Ace of pace: Bumrah leads India's fight as batters feel pangs in Perth

As many as 17 wickets fall on Day 1 as India edge ahead in battle of fast bowling attacks

- ASHISH MAGOTRA

"Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust... If Lillee don't get ya, Thommo must."

The chant became famous during Australia's 1974/75 series against Mike Denness's England team. Anybody who has followed cricket, has heard it and been in awe of that phrase.

But now, perhaps, it's time to rework the sentence. For, if Hazlewood won't get ya, then Starc must. Or it could be Bumrah or Cummins or Siraj or Rana. A remarkable day of Test cricket between Australia and India saw 17 wickets fall as bowlers on both sides exploited the conditions and poor batting - to wreak havoc.

There was a time when Australia and India's playing XI were full of world class batting talent. Not just record breakers but batters who had been around for a long time and knew exactly how to adapt to the decidedly different rhythms of a Test match. A series between the two teams was often billed as a battle of the bat.

How the tables have turned! The batting line-ups of both teams are struggling for form and Day 1 of the first Test at the Optus Stadium was an apt example of where things stand.

After electing to bat first on a spicy wicket, India were bowled out for 150 (and even that counts as a recovery). In reply, Australia were in big trouble too, ending the day on 67/7, trailing by 83 runs. In the middle at stumps were Alex Carey, Australia's most in-form batter, on 19 and Mitchell Starc (6₹). If they can do for Australia what Rishabh Pant (37) and Nitish Reddy (41) did for India, we could be in for a thriller.