Righto folks, we’ve been Welcomed to Country, we’ve had the anthems, the first ball is upon us. Giddy. Up.
Australian huddle breaks up as the head to the middle. Mitchell Starc with the rock. Must say, she looks a sparse crowd this morning in Perth.
Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal marking up the crease. Three slips and a gully with Jaiswal on strike.
First ball: Starc eases in, full and swinging down leg. Looks to flick the pad but it’s ruled byes as it races to the boundary, no chance for Alex Carey. As our man Dan Brettig points out, a wee bit different to 2021 at the Gabba, when Starc swung right through Rory Burns with the first ball of the Ashes.
Second ball: Edged. Like it from Starc. Right on line with his second offering. Back of a length, angling in. Jaiswal prods off the back foot. Squirts on the bounce to third slip.
Third ball: Back and tucked up again. Jaiswal prodding down into the pitch. Starc will like the look of this defence. Not exactly confident
Fourth ball: That was a bit stronger from the young Indian star. Starc pitches up on leg. Swings onto middle. Jaiswal with soft hands defends stoutly.
Fifth ball: Similar offering. Shaping back away from the left-hander again. Jaiswal with a bit more force, hitting into the leg-side for no run. No ball called though.
Sixth ball: Outside off and left alone.
Mitchell Starc sends down the first over of the Test summer.Credit: Getty Images
Seventh ball: Once again full and swinging back from leg stump. Looking to square Jaiswal up but he defends well. Both Australia and India with a bit to like about that first over. Now Hazlewood to Rahul.
India 0-5: Rahul 0*, Jaiswal 0*