Day 1: Starc shines, Australia dominate India in Adelaide Test

Australia has made a strong start to the second Test against India, with Mitchell Starc taking six wickets on Friday in Adelaide.

The veteran pacer tore through India’s lineup in the day-night Test, bundling the visitors out for 180 before Australia moved through to 86/1 at stumps.

Cricket bookmakers have the hosts as heavy favourites to claim the match and level the five-Test series, with PlayUp paying just $1.16 for Australia to win.

Despite taking a wicket first ball and restricting India to 180, it was an ebb and flow first innings on the first day.

After Starc removed Yashasvi Jaiswal for a royal golden duck, India regathered well, getting through to 69/1 before the 34-year-old struck again.

“Obviously to lose a wicket of the first ball, sort of sends jitters through the change room,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said.

“But we recovered really well and from 69/1 we probably feel like we missed a chance there.

“I also feel that’s the nature of the pink ball. Things can happen quickly.

“Things happen in clumps, we lost wickets in clumps which we wanted to avoid.

“There’s lessons to be learned in that first innings and we’ll go away and look how to play in the second innings.”

Nitesh Kumar Reddy was India’s top scorer on Friday with a rear-guard effort of 42.

Already, Aussie opener Nathan McSweeney (38 not out) is approaching that score, with the home side appearing far less bothered in the middle than India.

“The lengths could have been slightly fuller to encourage more play,” ten Doeschate said.

“I thought Australia left very well as well.

“It seemed to be a trademark of the way they play, those two [McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne].

“They left on length very well.

“We kind of feel the swing and the seam was a little bit inconsistent which makes it difficult for both parties.”

Cricket betting odds for the series as a whole have shifted in Australia’s favour after day one of the second Test.

Neds now puts the hosts at $1.90 to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ahead of India’s $2.50.

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