Australia has made a solid start with the bat after winning the toss in the 4th Border Gavaskar test at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The start of the fourth Test between India and Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy was a very special occasion for both cricketing nations. Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and His Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese were present before the start of the Match.
Pitch Report:
Wicket provided by the GCA for the BGT Finale is said to be the best batting surface we have seen in the series. According to Matthew Haydens Pitch report, Pitch has even covering of grass; there are some dry patches as well, and it will start to deteriorate as the game progresses. There will be plenty of wickets available for the spinners, but batters can score if they apply themselves.
Team News:
Australia: Australia has decided to play with the same winning combination from the Indore test; they are unchanged.
India: India has decided to rest Mohammed Siraj, and Shami returns to the side.
Shubhman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
Australia is off to a steady Start:
Steve Smith won the crucial toss and chose to bat. Australia is off to a very solid start in the first hour. Travis Head and Usman Khawaja have applied themselves well on this very good batting deck.
On the other side, Indian bowlers looked very scratchy right from the very first ball. India started with two pacers, Shami & Umesh, but both looked out of rhythm and struggled for the right line and length in their first spells. This eventually helps Aussie openers to settle down very quickly.
Travis Head got a lifeline in the fifth over; he tried to push a wobbly ball outside off and only managed to edge it, but KS Bharat couldn’t hold on to the regulation catches behind the stumps. Head tried to make use of his luck and scored at an aggressive strike rate. On the other end, Khawaja looked very solid and composed; this duo completed their second fifty-run opening stand in the 13th over.
This partnership started to look dangerous, but just after the drinks break, Head threw his wicket away, trying to take on Ashwin; Jadeja completed the regulation catch at mid-on. Labuschagne couldn’t survive much; Shami cleaned him up before Lunch.. Australia ended the morning session with a solid 75 for 2.
Political Diplomacy in Ahmedabad before the Toss
The start of Day 1 here at Ahemdabads’s Narendra Modi Stadium was full of Political diplomacy between both countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese attended the first day of the fourth test match between India and Australia on Thursday.
Various Programs were arranged before the start of the Day’s play. Both prime ministers were presented with framed artwork for 75 years of friendship between the two countries through cricket by BCCI. Both leaders handed over special test caps to their respective test captains. They met both teams ahead of the game and also stood alongside them while the national anthems of India & Australia were sung.
Then PM Modi & PM Albanese took the lap of honors around the field on a specially designed chariot. Both dignitaries were applauded by the thousands of spectators present at the world’s largest cricket Stadium.
Australian PM Albanese arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday as part of the four-day State visit to India.
India is leading the Border Gavaskar series 2-1, but their hopes to play the WTC final rest on the result of the Ahmedabad test; a win will ensure them a spot in the final. Australia is coming from a famous test win in Indore and has already secured a place in the WTC final, but they have an excellent chance to level the series here at Ahmedabad.
Australia 75-2 (Head 32, Khawaja 27, Shami 1-14, Ashwin 1-18)
