Fri Dec 06 14:37:36 UTC 2024: ## India’s Batting Collapse Fuels Starc’s Dominance in Adelaide Test Series
**Adelaide, Australia –** A stunning display by Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has overshadowed a dismal batting performance by India in the recent Test series. India’s struggles were highlighted by three instances where they were bowled out for 180 runs or less after winning the toss and electing to bat first – a feat only surpassed by India’s own 1959 performance, when they were dismissed for under 180 five times in a single calendar year.
Starc’s exceptional form was evident in several key statistics:
* **Record-breaking figures:** He achieved his best-ever Test bowling figures of 6 for 48 in one innings against India, marking his maiden five-wicket haul against them after previously claiming 51 wickets in 19 matches.
* **First-ball magic:** Starc became the first bowler to take a wicket off the first ball of a day-night Test match, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal. This achievement also saw him join an elite club, alongside Pedro Collins, as one of only two bowlers to achieve three first-ball wickets in Test matches.
* **Adelaide dominance:** Starc surpassed 50 Test wickets at the Adelaide Oval, becoming only the third bowler to achieve this milestone at the venue. His impressive strike rate of 34.9 at the ground further underscores his prowess.
* **Day-Night Specialist:** Starc now holds the record for most five-wicket hauls in day-night Tests with four, significantly more than any other bowler.
While Starc stole the show, India’s Jasprit Bumrah also made headlines by achieving his own milestone:
* **50 wickets in a calendar year:** Bumrah reached 50 Test wickets in 2024, only the third Indian fast bowler to achieve this feat in a calendar year and the first since Pat Cummins in 2019.
The series also revealed some interesting statistics about dropped catches and powerful hitting:
* **Pant’s Catching Woes:** Eight of the nine dropped catches off Bumrah’s bowling in international cricket have been by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
* **Reddy’s Six-hitting Prowess:** Nitish Kumar Reddy’s six sixes across the series, five of which were against fast bowlers, represents a remarkable achievement for an Indian batsman in Australia.
In conclusion, the series showcased both exceptional individual performances and significant team struggles. Starc’s dominance, particularly in Adelaide, overshadowed India’s repeated batting collapses, marking a memorable chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two cricketing nations.
First Piper 