Steve Smith’s Brain-Fade Moment Rocks Australia’s Start
Steve Smith stunned fans and teammates with a rare brain-fade on Day 2 of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval. It was India vs. Australia. In a bizarre incident, Smith walked off the field. He thought he had edged a Jasprit Bumrah delivery to the wicketkeeper. The on-field umpire had not raised his finger, though. To everyone’s surprise, Snickometer showed no spike. It confirmed there was no edge. Smith scored only 2 runs off 11 balls. He missed a chance to steady Australia’s innings after the early loss of Nathan McSweeney.
Bumrah Strikes Twice to Put India in Control
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, was the star of the morning session. He first removed Nathan McSweeney, who scored 33. He was dismissed after a resilient stand with Marnus Labuschagne. Moments later, Bumrah tested Smith with a sharp delivery on the leg side. While Indian players appealed, the umpire remained unmoved. However, Smith, convinced he’d nicked it, walked off. This gave India a major breakthrough.
Smith’s dismissal left Australia reeling after resuming the day at 86/1. Bumrah’s fiery spell gave India the momentum they needed. It left the hosts struggling to build a solid platform.
Mitchell Starc Dominates Day 1 with 6-Wicket Haul
Day 1 belonged to Australia, thanks to Mitchell Starc. He bowled a sensational spell with the pink ball. The left-arm pacer tore through India’s batting lineup. He took 6/48, his best in Tests.
India, who chose to bat first after Rohit Sharma won the toss, collapsed to a disappointing total of 180. Starc dismissed top-order batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul cheaply. Then, he ran through the middle order. Only Nitish Kumar Reddy resisted with a gritty 28. But, Starc’s clinical performance ensured Australia finished Day 1 on top.
India Fights Back with Early Wickets
Australia began their reply cautiously under challenging pink-ball conditions. While they closed Day 1 at a comfortable 86/1, Day 2 saw India claw back into the game with Bumrah’s double strike. After removing McSweeney and Smith, the Indian attack put Australia on the back foot. They aimed to limit their first-innings lead.
Australia is under pressure, as Labuschagne holds the key to their recovery.
Key Match Stats So Far
- India’s First-Innings Total: 180 all out
- Mitchell Starc’s Bowling Figures: 6/48
- Australia’s Score at Stumps (Day 1): 86/1
- Steve Smith’s Dismissal: 2 runs (walked off without edging the ball)
