IND vs AUS, 4th Test Highlights, Day 1: Marnus Labuschagne, T Natarajan Impress On Day 1; Australia In Control
India vs Australia Test Highlights: Marnus Labuschagne hit a fine century to put the home side in a good position on Day 1 of the fourth Test match. Debutant T Natarajan was the top performer for India, taking two crucial wickets.
- Neelav Chakravarti
- Updated:January 15, 2021 01:33 PM IST

A century by Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia take the honours on Day 1 of the ongoing fourth and final Test match against India, at the Gabba in Brisbane. Australia were 274 for five at Stumps after 87 overs. Captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat. Despite losing early wickets, Labuschagne slammed 108 runs off 204 balls to help put the hosts in charge. Openers David Warner and Marcus Harris couldn't find their footing against the visiting pacers, and lost their wickets in the early stages of Day 1. Steve Smith and Matthew Wade could only muster 36 and 45 runs respectively before being sent back to the pavilion. Cameron Green (28) and Tim Paine (38) remained unbeaten at stumps, making sure the hosts didn't have anymore setbacks. The 50-plus stand between Green and Paine put Australia marginally ahead. Test debutant T Natarajan was the top performer on the day for India, taking two crucial wickets. Washington Sundar, who was the other Test debutant, scalped a dismissal too. India, however, suffered another injury setback after pacer Navdeep Saini had to be taken for scans, after complaining of pain in his groin. (SCORECARD)
4th Test, Day 1Â Highlights Between Australia (AUS) vs India (IND), Straight From The Gabba, Brisbane
- 13:04 (IST)No run, Australia: 274/5 at StumpsSiraj sends a bouncer. It goes over Paine's head. No run.Australia wrap up Day 1 at 274 for five at Stumps.
- 12:58 (IST)FOUR!Natarajan bowls a short and wide delivery. Paine square drives it through point. FOUR!
- 12:57 (IST)FOUR!Natarajan bowls a full delivery, outside off. Green goes forward and drives it powerfully through the covers for a four!
- 12:48 (IST)Four runs!Natarajan bowls a length ball on the pads. Paine times it well and guides it through square leg. Good running as they make it four!
- 12:47 (IST)FOUR!Natarajan sends a short length delivery. Paine pulls it through midwicket for a four!
- 12:39 (IST)One run, Australia: 251/5 (82)Natarajan bowls a full delivery, at off stump. Green drive it straight and the mid-off fielder can't stop it with a dive. One run.
- 12:35 (IST)FOUR!Sundar floats in a short delivery, outside off. Paine square cuts it in front of point for a four!
- 12:33 (IST)No runSundar sends a fuller delivery at middle and off. Paine hits it to mid-on. No run.
- 12:30 (IST)DROPPED!Thakur sends a full delivery. Green drives it towards the bowler at waist height and Thakur drops it. RETURN CATCHES ARE NOT EASY THOUGH! No run!
- 12:20 (IST)Three runsThakur bowls a full delivery, off stumps. Paine hits it wide of mid-on. Three runs.
- 12:16 (IST)No runA full delivery by Sundar, at off stump. Paine defends it on the front foot.
- 12:10 (IST)FOUR!Sundar sends a floated delivery. Green goes ahead and smacks it to the long-off boundary for a four!
- 12:03 (IST)No run, Australia: 229/5 (73)Sundar floats a short delivery. Green hits it into the leg side.
- 12:01 (IST)One runSundar pitches in a shorter ball. Paine glances it into the space at midwicket for a single.
- 11:57 (IST)Three runsA fuller length ball by Natarajan. Green guides it right between silly mid-on and mid-on for three runs. Siraj chases and stops it before crossing the boundary.
- 11:53 (IST)FOUR!Sundar glides it down the leg side. Paine flicks it away fine for a four!!
