India's Ravindra Jadeja stars on international return; Ravichandran Ashwin takes 450th Test wicket
- Jonhenry Wilson
- 9 February 2023
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja marked an impressive return to international cricket with five wickets on day one of India's series opener against Australia in Nagpur.
Jadeja had been sidelined by injury for several months. He underwent knee surgery and, on Thursday, played Test cricket for the first time since July 2022.
He played a central role in limiting Australia to 177 all out.
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj removed openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja inside the opening three overs. Jadeja then entered the attack to end an 82-run stand between middle-order duo Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith.
Jadeja had Labuschagne stumped by Test debutant wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat for 49 - and dismissed middle-order batsman Matt Renshaw lbw for a first-ball duck.
Jadeja then became the first player to bowl Smith more than twice in Test cricket. The former Australian captain departed for 37.
Australia slipped from 84 for two to 109 for five before the recalled Peter Handscomb and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey combined for a 53-run alliance.
That ended when off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin return to the attack to bowl Carey for 36 on the sweep. Carey had been sweeping frequently and well before misjudging a reverse-sweep to give Ashwin a 450th Test wicket.
Ashwin has become one of only nine bowlers to take 450 or more wickets in Test cricket. One other - Australia's Nathan Lyon - is involved in this match.
Ashwin made it 451 and 452 as Australia's lower-order capitulated.
Jadeja returned to the attack, too, and completed a five-wicket haul with the dismissals of Handscomb and debutant Toddy Murphy. Jadeja finished with figures of five for 47 in 22 overs. It is the 11th innings five-for of his Test career.
India replied with 77 for one - for a 100-run deficit - at the close of Thursday's play.
Opener Rohit Sharma, unbeaten on 56, and nightwatchman Ashwin will resume on Friday. Spinner Murphy removed opener KL Rahul shortly before the close.
