India vs Australia: Don’t anticipate pitch to get higher, says Usman Khawaja after 14-wicket day in Nagpur Test

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Usman Khawaja scored 60 runs as Australia took a 47-run lead at Stumps on Day of the third Test on the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 1, 2023 17:10 IST

Don’t anticipate pitch to get higher, says Khawaja after 14-wicket day in Nagpur Test. Courtesy: AP

By India Today Sports Desk: Australia batter Usman Khawaja mentioned that batting hasn’t been straightforward within the Indore Test and the pitch within the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy isn’t going to get any simpler for batting.

As many as 14 wickets went down on the primary day of the Test on the Holkar Cricket Stadium. Steve Smith’s Australia are main by 47 runs with six wickets left of their first innings.

After opting to bat first, India have been bowled out for 109 in 33.2 overs. Even as Matthew Kuhnemann was the choose of the Aussie bowlers with figures of 9-2-16-5, Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets.

“I played to my plans, tried to score when there was an opportunity and kept out the good balls. Not rocket science, honestly. Not an easy wicket out there. Spin-friendly wicket, it felt tough the whole time and I don’t expect it to get better,” Khawaja was quoted as saying after close of play on Day 1.

Khawaja was the primary reason behind Australia finishing Day 1 with their noses ahead. The left-handed batter scored 60 runs off 147 balls with four fours before left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja accounted for his wicket.

“I used the sweep intermittently when I needed to today, did the similar thing last week. It’s just another arsenal in your repertoire. It’s hard enough out there, bowler keeps you guessing, I was trying to keep them guessing too. It was a bit of a cat and mouse,” he added.

Jadeja picked up 4 wickets, however the different Indian spinners, Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel didn’t make a breakthrough. Australia completed Day 1 on 156 for the lack of 4 wickets in 54 overs.

Edited By:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published On:

Mar 1, 2023