Australia are in “all sorts of trouble” coming into day two of the Perth Test and one man is key to the success of the hosts — Alex Carey.
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The Aussie wicketkeeper sits on 19 (28), being the shining light as the top order crumbled at the hands of a dangerous spell from Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah.
Mitchell Starc is the man at the other end, and Australia still trail by 83 runs after bowling the visitors out for 150, with Josh Hazlewood shining with the ball.
For English cricket legend Michael Vaughan, Carey’s the key to Australia winning the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
“It’s all down to Alex Carey, can Mitchell Starc hang around for Alex Carey. I’m sure if Starc gets the ball in the right area he will try to be positive,” he said.
“But Carey, if he can get a 40 or a 50, Australia will get to 120 or 130 and we will have a one innings contest.
“The problem for Australia is, Bumrah with the ball in hand, he can easily go bang, bang, bang. As always, the first hour is going to be crucial.”
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Aussie great Mark Waugh echoed Vaughan’s opinion, saying Pat Cummins’ outfit need 120 to be competition, adding: “the ball will dominate the bat for the rest of this game”.
Meanwhile, former Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist also delivered a big warning to the remaining four Australian batsmen.
He was of the belief Bumrah could continue to wreak havoc on the Perth Stadium pitch. because of one big factor.
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“When they came out to reply, Australia in all sorts of trouble,” Adam Gilchrist said.
“Still trail by 83 runs, tomorrow… the ball is in such mint condition. It doesn’t look like it’s got just the writing on it, it’s got the lacquer on it still.
“That’s going to create problems for the Australians. Often we see pitches in Australia get a little bit quicker on day two.”
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