Boxing Day Test: Bumrah, Ashwin decimate Australia for 195 on opening day

An inspired Indian bowling unit, led by menacing Jasprit Bumrah and crafty Ravichandran Ashwin, steam-rolled Australia for a meagre 195 on a memorable opening day of second Test here on Saturday.

New captain Ajinkya Rahane had a great day in office as he marshalled his resources impressively with debutant Mohammed Siraj (2/40 in 15 overs) repaying faith shown in him with wickets of Marnus Labuschagne (48) and Cameron Green (12) with old ball.

However, Test series is increasingly looking like Ashwin's (3/35 in 24 overs) paradise as he once again made opposition's best batsman Steve Smith (0) look ordinary, exploiting turn and bounce that first day of MCG track offered.

Bumrah (4/56 in 16 overs) was bowling as if it was business as usual, beating bat and getting those breakthroughs just when it mattered on a pitch that had retained moisture. As it turned out, Rahane didn't lose a bad toss.

Indian team looked way more galvanised despite being without regular skipper Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave. Some great catches were taken and intent was way more visible.

Rahane's first punt was introducing Ashwin inside first hour of play after Bumrah had forced Joe Burns (0) to nick one to Rishabh Pant.

Ashwin, who varied pace of his deliveries cleverly got some turn and bounce straightaway as he drew Matw Wade into coming down track and skying one for India's best fielder Ravindra Jadeja to take a well-judged catch running backwards.

After one that jumped and turned to beat Smith and Pant, Ashwin kept next a tad straighter and former Australian skipper's glance was pouched by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg gully.

All this while, Bumrah was beating bat at or hand.

Interestingly, Rahane didn't give debutant a single over before lunch break as he knew that Siraj's strength is generating pace and movement with semi-new and old ball.

Siraj, initially bowled a bit short at Labuschagne and Travis Head (38 off 92 balls) as y added 86 runs for fourth wicket.

It was Bumrah, who provided post-lunch breakthrough with a delivery that held its line and left-hander's thick edge was taken by Rahane at gully.

Siraj's maiden wicket was a lucky one as ball was drifting down leg-side which Labuschagne tried to whip but Shubman Gill, stationed at backward square leg, snapped it inches off ground.

However, Hyderabad pacer's second wicket was a much fuller ball with a hint of inward movement that caught Green plumb in-front.

Skipper Tim Paine (13) couldn't script a rescue act like Adelaide as a classical off-break saw him guide one straight into hands of Hanuma Vihari at backward square leg.

Bumrah didn't take much time after that as he and Ravindra Jadeja (1/15) polished off tail in a jiffy. 

(Im: AP)