Eventful Finch innings full of DRS drama

Aaron Finch was spared from making a pair in his debut Test at home, but his stay of execution didn't last long as more DRS drama saw Australia lose their first wicket early in their first Domain Test run-chase. 

Having been bowled by Ishant from the third ball of Australia’s first innings, Finch was trapped in front from the second ball he faced on Sunday and was given out by Umpire Kumar Dharmasena.

The opener reviewed the decision and he was grateful he did with the replay showing Ishant’s front foot was marginally over the front line.

It was a lucky break for Australia after they were set an historic run chase of 323 to win the opening Domain Test. If successful, it would be the highest ever run chase to win a Test at the Adelaide Oval.

The ball-tracking technology later showed the ball was clipping the stumps, meaning Dharmasena’s call would have been upheld and Finch would have been dismissed had Ishant not over-stepped.

Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O'Keefe said the decision was a sliding doors moment for Finch.

"Careers can turn on moments like that," he said.

Fellow commentator Mark Waugh said the fast bowler would be fuming but had no excuses.

"He's got no one to blame but himself," Waugh said on Fox Cricket. "He's been playing the game for how long now? And he still pushes the line."

The last Australian opener to register a duck each innings of a Test was Mark Taylor against Pakistan in 1994 in what was his debut as captain.

More drama came in the final over before tea when Finch prodded forward to defend a ball from Ravi Ashwin that spun sharply, and bounced up off his pad to be easily caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. 

Finch discussed opting for a review again with Marcus Harris, but instead walked off the Adelaide Oval for 11 from 35 balls, while replays using Real Time Snicko and Hot Spot technology failed to show conclusive proof the ball had brushed the glove.

The dismissal capped a difficult Test for the Victorian. Following his first-innings duck, bowled in spectacular fashion, he was in the thick of the action while fielding in close during India's innings.

He dropped one difficult chance, and was struck in the throat by a shot from Virat Kohli on Saturday. He quickly recovered from that uncomfortable moment, and later claimed the catch that dismissed Kohli. On Sunday, a pull shot cannoned off his shoulder and fell between Tim Paine and Travis Head.

Finch made his Test debut against Pakistan in October as an opener despite his recent success in first-class cricket coming in the middle opener.

Speaking after Finch's first-innings dismissal, when he inside-edged an expansive cover drive and was bowled, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting questioned whether the Victorian is a long-term option at the top.

"Everyone knows he struggles a little bit against moving red ball," Ponting said.

"And we have a series here and an Ashes series not too far away, and the ball's going to move around a lot when we're over in England.

"The shot we saw today is not what a good Test match opener should do third ball of the innings. The new ball on that wicket was always going to be the hardest time to bat and he went for a hard cover drive.

"Sometimes that can happen, but he's got a lot of work to do, I think."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar