Key events
First session
28th over: Australia 100-3 (Perry 45, Sutherland 22) Perry defends the last ball of the first over from Gautam, which contained four singles to get the juices going.
It’s a fiery 38 degrees today at the WACA as the players emerge onto the grass. India huddle, Perry and Sutherland march on, Sutherland’s helmet bright green, Perry’s faded to grey.
Justin Langer says this is a good battting pitch, and will get better and better. Sutherland and Perry are nicely set and India have no lights to help them now, they’ll need every catch to stick, every ball to nip.
Preamble
Tanya Aldred
Hello! Thirteen wickets fell on a restless first day in Perth to leave Australia in the more promising position – by the width of a cigarette paper. India were bundled out for just 198 midway through the day, and Australia finished 102 behind at stumps, though crucially with seven wickets still in hand.
Things could have been worse for India had Jemimah Rodrigues not knotted together a patient fifty against the firepower of Annabel Sutherland (4 for 46) and left-arm whiz-kid Lucy Hamilton, just 19 but who finished with three wickets on her Test debut.
India’s own bright young thing, Sayali Satghare, had a moment of her own, removing Alyssa Healy in her penultimate innings for Australia, caught at point for 13. But Ellyse Perry was unbeaten on 43 at stumps and Annabel Sutherland is lingering ominously.
It should be fun. Do join us, play starts at 1.20pm local/4.20pm AEDT/10.50am IST.
