Summary

  • Dominant Australia close on 327-3

  • Head 146* and Smith 95*

  • Pair put on unbeaten stand of 251

  • Warner caught for 43, Khawaja removed for duck & Labuschagne bowled for 26

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  1. Aus 74-2published at 23 overs

    Think that's called a loosener.

    A wild, leg-side bouncer from Mohammed Siraj is rightly called wide.

    Steve Harmison Gabba vibes.

  2. Postpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Mohammed Siraj - 1-16 from six overs so far - will open the afternoon session.

  3. Postpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    After a cloudy start there is now glorious sunshine at The Oval as Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith stride back to the middle for Australia.

    How often will we say that this summer? I'm guessing a LOT.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate).

    Great cricket, but they will need the sixth day to make up for the overs lost every day. 23 in the first two hours? Really?

    Pete Haslam.

  5. Postpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    But shortly before lunch India made a crucial breakthrough, though it was a pretty rotten delivery from Shardul Thakur that David Warner gloved through to the wicketkeeper.

    They all look the same in the scorebook.

  6. Postpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    After a tough first hour the cloud cleared, the sun emerged and the Australian openers began to open up.

    David Warner was particularly aggressive, smashing four fours off one Umesh Yadav over.

  7. Postpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    There was plenty in the surface for the bowlers early on, with Mohammed Siraj getting one to spit up at Marnus Labuschagne and smack him on the glove.

    Labuschagne was fine to continue though, he's made of tough stuff.

    Media caption,

    Labuschagne gets hit on the thumb by 90mph Siraj delivery

  8. Postpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    This was the first wicket of the day to fall, with Mohammed Siraj removing Usman Khawaja for a duck in the fourth over of the day to leave Australia 2-1.

  9. Warner strong in the off sidepublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    After a careful start under cloudy skies David Warner began to make hay through the off side, with the majority of his runs coming through gully, point and the cover regions.

    He punished anything wide, particularly from Umesh Yadav, who is the most expensive of the India bowlers so far.

    A wagonwheel graphic showing where David Warner scored his 43 runs - clockwise: 12, 6, 12, 3, 3, 6, 0, 1.Image source, BBC Sport/CricViz
  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate).

    Charlie Thomas: How can you not love a sport with meal breaks?

  11. Postpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Thanks, Sam.

    Yep, that was a classic morning of Test cricket. Australia battled hard in a testing first hour and looked to be getting on top, but that late David Warner wicket has evened things up.

    Let's hope the rest of the match is equally as close.

  12. Postpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Well, that was a fascinating morning session.

    Australia were put in to bat under gloomy skies at The Oval but kept the damage to a minimum and go into lunch with the sun shining and the chance to push on in the afternoon session.

    To take you through the lunch break and that afternoon session, it's over to Tom Mallows.

  13. Postpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Had David Warner not fallen just before lunch I think Australia would have been on top but his wicket has just opened up an end.

    Yes, it is Steve Smith and we know what we can do, but he is still susceptible of getting out early.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate).

    How good has this first session been? Brilliant Test match cricket. Far more engrossing than any franchise cricket I’ve ever seen.

    Chris in South Croydon

  15. Lunch - Aus 73-2published at 23 overs

    Smith 2, Labuschagne 26

    Steve Smith is getting a long way across his stumps, as he so often does.

    That helps him to work a single fifth ball, Marnus Labuchagne drives the last ball to the fielder and that is lunch.

    India's wickets came at either end of the session. That second wicket means it is probably just about even as the players walk off.

  16. Postpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Time for one more over before lunch, Steve Smith will be on strike as Umesh Yadav continues.

  17. How's stat?!published at 12:27 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    Marnus Labuschagne's average has now risen to 57.90. That moves him above Garfield Sobers to ninth on all-time list of those with 40 innings or more.

  18. Aus 72-2published at 22 overs

    After just one delivery, Srikar Bharat is up to the stumps for Steve Smith as well after an extravagant leave - yep, it's that time again.

    Smith is off the mark next ball with a clip through square leg for a single.

  19. Postpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special

    Here comes Steve Smith. This is a critical moment - India know he is a plunderer if he gets in.

  20. Postpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    David Warner cannot believe it.