Western Australian cricket fans turned up in droves to watch the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which finished on Monday when India triumphed by 295 runs.
Fans Flock To West Test For Border-Gavaskar Opener
Although a victory for the visitors was not on the wish of list of many Australian supporters, WA’s passion for the West Test was emphasised by a near-record crowd of 96,463 at Perth Stadium.
The Day Two attendance of 32,368, meanwhile, was the largest crowd for any single day of Test cricket in WA.
And those who attended were treated to some enthralling cricket.
Australia, led by Josh Hazlewood (4-29), Mitchell Starc (2-14) and local hero Mitchell Marsh (2-12) needed less than 50 overs to dismiss India for 150.
Stand-in captain and superstar quick Jasprit Bumrah (5-30) took little time to return the favour, ripping through Australia’s top-order and leaving the hosts seven wickets down at stumps on Day One.
Buoyed by a 46-run first innings lead, India dominated proceedings thereafter.
Wunderkind Yashasvi Jaiswal and experienced right-hander KL Rahul put on 201 runs for the first wicket before Rahul departed on 77 from 176 deliveries.
Twenty-two-year-old Jaiswal, playing his first Test on Australian soil, responded to every challenge the Aussies presented, compiling a masterful 161 from 297 deliveries including 15 fours and three sixes.
As Jaiswal went about his business, Indian legend Virat Kohli returned to his free-flowing best with an unbeaten century.
Bumrah declared on 6-487, shortly after Kohli reached triple figures, then decimated Australia’s top-order with fellow right-armer Mohammed Siraj.
Starting Day Four on 3-12, Australia showed some fight through the efforts of Travis Head (89 from 101 deliveries), Marsh (47 from 67) and Alex Carey (36 from 58).
However, they were left with too much to do and eventually fell 295 runs short of India’s total, with the unplayable Bumrah (match figures of 8-72) named best afield.
Set against the backdrop of the match was the West Test Summer Fest – a free festival held outside Perth Stadium on the first three days of the Test.
Supported by the WA Government in partnership with WA Cricket and Cricket Australia, the festival was a celebration of Australian and Indian cultures.
Fans were treated to live music and entertainment, local Indian community street vendors and food experiences, cricket skills tests, and art installations.
Perth Stadium is poised to host the first Test of the summer for another two years, including the hotly anticipated 2025-26 Ashes opener.