecard.
OUT! Another one goes down! This time Ishant Sharma strikes with a new ball. Poor shot selection from Travis Head. That was bowled wide outside off-stump. Head slashes hard at it, only to get an outside edge. It flies towards third-man and Shami takes the catch. Head c Shami b Ishant 58(80)
That's half-century up for Travis Head. Excellent knock from him once again. Head holds the key now, he is well-set and needs to make sure Australia go to stumps without further damage.
OUT! Hanuma Vihari strikes again. Australia have lost half the side now. Vihari breaks the 84-run stand. Shaun Marsh misses his half-century by five runs. He edges it to the lone slip. S Marsh c Rahane b Hanuma Vihari 45(98)
Head and Marsh take Australia past 200. The duo also completed fifty-run partnership, relatively quick, taking 82 deliveries. Aussie camp would need the two to continue the good work.
After getting off to a flying start that saw openers Finch and Khawaja share a 112-run opening partnership, Aussies lost the direction. Hosts lost four wickets in quick succession to hand the advantage back to the visitors. It will be interesting to see how Travis Head and Shaun Marsh take the Aussies innings forward.
India will be looking to scalp one more wicket here. Shaun Marsh holds the key for Australia, he has faced 40 deliveries so far. The left-hander needs to take bulk of the strike. Meanwhile, Travis Head has joined him in the middle.
OUT! Ishant Sharma strikes after the tea break. Superb catch by Virat Kohli at second slip. Plucks it out of the air. Short ball does the trick as Australia lose their fourth wicket. Handscomb c Kohli b Ishant 7(16)
TEA BREAK | Good session this for India. Three important wickets came their way as they bounce back on the opening day of the Perth Test. Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh are at the crease and have a repair job to do.
India and Australia meet in the second Test at the new stadium, Optus Perth Stadium in Perth. India lead the four-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 31 runs. It was a comprehensive performance by India and that helped them secure an early lead and now the visitors will be hoping to double it in Perth. Stay tuned for live score updates. Live Cricket Streaming of India vs Australia 2018-19 Series on SonyLIV: Check Live Cricket Score, Watch Free Telecast of IND vs AUS 2nd Test Match, Day 1, on TV & Online.
After the first Test, it was assumed that Australia will make some changes to their playing XI, especially with Aaron Finch struggling at the top. However, the hosts have named an unchanged XI for this Test. India, on the other hand, will be forced to make some changes. Ravi Ashwin and Rohit Sharma have been ruled out and are replaced by Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja.
Meanwhile, it will be interested to see whether India plays four fast-bowlers or persist with a spinners and three pacers. Given that the wicket in Perth is expected to be a green top, we might see Bhuvneshwar Kumar being included in the side. India vs Australia 2018-19, 2nd Test Match at Perth: Virat Kohli Says, 'We Get More Excited Than Nervous Looking at Lively Pitches'
Teams:
Australia (From): Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine(w/c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain.
India (From): Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli(c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav.