India vs Australia: Day 1 – Dhruv Jurel’s Determined Fifty in the First Innings भारत A और ऑस्ट्रेलिया A के बीच दूसरा अनौपचारिक टेस्ट मेलबर्न क्रिकेट ग्राउंड (MCG) पर ग्रीन टॉप पिच पर शुरू हुआ, जहाँ पहले दिन का खेल पूरी तरह से गेंदबाजों के पक्ष में रहा। भारत A के बल्लेबाजों के लिए यह एक कठिन परीक्षा का दिन था, लेकिन ध्रुव जुरेल ने अपनी 80 रन की संघर्षपूर्ण पारी से भारत A की ओर से सबसे बड़ी चुनौती पेश की। भारत A की टीम पहले दिन के खेल के अंत में 161 रन पर सिमट गई, जबकि ऑस्ट्रेलिया A ने 53/2 का स्कोर बना लिया।
ऑस्ट्रेलिया A की शुरुआत
ऑस्ट्रेलिया A ने टॉस जीतकर पहले गेंदबाजी करने का फैसला किया, जो पूरी तरह से सही साबित हुआ। MCG की पिच पर घास की मौजूदगी और ताजे वातावरण में गेंदबाजों को गेंद से काफी मदद मिल रही थी। माइकल नेसर ने इस पिच का पूरा फायदा उठाया और पहले ही ओवर में अभिमन्यु ईश्वरन और साई सुदर्शन के विकेट चटकाए।
ईश्वरन, जो रोहित शर्मा के अनुपस्थिति में टेस्ट में खेलने के लिए चयन के दौड़ में थे, एक शानदार गेंदबाजी के सामने पूरी तरह नाकाम साबित हुए और गली में कैच आउट हो गए। वहीं साई सुदर्शन को पहली ही गेंद पर असहज महसूस हुआ और वह शॉर्ट पिच गेंद पर बिना खेलें कैच आउट हो गए। इन शुरुआती विकेटों ने भारत A को मुश्किल में डाल दिया और स्कोर 11/2 हो गया।
KL राहुल का परीक्षण और भारत A की मुश्किलें
KL राहुल के लिए यह दिन एक और अहम मौका था, क्योंकि उन्हें फिर से ओपनिंग बल्लेबाज के तौर पर मौका मिला था। राहुल पर नजरें थीं, क्योंकि भारतीय टीम की प्लेइंग इलेवन में उनकी जगह को लेकर सवाल उठ रहे थे। राहुल ने स्कॉट बोलैंड की पहली गेंद पर शानदार चौका मारा, लेकिन बाद में वह एक किनारा ले गए और विकेट गंवा बैठे।
भारत A का स्कोर 11/4 तक पहुंच चुका था, और उनके चार शीर्ष बल्लेबाजों का आउट होना भारत A के लिए बड़ा झटका था। इसके बाद, रुतुराज गायकवाड़ भी माइकल नेसर के सामने अपना विकेट गंवा बैठे। अब भारत A की पारी का पतन तेज़ी से हो रहा था और स्थिति काफी नाजुक हो गई थी।
ध्रुव जुरेल का संघर्षपूर्ण अर्धशतक
भारत A की पारी को संजीवनी देने वाले बल्लेबाज थे ध्रुव जुरेल। जुरेल ने न केवल अपने विकेट की सुरक्षा की, बल्कि मुश्किल पिच पर खेलने की पूरी उम्मीदें भी जगाईं। उनका साथ देने आए देवदत्त पडिक्कल और दोनों ने मिलकर 53 रन की साझेदारी की। जुरेल का बैकफुट पर खेल खासकर सराहा गया, क्योंकि उन्होंने बाउंसर और स्विंग गेंदों का अच्छे से सामना किया।
पडिक्कल 26 रन बनाकर आउट हो गए, लेकिन जुरेल ने अपना धैर्य बनाए रखा। जुरेल ने नितीश रेड्डी के साथ मिलकर भारत A का स्कोर 100 के पार पहुंचाया और इस जोड़ी ने पिच पर आ रहे उतार-चढ़ाव के बावजूद ठहराव बनाए रखा। जुरेल ने अपनी पारी में 80 रन बनाए, जो उनके तकनीकी कौशल और मानसिक मजबूती का प्रमाण था। उनका बैकफुट खेल, खासकर ऑफसाइड में कट और ड्राइव, शानदार था और यह निश्चित रूप से भविष्य में किसी संभावित टेस्ट मध्यक्रम के स्थान के लिए उनकी उम्मीदों को मजबूत करता है।
माइकल नेसर और बेउ वेबस्टर का दबदबा
हालांकि जुरेल ने एक उल्लेखनीय पारी खेली, लेकिन ऑस्ट्रेलिया के गेंदबाजों का दबदबा जारी रहा। माइकल नेसर ने एक बार फिर एक अहम साझेदारी तोड़ी और पडिक्कल को 26 पर आउट किया। इसके बाद, बेउ वेबस्टर ने एक ओवर में नितीश रेड्डी और तनुश कोटियन को आउट कर भारत A के बाकी बल्लेबाजों को भी जल्दी पवेलियन भेज दिया।
जुरेल ने प्रसिध कृष्ण के साथ 36 रन की साझेदारी की और अपनी पारी को और आगे बढ़ाने की कोशिश की, लेकिन जब जुरेल 100 रन के आंकड़े से महज 20 रन दूर थे, वह भी आउट हो गए। भारत A की पारी 161 रन पर समाप्त हो गई। इस दौरान, नेसर को हैमस्ट्रिंग इंजरी के कारण गेंदबाजी से बाहर होना पड़ा, जो ऑस्ट्रेलिया के लिए एक चिंता का विषय था।
ऑस्ट्रेलिया A की पारी में शुरुआती संकट
भारत A के गेंदबाजों ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया A को भी मुश्किल में डाला। मार्कस हैरिस और नाथन मैकस्वीनी के खिलाफ मुकेश कुमार ने शानदार गेंदबाजी की। मुकेश ने मैकस्वीनी को आउट किया, जबकि कैमरन बैंक्रॉफ्ट को भी उन्होंने जल्दी वापस भेजा। हालांकि, मार्कस हैरिस ने कड़ी मेहनत की और संघर्ष करते हुए 26 रन बनाए, जबकि दूसरे छोर पर उन्हें मुश्किलें आईं।
ऑस्ट्रेलिया A के बल्लेबाजों के लिए भी यह पिच चुनौतीपूर्ण साबित हो रही थी, और भारत A के गेंदबाजों ने उन्हें दबाव में रखा। फिलहाल, दिन का खेल समाप्त होने तक ऑस्ट्रेलिया A का स्कोर 53/2 था, और भारत A को 108 रन की बढ़त मिली।
संक्षिप्त स्कोर
- भारत A: 161 (ध्रुव जुरेल 80; माइकल नेसर 4-27, बेउ वेबस्टर 3-19)
- ऑस्ट्रेलिया A: 53/2 (मार्कस हैरिस 26*; मुकेश कुमार 1-13)
आगे का रास्ता
भारत A के लिए यह दिन मिश्रित परिणाम लेकर आया। हालांकि ध्रुव जुरेल की पारी ने एक सकारात्मक पहलू पेश किया, लेकिन बाकी बल्लेबाजों के लिए यह कठिन परीक्षा थी। ऑस्ट्रेलिया A के गेंदबाजों ने कड़ी गेंदबाजी की और भारत A को अच्छी तरह से दबोचा।
आगे बढ़ते हुए, भारत A और ऑस्ट्रेलिया A दोनों के लिए यह मैच एक अहम अवसर है, क्योंकि यह आगामी बॉर्डर-गावस्कर ट्रॉफी की तैयारी के रूप में कार्य करेगा। इस मैच से KL राहुल, ध्रुव जुरेल और अन्य खिलाड़ियों को टेस्ट सीरीज़ से पहले अपनी स्थिति को मजबूत करने का एक और मौका मिलेगा।
भारत A के गेंदबाजों के पास भी अब एक बड़ा कार्य है – उन्हें ऑस्ट्रेलिया A के बल्लेबाजों को जल्दी आउट करना होगा, ताकि वे अपनी बढ़त को और मजबूत कर सकें।
India vs Australia A: A Tale of Resilience and Skill on Day 1
The second unofficial Test match between India A and Australia A at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) unfolded under challenging conditions for the Indian batsmen, with Australia A’s bowlers exploiting a green-top pitch to great effect. The pitch, offering considerable bounce and seam movement, made it a day dominated by the seamers, and India A’s batsmen found themselves on the backfoot right from the outset. However, one man, Dhruv Jurel, stood out with a gritty 80, providing India A with a glimmer of hope on a day when most of their batting order faltered.
Australia A’s Decision to Bowl First
Australia A won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. The MCG’s green-top pitch, often a bowler’s paradise, offered generous seam movement and bounce, creating difficulties for the Indian batsmen. Michael Neser and Scott Boland set the tone with their disciplined, accurate bowling, exploiting the conditions from the very first ball. The opening exchanges were challenging for the Indian batsmen, as they found it difficult to adjust to the movement off the pitch.
Early Struggles for India A: 11/4 in a Flash
The start of the Indian innings could not have been more disastrous. Abhimanyu Easwaran, one of the contenders for a spot in the senior squad, was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, with Neser finding the edge and the ball flying to the slip. Sai Sudharsan, the left-handed opener, followed Easwaran back to the pavilion for a golden duck, also undone by the movement and bounce offered by the pitch. The early strikes left India A at a precarious 0/2, and the pressure was already mounting on the rest of the batting order.
KL Rahul, who was handed the responsibility of opening alongside Easwaran, was under intense scrutiny, especially with Rohit Sharma set to miss the second Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. Rahul’s start was encouraging, as he stroked Scott Boland for a beautiful cover drive off the very first ball he faced. However, his brief foray at the crease ended in disappointment when he nicked a ball from Boland to the slip fielders. With the score at 11/4 after just three overs, India A were in a deep hole, and their hopes of a competitive total seemed slim.
Jurel’s Composed Approach in the Face of Crisis
As the wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Dhruv Jurel entered the fray with India A in dire straits. Jurel, a young wicketkeeper-batsman with a reputation for handling pressure well, displayed remarkable composure in difficult conditions. He joined Devdutt Padikkal, who had also been struggling to find form, and together they began the daunting task of rebuilding India A’s innings.
Both Jurel and Padikkal faced the barrage of deliveries from Neser and Boland with utmost patience. They were not flashy in their approach, but both batsmen kept their focus, seeing off the initial storm. Padikkal and Jurel added 53 runs for the fifth wicket, providing India A with a much-needed partnership. However, just as the partnership started to flourish, Neser returned to strike again, dismissing Padikkal for 26. This wicket sent a wave of frustration through the Indian camp, as their hopes of a substantial recovery were dashed once more.
Jurel’s Determined Knock: A Sign of Promise
Jurel, however, refused to let the setbacks get to him. His ability to maintain a calm head and adapt to the conditions was evident in his innings. He played with a solid technique, especially on the back foot, and was able to punch the ball through the offside and square of the wicket with authority. His technique against short-pitched deliveries was particularly impressive, as he comfortably rocked back and pulled or cut the ball with assurance. While the rest of the top order had crumbled, Jurel seemed to have the temperament to weather the storm and forge on.
After Padikkal’s dismissal, Nithish Reddy joined Jurel at the crease. The pair put together another useful stand, adding 36 runs for the sixth wicket. This partnership pushed India A’s score past the 100-run mark, which seemed like a monumental achievement considering the early collapse. However, Reddy’s dismissal to Beau Webster for 16 broke the stand and left India A still in a precarious position.
Jurel’s defiance, though, continued. With India A struggling at 140/7, Jurel continued to play his shots and tried to keep the scoreboard ticking. His positive mindset was evident as he approached the 80-run mark, trying to capitalize on some of the loose deliveries that came his way. However, as he tried to accelerate, his innings came to a close when he was dismissed for 80, trying to go for a big shot off Webster.
Jurel’s knock, though short of a century, was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. He had weathered the early storm, played with a calm head under pressure, and held together an innings that could have otherwise collapsed even more dramatically. His 80-run knock was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging day for India A.
