Proteas live up to their slow-starters tag as India dominate first day at Eden Gardens

The Proteas honoured their slow-starters tag on the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens after being bowled out for 159 and managing to dismiss only one Indian batter before the umpires called stumps due to bad light.

The Proteas have a proven track record as slow starters. On Friday, there was hope that, fresh from a Test series in Pakistan, they would take the attack to India — especially after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Instead, they staggered after the first punch from the hosts as fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (5/27) made light work of the Proteas batters, claiming his 16th Test five-wicket haul and helping India dismiss the visitors for 159.

Apart from Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickelton’s (23) half-century stand at the top of the order, there were no meaningful partnerships from the visiting batting unit, as wickets fell in clusters.

Wiaan Mulder (24) and Tony de Zorzi (24) made solid starts, but failed to convert. Temba Bavuma (3), Tristan Stubbs (15 not out) and Kyle Verreynne (16) lacked fluency in their innings and looked uncomfortable from the first ball they faced.

Mystery spinner Kuldeep Yadav (2/36) enjoyed success at Eden Gardens, keeping the visitors guessing with his variations. He accounted for Bavuma and Mulder, providing strong support to a fired-up Bumrah, who led from the front with the new ball.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj (2/47), despite an expensive opening spell, returned to the attack and helped India finish the job.

In reply, Marco Jansen (1/11) and Wiaan Mulder took the new ball in the absence of the ruled-out Kagiso Rabada.

The pair bowled tight lines and lengths but continued their bad habit of overstepping. Jansen was the more disciplined of the two and extracted bounce with the hard new ball.

The left-armer was rewarded in his fourth over when he lured Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) into a cut shot, only for the batter to inside-edge the ball back onto his stumps to hand the Proteas their first and only wicket of Day One.

The Proteas trail by 122 runs and will hope to take the remaining nine wickets and secure a substantial lead before the third innings of the match.