Australia’s Scott Boland delivered a standout performance on the opening day of the fifth Test against India at the SCG, taking four key wickets to bowl out the visitors for just 185 runs on Friday. Boland’s heroics in the final session shifted the momentum firmly in Australia’s favor, as India struggled to build partnerships.
Rishabh Pant, India’s top scorer with 40 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja (26) led a brief recovery after India had slumped to 72/4. However, Pant’s innings came to an end when he top-edged a pull shot off Boland to Pat Cummins at short mid-wicket. Boland immediately struck again, removing Nitish Kumar Reddy, who edged behind to Steve Smith at first slip.
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Mitchell Starc was equally instrumental in India’s collapse, dismissing Jadeja with a pinpoint LBW and later removing Prasidh Krishna to claim his third wicket of the day. Starc, along with Nathan Lyon, had earlier set the tone for Australia, dismissing KL Rahul (4) and Shubman Gill (20) in the morning session.
Boland’s introduction as the first-change bowler saw him take the wicket of debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), caught by Beau Webster, who was making his Test debut. Boland continued to impress, later dismissing India’s star batter Virat Kohli for 17, despite Kohli surviving an early scare on the first ball of his innings after a third umpire review.
India, led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah in the absence of Rohit Sharma, won the toss and elected to bat despite overcast conditions and a lively pitch. Shubman Gill replaced Sharma in the lineup, while Prasidh Krishna came in for Akash Deep. Australia, confident and composed, announced their playing XI a day prior, with Beau Webster earning his first Test cap.
