AUS vs IND, 2020-21: 4th Test, Day 1 – Natarajan’s record debut, A wicket in the first over for India and more stats

Australia made a decent start in the Gabba Test against India after electing to bat first on winning the toss. India forced to hand debuts to Thangarasu Natarajan and Washington Sundar while Shardul Thakur playing his only the 2nd Test. David Warner got out in the very first over of the match while another opener Marcus Harris also failed to make an impact.

Marnus Labuschagne (108) put on crucial partnerships with Steve Smith (36) and Matthew Wade (45) but failed to score a bigger ton. Cameron Green (28) and Tim Paine (38) saw through the evening session as Australia ended up with 274/5.

Here are all the statistical highlights from the opening day’s play at the Gabba between Australia and India:

Natarajan’s record debut:

1 – Thangarasu Natarajan became the first Indian and the 17th player overall to make a debut in all three formats of international cricket during the same tour. Natarajan made his ODI and T20I debut at the Manuka Oval earlier in November and December respectively. Natarajan is also the 2nd Indian to make debut in all three International formats in the same season after Bhuvneshwar Kumar (in 2012-13 season).

2 – Thangarasu Natarajan has picked up at least two wickets on his ODI debut, T20I debut, and now on Test debut. He is only the 2nd Indian player after Zaheer Khan to claim multiple wickets on the first day of Test, ODI, and T20I careers.

A wicket in the first over for India:

1985 – Mohammed Siraj dismissing David Warner in the first over was the first instance of Australia losing a wicket in the very first over of a Test match at the Gabba in 35 years. New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee got the better of Andrew Hilditch on the 5th ball of the first over in the 1985 Test match.

India’s least experienced bowling attack:

13 – A total of 13 wickets have been picked by the players in Indian XI in Test cricket before the Brisbane Test match. These are the fewest for India ahead of a Test since the 1946 Lord’s Test against England.

The 1946 Test at the Lord’s was India’s first Test appearance in nearly ten years; a break caused due to World War II. India had an experience of picking only 5 wickets 5 (Lala Amarnath 4; CS Nayudu 1) prior to the match.

Shardul’s elite feat:

1 – Shardul Thakur became the first Indian to pick a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket on Australian soil. The previous earliest an Indian bowler had a Test wicket in Australia was off the 2nd ball by Karsan Ghavri.

India’s longest contingent in 60 years:

1960/61 – India has used as many as 20 players in this Test series which are the most by them in a Test series since 1960-61 season. India had a total of 20 players in the 5-match Test series at home against Pakistan during the 1960-61 season.

India has used the services of 29 players in the tour of Australia which are the most by them in any away tour and also the 3rd most for any team in an away tour in International cricket.

5 – As many as five players made their debut in Test cricket for India in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This is the first time five or more players made their debut for India in a Test series since the 1996 tour of England where six players debuted across the three-match series.

An early debut for Sundar:

21y 102d – Washington Sundar, at the age of 21 years and 102 days, became the 3rd youngest player to represent India in all three formats in international cricket. Only Ishant Sharma (19y 152d) and Rishabh Pant (21y 17d) were younger than Sundar when they had appeared in all three International formats for India.

2011 – The last instance of India fielding three or more players aged 23 or lower in an away Test match was in 2011. India had three such players during the 2011 Roseau Test against West Indies.