India’s KL Rahul and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, walk out to play on the first day of the fifth cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
While the Indian team registered their fifth score of below 200 in the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a first innings score of 185 on the opening day of the fifth Test at Sydney, former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh believes India’s first innings score would have been ‘a good score’ if India had crossed 200. While the Indian team had begun the five-match series with a first innings’ total of 150 at Perth, a Test which the team won, the visitors have seen their top order struggle throughout the series.
“It’s incredibly tough to make (and) score runs. I think if you got 200 and the conditions stayed relatively the same, I actually think that would have been a good score. I’ve never seen such a green wicket in Sydney. It’s hard to drive. It’s a bit tennis ball-y and there’s a lot of movement there.” Mark Waugh said on Fox Sports.
Pacer Scott Boland picked up four wickets after Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and opted to bat first. Boland, who had taken 46 wickets in 12 Tests prior to Sydney, accounted for the fall of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and last match centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy during his 20-over spell.
Former Australian pacer Brett Lee lauded the efforts of the Victorian bowler and praised his length on a good pitch. “This is Sydney too, mind you. He is loved down in Melbourne, as he should be. But he is loved all round the world as well now. He has got a cult following. He does not get overawed by the situation and he does not get bored. (And) the reason it is a good pitch for Boland is you have to create the opportunity and he has done that. He has absolutely nailed his length,” said Lee while commentating on Fox Sports.
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