The day did not start badly for Australia. A few hours before the start of the match, it was revealed that captain Pat Cummins was not playing in the Adelaide Test due to coronavirus rules. He has been replaced by medium fast bowler Michael Nesser, who has only played two ODIs for Australia. Leading the Australian team in Adelaide is on the shoulders of vice-captain Steve Smith.
Smith, who lost the ball-tampering controversy during the 2016 tour of South Africa, regained the leadership of the Australian team today. Smith’s reinstatement as captain was a victory. He won the toss in the Adelaide Test. Smith won the toss and elected to bat. But Australia lost Marcus Harris by just 4 runs. However, David Warner and Marnus Labushan did not allow this danger to increase. The first day of the Adelaide Test was Australia’s with their extraordinary batting. The hosts finished the day at 221 for two.
Despite winning the first day, Australia has not been able to beat England much in this match so far. Australia’s run rate was also very slow in one day of slow over rate. Smith’s side managed to score only 221 runs for 2 wickets before the end of the day’s play by batting at a snail’s pace in the day-night Test. 69 overs were played on the first day, with an Australian run rate of 2.47. Compared to the way teams score runs in Tests in the modern era, this run rate is hardly to be said.
Warner and Labushan both scored 95 to give Australia 221 for two. Warner, who batted well from the start, was dismissed for 95 after playing a bad shot. Ben Stokes was bowling Warner along the ribs with 6 fielders on the side. Ben Stokes hit a ball just outside the off stump after eating four off the previous ball. Warner returned with a catch to Stuart Broad. Before being dismissed, Marnus Labushan made a pair of 162 runs for the second wicket. Then Smith came on the wicket. The captain spent the rest of the day with Labushen without taking any more wickets.
At the end of the day, Smith hit two fours in an innings of 25.35 with an unbeaten 18 off 61 balls. Labushan, who remained unbeaten on 95, must be said to be lucky. Twice in the 265-ball innings, he got ‘life’, twice his ‘life-giver’ Jos Butler. Labushen got life for the first time with 21 runs. Butler dropped his catch behind the wicket off Stokes. Shortly before the end of the day’s play, Butler again dropped an easy catch to Labushan behind Anderson’s ball, when he was 95.
At the end of the day’s play, Labushen said, “It’s a big deal that Steve and I have been together for the last time. It laid the groundwork for our big innings for tomorrow. ” Feeling lucky, he said, “I don’t know how it happened. Somewhat incredible. But my job is to make sure that you take full advantage of it. “
Cummins had to watch his teammates play on TV at the team hotel. Cummins is not in the second Test of the Ashes as a precaution as he came in contact with a Covid-19 positive person. Cummins went to eat at a restaurant in Adelaide yesterday. He was accompanied by his brother and Adelaide Strikers player Harry Conway. Another person next to their table was found to have a Covid-19 positive. Peter Lalor, a well-known Australian journalist, told Channel 7 that Cummins had spoken to the man and shook his hand.
Cummins left the restaurant as soon as the man found out that Kovid was positive. Reported the matter to Cricket Australia (CA). He was then sent to isolation and tested negative for the Covid-19 test. But according to South Australia’s strict biosecurity rules, Cummins will have to quarantine the hotel for the next seven days. With Smith leading the team in place of Cummins, Australia is playing three consecutive matches under the leadership of three new captains!
