India vs Australia 2nd Test: Day 2 scores, highlights, analysis and talking points

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Liam O'Loughlin
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Australia have taken a narrow first innings lead against India, with Nathan Lyon bouncing back with a brilliant five-wicket haul in Delhi. 

Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb helped the Aussies back into form after a disastrous series opener, reaching a total of 263 with both batsmen notching half-centuries on the opening day. 

Not to be outdone, the off-spinning GOAT tore through the host's top-order en route to figures of 5/67 from 29 overs on the second day of play.

The recalled Travis Head would set the game alight late in the day with an aggressive innings, putting immediate pressure on the Indian bowlers and putting the Aussies in a good position. 

Earlier on Saturday, David Warner was ruled out for the remainder of the Test due to concussion, with Matt Renshaw replacing him in the side.

DAY 1 TALKING POINTS, HIGHLIGHTS AND ANALYSIS

The Sporting News have highlights, analysis and talking points throughout the day's play below.

India vs Australia 2nd Test score - End of Day 2

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings)

263 (78.4)

INDIA (1st Innings)

262 (83.3)
AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings)

1/61 (12)

Travis Head 39* (40)

Marnus Labuschagne 16* (19)

India vs Australia Day 2 talking points and analysis

Travis turns the game on its Head with entertaining knock

Travis Head was promoted to the top of the order due to the absence of David Warner, and the decision absolutely paid dividends for the visitors late on the second day.

While opening partner Usman Khawaja fell cheaply after a major brain fade, the 29-year-old was able to keep the visitors on the front-foot with a counter-attacking innings.

Head came out all guns blazing, putting immediate pressure on the in-form Indian bowling attack with multiple boundaries in the final session.

The type of aggression shown by Head at the top of the order may certainly give the selectors food for though moving into the second-half of the series, particularly with the pressure mounting on Warner's future. 

Australia will resume on day three at 1/61 with a lead of 62 - and with Head and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease and some quality batsmen to come, there is certainly reason to be optimistic. 

Nathan Lyon bounces back with major scalps en route to five-fa

After a tough outing in Nagpur, there was some pressure on Nathan Lyon to perform - especially following the display on debut from young gun Todd Murphy.

But pressure tends to create diamonds and the off-spinning GOAT proved his class on the second day in Delhi, creating the breakthrough in the first session.

Lyon was able to dismiss KL Rahul, whose poor start to the series continued with another low score, before claiming the big wicket of the dangerous skipper Rohit Sharma just prior to the first drinks break. 

After a failed review a couple of overs prior, Lyon would make it three in a row after trapping Cheteshwar Pujara LBW in the veteran's 100th Test match. 

The 35-year-old would complete his five-wicket haul by dismissing both Shreyas Iyer and Srikar Bharat to help the Aussies take a narrow first innings lead. 

Cummins criticised as Aussies burn two crucial reviews, miss out on another

Australia wasted all three of their unsuccessful reviews early on day two, with Pat Cummins coming under fire for his decision-making.

With the visitors desperate for early wickets in a bid to turn their fortunes around, Cummins went upstairs twice in the space of two overs after the on-field official gave LBW appeals not-out, but both decisions were upheld by the DRS. 

Matt Kuhnemann trapped KL Rahul in front with a tidy piece of bowling, but it appeared to be sliding down the leg-side and that was proven to be the case. Moments later, Cummins went up for a catch off his bowling but there was no bat involved and the LBW was going over the top of the stumps.

Mark Waugh was critical of the reviews from Australia in such a vital time in the game and the series as a whole

“These referrals are going to be crucial throughout this innings," he said.

"To give one away like that - it just didn’t look right to the naked eye, I’ve got to be honest. It always looked like it was missing.

"They were hoping it was going to be clipping and umpire’s call so they keep the review, but it was not.

"There are going to be a lot of appeals and appeals turned down - you need to save them up and use them wisely.”

The fact that the Aussies had already wasted two of their reviews before taking a single wicket shows the desperation and frustration that Cummins and his side are dealing with. 

To make matters worse, an LBW appeal from Nathan Lyon on Cheteshwar Pujara was turned down in the first session and after the Aussies opted not to use their final review, replay footage revealed that it would have been overturned if they sent it upstairs. 

A third unsuccessful review came after Lyon had secured the side's first three wickets, with a potential bat-pad catch off Todd Murphy's bowling ruled not-out by the on-field umpires and the video review confirmed it.  

Australian great questions selectors over 'fearful' performances

Australian great Shane Watson has questioned the national selectors, claiming they are 'striking fear' into the playing group early in the series against India.

The decision to omit Travis Head in the first Test led to plenty of discussion and confusion, with the left-hander ranked as the fourth-best batsman in the world by the ICC following a stellar 12 months.

Speaking on ABC Radio, the former all-rounder revealed the internal struggles facing some of the Aussie batsmen in the tough conditions. 

“Even before the Test started that by dropping Travis Head, that put the fear of failure into everyone’s mind," Watson said.

"One of our best batsmen over the last couple of summers, because he hasn’t got a great record in the sub-continent and maybe had a couple of bad net sessions, is dropped.

"As soon as that action happens, people start to look over their shoulder and just start thinking internally - if Travis Head can get dropped and I miss out this Test match, there’s a chance I’m going to go a well.

"Just by one decision, people start to think ‘don’t get out, don’t make a mistake’ and you can see that.” 

Warner dealt untimely blow as Renshaw set for return

David Warner has been ruled out of the rest of Australia's second Test against India after suffering concussion symptoms.

The Aussie opener was hit in the head by a bouncer during the first innings but was not tested for concussion before going on to make 15 in Delhi.

Warner did not field with the rest of his Australian teammates during day one and according to Peter Lalor, will miss the rest of the Test with Matthew Renshaw coming in to replace him.

The 36-year-old has struggled for consistent form over the past 12 months and if Renshaw can perform in the second innings and the Aussies can pull off an unlikely victory, Warner may find it difficult to regain his spot in the lineup. 

India vs Australia 2nd Test confirmed lineups

Australia: Matt Renshaw*, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann

*Concussion substitute for David Warner

India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

What time does India vs Australia start?

All four Test matches will begin at 3pm AEDT and 9.30am IST. 

How to watch or live stream India vs Australia

Fox Cricket will broadcast each game live and exclusive in Australia, while Star Sports holds the rights to the series in India. 

  Australia India
TV Channel Fox Cricket Star Sports
Live Stream Foxtel Go/Kayo Sports Disney+ Hotstar

 

Author(s)
Author Photo
Liam O'Loughlin
Liam is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.
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