India lay down the gauntlet to Australia with 295-run thrashing

India completed a stunning 295-run win over Australia in the first Test in Perth to continue their extraordinary run in the country.

They bowled Australia out for 238 in the final session on day four to take a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series.

It means India have now won five and lost only two of their past nine Tests in Australia dating back to their 2018-19 tour.

West Indies are the only other team to have won a Test in Australia in that time.

Australia resumed on 12-3 after a devastating new-ball spell from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj late on day three – and that soon became 17-4 when the latter had Usman Khawaja caught behind off a top-edged pull.

Steve Smith was then superbly set up by Siraj, caught behind for 17 off one that straightened.

Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47) counter-attacked but both fell in quick succession in the afternoon session to Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy respectively.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar had Mitchell Starc caught at short leg and bowled Nathan Lyon, before a superb Nitish Rana slower ball deceived Alex Carey to seal the comprehensive win.

India must win three of the next four Tests to guarantee their place in a third successive World Test Championship final.

Australia need five wins across this series and a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka to reach the final.

The second Test is a day-night game in Adelaide and starts on 6 December. (BBC)