All ten teams have now started their World Cup campaign with hosts India getting off the mark
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-20231:29
Moody: Kohli understands the pace of ODI cricket
–Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament IndexTop Story: Rahul, Kohli guide India home after early scare on tricky pitchThe hosts and favourites for the 2023 World Cup are up and running. But as clinical as India’s six-wicket victory over Australia looks on paper, there was far more jeopardy out on the field in Chennai.Ravindra Jadeja’s exemplary 3 for 28 restricted Australia to 199, but the pursuit of a modest target began with a historically bad start. India were reduced to 2 for 3 – the first time in ODIs three of their top four were dismissed without scoring; Mitchell Starc removed Ishan Kishan for a first-ball duck before Josh Hazlewood’s double-wicket maiden snared captain Rohit Sharma lbw and Shreyas Iyer, caught tamely at short cover. But from the ruins rose Virat Kohli and KL Rahul – two of India’s “been there, done that” world-beaters. A stand of 165 turned a problematic start into a cakewalk of a finish.Full reportMatch analysis: Defensive Australia burnt by India’s spin trio in Chepauk furnaceThere was no stopping Ravindra Jadeja after he got rolling•Getty Images
India’s spinners bowled 16.5 overs worth of dot balls in their collective 30. They picked up six wickets among them for just 104 runs. They kept hitting Test-match lengths on a black-soil turner that also offered some variable bounce. Australia’s batters just couldn’t put the spinners off those lengths. Their lone specialist spinner then struggled in the evening once dew set in, leaking 53 runs in his eight overs while going wicketless.Australia did find some momentary breathing space when Warner and Smith forged a 69-run partnership for the second wicket after Mitchell Marsh had fallen for a duck. Hardik Pandya offered both batters drive balls, but the pressure was relentless from India’s spinners. Jadeja was a popgun firing darts on a good length around off stump. Kuldeep, too, attacked the stumps with his stock balls and wrong’uns. Ashwin let rip his carrom ball and reverse carrom ball, raising puffs of dust from the surface.Read the full analysis from Deivarayan MuthuMust Watch: Tom Moody on Australia’s struggle against spin1:19
Tom Moody: Australia did not have a plan for that sort of pitch
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Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan head coach, has warned the England players about the dangers of the Dharamsala outfield although ICC officials have ruled it is suitable to play on following an inspection.