Australia vs India 2018-19, 1st Test: 5 Talking Points from Day 1

#2 All-round Australia dominate with ball and on the field

Josh Hazlewood

Without a tinge of doubt, Australia can be proud of their efforts. That all these come at the wake of Steven Smith's and David Warner's absence, coupled with the fact that they haven't won a series across formats for almost a whole year, makes it even more glittering. In contrast to India, Australia had well-formulated plans, which they executed without fail.

Their pace attack, comprising of Mitchell Stark (19-4-63-2), Josh Hazlewood (19.5-3-53-2) and Pat Cummins (19-3-49-2), bowled a lion's share of the overs in Day 1, and reaped their rewards too.

While Hazlewood had Rahul and Rahane pouncing wildly at his outswingers, Cummins got the better of skipper Kohli and Ashwin. Starc got Vijay's wicket and Ishant Sharma's as well. Spinner Nathan Lyon (28-2-83-2) ensnared Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, breaking both partnerships with Pujara.

The bowlers' efforts were complimented well by the fielders too - most noteworthy of them being Usman Khawaja for Kohli's flying stunner, and Pat Cummins for his run-out of India's rescue-man Pujara.

While Kohli's thick leading edge threatened to fly towards the fence, Khawaja leapt in the air with all the flexibility of a jungle big cat on his hunt, and trapped the ball with guile.

In the very last ball of the day, Pujara tried to sneak a single and Cummins, who moved to his right, grabbed the ball, swerved and hit the woodwork, all while falling down - catching the batsman a yard short off the crease.