- 11:49 (IST)INJURY UPDATE!Navdeep Saini had earlier left the field due to a pain in his groin. Now, he has been taken for scans! BAD NEWS FOR INDIA!
UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.#AUSvIND https://t.co/pN01PVnFfx
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021 - 11:42 (IST)Two runsNatarajan sends it back of a length, outside off. Green guides it between gully and backward point. Two runs.
- 11:34 (IST)OUT! Marnus Labuschagne c Rishabh Pant b T Natarajan 108 (204)Natarajan sends a short ball. Labuschagne pulls it early, and gets a top edge. It goes high behind the wicket and Pant grabs it.In comes, Tim Paine.
- 11:29 (IST)FOUR!Natarajan sends a short delivery, over off stump. Labuschagne pulls it through square leg for a four!
- 11:26 (IST)FOUR!A full delivery by Siraj. Green drives it to the right of mid-off for a four!
- 11:20 (IST)OUT! Matthew Wade c Shardul Thakur b T Natarajan 45 (87)Natarajan sends a short delivery. Wade pulls it and also gets cramped up. Its a flat swimg and goes high into the air. Both fielders from mid-on and mid-off were going for it, and could have crashed by the mid-on man gets hold of it.In comes, Cameron Green.
- 11:14 (IST)FOUR! MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE REACHES HIS TON!Siraj pitches in a length delivery, outside off. Labuschagne drives it into the gap between cover and mid-off. SUPERB!He reaches 101 off 195 balls.
- 11:12 (IST)FOUR!Half-volley by Siraj on the pads of Wade. He glances it to the square leg boundary for a four.
- 11:08 (IST)FOUR!Thakur pitches a full delivery, into off stump. Labuschagne uses the full face of his bat, and it goes past the umpire and Wade for a four!
- 11:00 (IST)Three runsSiraj bowls in a swinging full delivery, towards off stump. Labuschagne uses the full face of his bat to guide it in the gap in mid-off. Three runs.
- 10:58 (IST)Three runsThakur delivers a full delivery, with width. Labuschagne drives it to the left of mid-off for three runs.
- 10:55 (IST)One run, Australia: 175/3 (59)Sundar floats in a full delivery, on middle and leg. Labuschagne hits it to deep square leg for a single.
- 10:53 (IST)One runSundar delivers it back of a length, outside off. Labuschagne guides it into the point region.
- 10:52 (IST)Two runsSundar pitches in a short ball, towards leg stump. Labuschagne guides it through point for two runs.
- 10:51 (IST)One runSundar floats it up, outside off. Wade drives it to right of mid-off.
- 10:46 (IST)FOUR!Thakur pitches in a full delivery, close to off stump. Labuschagne drives it through the line and beats the mid-off fielder for a four!
- 10:43 (IST)Three runsSundar floats in a short delivery. Labuschagne goes back, makes room and hits it to the left of mid-off. There is no fielder in the covers. Three runs.
- 10:39 (IST)Two runsA full delivery by Sundar towards the legs. Wade guides it to square leg for two runs.
- 10:35 (IST)One runSundar floats in this delivery on middle and leg. Labuschagne flicks it into the square leg region for a single.
- 10:32 (IST)The action resumes!Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade to resume the innings for Australia. Washington Sundar will bowl for India.
- 10:14 (IST)One run, Australia: 154/3 (54), Tea time!Thakur sends a short length delivery, outside off. Labuschagne hits it off the backfoot towards sweeper cover. One run.Now its Tea time, and both teams leave for the pavilion!
- 10:08 (IST)One runSundar sends a length delivery, round the wicket, at the stumps. Labuschagne trickles it into midwicket. One run.
- 10:07 (IST)FOUR!Sundar delivery a full ball, into the pads. Labuschagne attempts to sweep it, but gets a bottom edge towards fine leg for a four!
- 10:06 (IST)FOUR!Thakur pitches in a short delivery. Labuschagne pulls it backward of square and places it beautifully for a four!