Vikrant Shekhawat : Dec 26, 2020, 08:30 AM
Cricket Desk: Australia batting stalwart Steve Smith, who otherwise enjoys a brilliant record vs India, registered his first duck in international cricket against the visitors as Ravichandran Ashwin sent him packing in the morning session of the Boxing Day Test.Smith suffered a rare failure at MCG where he averages 113.5 in Tests comfortably his best at any ground at which he has played at least five matches including four centuries and three fifties. Notably, this is also the first time that Steve Smith has been dismissed for a duck in the first innings of a Test match.India's stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, produced a masterclass by keeping close-in fielders against the fidgety Smith, and it worked. Ashwin, who got Smith for 1 in the Adelaide Test, pitched it around the middle and turned towards Smith's legs. Smith was looking to nudge it behind square but ended up getting an edge. Pujara, at leg slip, dived across to his left and took a nice catch.Ashwin was delighted when he got the big wicket of Steve Smith and celebrated the wicket in a rather uncharacteristic manner as he nearly ran to the boundary ropes.Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah struck early to remove Australia opener, Joe Burns, for a duck after Tim Paine won the toss and opted to bat first. Ashwin then dismissed Matthew Wade for 30 as India took the early advantage in the Boxing Day Test.Under the leadership of Rahane, India have made four changes to their playing XI that lost in Adelaide. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj are making their debuts while a fit-again Ravindra Jadeja has come in for regular captain Virat Kohli while Wriddhiman Saha has been replaced by Rishabh Pant.