Jasprit Bumrah tore through Australia’s batting line-up like a hot knife through butter, returning figures of 4/17 on the first day of the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Friday. Bumrah, who is leading the side in the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma, suffered the loss with the ball, opting to bat first after India slumped to 150. However, Bumrah decimated the Australian top-order in a disastrous spell that saw Australia thrashed at 67-7 at the end of the day’s play.

Bumrah removed debutant opener Nathan McSweeney lbw for 10, and nearly dismissed Marence Libeschen in the same over, only to drop a setter at second slip to Virat Kohli. However, Kohli made up for his dropped catch a few balls later, this time holding on to Bumrah’s delivery to remove Usman Khawaja (8).

He then sent Steve Smith for a duck on the very next ball, but Travis Head denied him a hat-trick. Smith’s dismissal of Bumrah was the first time a former Australian captain had registered a golden duck in a home Test.

After Bumrah’s carnage, Harshit Rana clean bowled Head (11) for the first Test wicket before Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for five, caught at slip by KL Rahul off Mohammad Siraj. .

Liebschen took his luck from 52 balls to score two runs before he too was on his way, returning by dismissing Siraj lbw, then skipper Pat Cummins (3).

India lead by 83 runs at stumps, but will need to bat well after collapsing in the first innings.

“Obviously a good day to be a fast bowler. Both teams with ball in hand bowled very well,” Starc said.

“There was plenty of range in the wicket, swing and sideways movement, and some good pace and carry.

“We’ll come out tomorrow and try to get as close to their tomorrow as we can.”

(with AFP input)