India A’s Collapse: All-Out for 161
With Jurel’s dismissal, the tail quickly followed suit. Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, and Prasidh Krishna all fell cheaply, and India A were all-out for 161. While this total was far from ideal, especially after their poor start, the fact that they managed to get to 161 was largely thanks to Jurel’s fighting knock.
The Australian bowlers, particularly Michael Neser (4/27) and Beau Webster (3/19), were in complete control throughout the innings. Neser’s movement off the pitch was exceptional, and he was easily the best bowler of the day. Webster, though not as dominant as Neser, played a key role in breaking partnerships and ensuring that India A could never fully recover from the early damage.
Australia A’s Reply: Early Troubles
When Australia A came out to bat, they too encountered some testing conditions. Nathan McSweeney was dismissed early for a shot he could have easily left, misjudging a delivery from Mukesh Kumar that took the edge and flew to the slip. Cameron Bancroft also fell to a brilliant delivery from Mukesh Kumar, who found the outside edge, leaving Australia A at 23/2.
The onus was now on Marcus Harris, who has been a regular in the Australian Test team, to steer the innings through the tough conditions. Harris, though not entirely fluent, managed to navigate the tricky spells and ended the day unbeaten on 26. At stumps, Australia A were 53/2, trailing by 108 runs. India A’s bowlers, especially Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna, kept the pressure on, but the Australians held firm enough to prevent a collapse of their own.
Summary of Day 1
The first day of the second unofficial Test was a day of bowling dominance, with the conditions favoring the seamers throughout. Michael Neser emerged as the standout performer, picking up four wickets and keeping the Indian batsmen under constant pressure. However, the highlight of the day for India A was undoubtedly Dhruv Jurel’s 80-run knock. His resilience in the face of challenging conditions was a sign of maturity and potential, especially as India looks ahead to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite the loss of key wickets and a total of only 161 runs on the board, India A can take heart from Jurel’s performance, while Australia A will need to quickly recover from their early batting hiccups. The match remains finely balanced, with Australia A trailing by 108 runs at stumps on Day 1.
Brief Scores:
- India A: 161 all out (Dhruv Jurel 80; Michael Neser 4-27, Beau Webster 3-19)
- Australia A: 53/2 (Marcus Harris 26*; Mukesh Kumar 1-13)
With both teams having their moments, the match promises to deliver more excitement on Day 2.
Conclusion: A Day Dominated by Bowlers, But Jurel Shines Through
Day 1 of the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was undoubtedly a day for the bowlers. The pitch, providing significant seam movement and bounce, tilted the balance firmly in favor of the seamers. Australia A’s bowlers, particularly Michael Neser, dominated the early exchanges, dismantling India A’s top order in quick succession. By the time India A’s score had reached 11/4, it seemed as though a complete collapse was imminent. Yet, amid the ruins of the Indian batting, Dhruv Jurel emerged as the beacon of resistance.
Jurel’s 80-run knock was the standout performance of the day. Despite the early onslaught from the Australian bowlers, Jurel displayed composure, technique, and maturity beyond his years. His solid back-foot play, especially against the short-pitched deliveries, allowed him to weather the storm and hold the innings together. His partnership with Devdutt Padikkal (53 runs for the fifth wicket) and later with Nithish Reddy (36 runs for the sixth wicket) gave India A much-needed stability, propelling the total past 100 runs despite the early collapse.
However, the Australian bowlers maintained relentless pressure, with Neser finishing with 4 wickets for 27 runs and Beau Webster adding 3 wickets to his tally. These figures reflect the discipline and accuracy with which they bowled throughout the day. India A’s final total of 161 was a far cry from a competitive total, but it was the result of one man’s defiance.
As Australia A came out to bat, they too encountered difficulties, with Mukesh Kumar causing early breakthroughs. At stumps, Australia A was 53/2, still trailing by 108 runs. The match is delicately poised, with both teams having their moments. While India A’s bowlers will be hopeful of exploiting the conditions further, Australia A will look to their experienced batsmen to steer them to safety. The stage is set for an intriguing Day 2, where both teams will seek to seize the initiative.
4o mini
Teaching Exam
