Melbourne: India captured three quick wickets in the final session but a fightback by Australia’s defiant lower-order batsmen ensured that the honours were shared on an engrossing opening day of the first cricket Test here on Monday.
Electing to bat, Australia were struggling at 214 for six at one stage before Brad Haddin (21 batting) and Peter Siddle (34 batting) steered them to a more respectable 277 for six in 89 overs at close of play.
While Indian seamers bowled well in patches, a 113-run third wicket partnership between under-fire former skipper Ricky Ponting (62) and debutant opener Ed Cowan (68) and an unbroken 63-run seventh wicket stand between Haddin and Siddle that helped the home team recover after a mini-collapse.
Talented Umesh Yadav (3 for 96) bowled fast touching 150.1 kmph on speedometer as he snared the wickets of David Warner (37), Shaun Marsh (0) and Ponting, but was also guilty of sending down too many boundary balls.
The wily Zaheer Khan (2 for 49 in 23 overs) also bowled well within himself as he sent back Clarke (31) and Michael Hussey (0) off successive deliveries.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should be given a lot of credit for removing the stodgy Cowan who played 177 balls hitting seven fours in the process.
That Umpire Decision Review System is not being used has hurt both the teams. Australia was at the receiving end of two dubious decisions as both Michael Hussey (0) and Cowan didn’t seem to have got any edge but were adjudged caught behind.
India too must have felt a twinge of regret when Brad Haddin on 19, wasn’t given out leg before off a Zaheer delivery even though he looked absolutely plumb at the fag end of the day’s play.
India got crucial breakthroughs against the run of play after Australia had raced to 46 for no loss in the morning session and later, in the final session, were cruising along at 205 for 3.
After opener David Warner (37) provided a blazing start, Yadav dismissed both Warner and No 3 batsman Shaun Marsh (0) in a space of seven deliveries to reduce Australia to 47 for two.
Later, in the final session, Australian slumped from 205/3 to 205/5 after Zaheer saw the back of captain Clarke (31) and Michael Hussey (0) off successive deliveries.
Yadav struck the first blow when his well-directed bouncer saw the stockily built Aussie opener go for a mistimed hook shot. The resultant catch was easily taken by Dhoni.
Yadav then angled a fullish delivery to Marsh who went for a drive only to be caught by Virat Kohli stationed at gully.
In between these two strikes and the mini collapse suffered in the final session, Australia’s batting had prospered and India had begun to look ragged in the field.
Cowan and Ponting added 113 runs, batting in contrasting yet effective style. (PTI)