Delhi: Australia scored 311/6 against India on the first day of the Boxing Day Test being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Sam Constas (60), Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Steve Smith (68*) scored brilliant half-centuries. Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah performed brilliantly and took three wickets. Many important records were also made during this period, let’s take a look –
The schedule of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle has been revealed, India will play series against these 6 teams
Kontas: Scored a half-century in his debut innings.
Playing in his first Test, Sam Constas scored 60 runs in 65 balls. In this innings he hit 6 fours and 2 sixes. By scoring a half-century at the age of 19 years and 85 days, Constas became the second youngest player to score a Test half-century for Australia. He was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja. Only Ian Craig is ahead of him in this list, who achieved this feat at the age of 17 years and 240 days.
Khawaja’s first half-century in the series
Usman Khawaja regained his form in this series and scored 57 runs in 121 balls. This is the 27th half-century of his Test career and fourth against India. This is his first half-century in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Till now he has scored a total of 120 runs in 7 innings at an average of 20.
Australia made a new record
Australia set a record for scoring the most runs in the morning session on the first day of the Boxing Day Test. Thanks to Kontas’ aggressive batting, the team scored 112/1 by the end of the first session. In this way he broke the record of 111 runs made against India in 2007.
Labuschagne completes 4000 runs in WTC
Marnus Labuschagne completed 4,000 runs in WTC (World Test Championship). He became the second player to achieve this feat after Joe Root (5,543). Labuschagne has scored 4,058 runs in 49 Tests at an average of 50.09, which includes 11 centuries and 21 half-centuries.
Smith played a good innings
Steve Smith continued his excellent form in the Melbourne Test and scored the 42nd half-century of his Test career and the sixth against India. He scored 68* runs on 111 balls and remained unbeaten till stumps. Pat Cummins (8) is also present at the crease with him.
Bumrah was most effective in bowling
Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets for 75 runs in 21 overs. Among other bowlers, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar took one wicket each. Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Reddy did not get any success.