Australian skipper Tim Paine fell just after the tea break on Day 1 of the Boxing-Day Test as his team further slumped under pressure. Paine who was the top-scorer for his team in the first test managed to score just 13 off 38 deliveries. Coming into bat at number seven, the Australian skipper tried to bat the best he could but fell to the guile of spin. Ravichandran Ashwin, on his part, did set up Paine before finally taking up his wicket.
Ashwin kept bowing to Tim Paine just outside the off-stump as he played with a dead bat. He also took a few single in his 38-ball innings. Apart from this, Paine also was lucky to be given not out on a close run-out appeal.
Also Read: Australia vs India 2020: Steve Smith Records An Unwanted First In Boxing-Day Test
Ravichandran Ashwin sets up Tim Paine
Tim Paine fell in the 63rd over of the Australian first innings after his little battle at the crease. After bowling a wide line to Paine, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a delivery on the stumps, which Tim Paine tried to play on the leg side.
The ball took the inside half of the bat as Paine tried to flick one through. Hanuma Vihari, standing at leg slip was quick to take the catch without any mistake. Ravichandran Ashwin’s reaction after he took the wicket clearly proved that it was a planned dismissal.
India have seven wickets now!
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/qwpaGhOixs pic.twitter.com/3DTOwo18Zn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2020
Ravichandran Ashwin has now taken three wickets in the day along with the key wicket of Steve Smith. Steve Smith came into this test match with a brilliant record in previous Boxing-Day Tests.
In his seven Boxing Day Tests, before this one, the right-hander has scored 908 runs at 113.50 with four centuries and three other scores more than 50. At his home ground in Sydney, his next best average at home, he has an average of 67.88. However, in this innings, he was done by a plan from Ravichandran Ashwin which he failed to read.
Soon after Wade was out in the 13th over of the Australian innings, Steve Smith was out for a duck in the 15th over. Smith who has had a good record in Boxing-Day Tests in the recent past, was out for a duck as he was caught by Ashwin in the slips. Cheteshwar Pujara caught him in the leg slip position as Smith tried to flick one through.