Bowling Dominance Shifts the Momentum in Test Cricket

Test cricket has gained popularity not only for fast scoring and batters playing outrageous shots but also for the significant role bowlers are beginning to play in shaping the game's direction. This modern shift was evident at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday, November 22, where fast bowlers, the best practitioners in the current game, dominated the field. As scripted by these "fast bowling captains," the batters in both teams were almost mere spectators, with the bowlers dictating the game's terms right from the start.

A staggering 17 wickets fell on the opening day of the high-profile series between India and Australia on a pitch not solely responsible for this exciting outcome. This toss' outcome, with Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins eager for their respective batters to face their counterparts head-on, sparked the interesting twist.

The day saw Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at their best rhythm in many seasons, a vitality reflected in their performance all through multiple practice sessions in Perth. They set the tone for the day, with Starc striking Yashasvi Jaiswal with a full delivery on the off-stump before Hazlewood exemplified his immense threat in such conditions by delivering an incisive spell that stifled Devdutt Padikkal's attempt to break free.