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Australian captain Michael Clarke’s decision to bat first surely seemed vindicated in the first session of play as his top-order batted their side to a position of strength on day one of the first Test against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
Southpaw David Warner and Ed Cowan strode out with a big responsibility of giving their side a solid opening start. Cowan got things going stylishly pulling debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar (he became the 276th Test player for India) for the first boundary in the third over of the innings.
Ishant Sharma twice strayed on the pads in the next over and was taken for boundaries – first by Warner and later by Cowan.
Warner, who was nursing a broken thumb and was a doubtful starter for the match, settled down into his usual aggressive mode, collecting two boundaries in the over of Kumar.
Australia were scoring at more than five an over in the first five overs prompting Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to introduce spin into the attack in the form of Harbhajan Singh, who is playing in his 100th Test.
Bhajji, who is on a comeback trail, was unable to keep a tight leash on the Australian openers as he kept offering loose deliveries every over. In fact, the lack of penetration of seamers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma took the bite off the Indian attack.
Local boy Ravichandran Ashwin was introduced into the attack in the ninth over in a bid to break the opening stand. The bowler – playing in front of his home crowd for the first time – stuck to a tight line and length.
Australia breezed to a half-century stand in the first ten overs were somewhat stifled by Ashwin although runs were being leaked at the other end.
Cowan, who is known to be a lesser aggressor than Warner, brought out his attacking intent into play, chipping down the wicket to Harbhajan and clobbering him over his head for the first six of the match.
He attempted another big shot stepping out of the crease to Ashwin in the next over and paid a price for it. The opener went for a maximum to a ball that turned and bounced with Dhoni effecting the stumping – Cowan perishing for 29 – a knock that was studded with four fours and one six.
Ashwin destabilized the Aussie innings four overs later when he prised out Phil Hughes for 6. The left-hander tried to push at a short ball and inside-edged onto his leg-stump.
Shane Watson arrived at the fall of Hughes’ wicket and made his intentions clear cutting Ishant Sharma for a sizzling boundary. The talented all-rounder later left Ashwin squirming dancing down the wicket and lofting him for over mid-on for a cracking four.
Warner held the innings together after the fall of two quick wickets and formed a decent combination with Watson. He was willing to play the second fiddle to Warner who was seeing the ball nicely.
Warner welcomed Harbhajan to the attack (for his second spell) and working him fine for a brace to arrive at a well-deserved half-century
With spinners operating for most part of the Australian innings, Indian bowlers were able to put in 34 overs in the opening session with the visitors sitting pretty at 126 for 2 with Warner and Watson unconquered on 58 and 28 respectively.
Dhoni’s men clearly needed to mount a quick fightback in the post-lunch session and his bowlers, more particularly Ashwin, obliged him. Ashwin struck in the first over after lunch when he trapped Watson in front for 28 when the batsman went back to a delivery that skidded through.
The Indian camp was delirious with joy two overs later when Ashwin trapped the well-set Warner for 59. The batsman went back to a full length ball and was caught at the crease. His 59 came off 93 balls and was laced with six fours.
Michael Clarke in the company of Mathew Wade tried to rebuild the innings. The Australian captain cut Harbhjan for a nicely executed boundary to complete 7,000 Test runs. Wade got into the thick of things driving Ashwin through the cover and mid-off region – the first loose ball Ashwin bowled after lunch.
The bowler soon exacted revenge over Wade when he trapped him lbw for 12 – his third consecutive lbw decision – a scalp which allowed him to complete a superb five-for – his figures at this juncture read 18-4-42-5.
Australia were swimming in the troubled waters at 153 for 5. But Clarke found a resolute ally in debutant all-rounder Moises Henriques as the duo raised a much-needed half-century stand to take their side to 215 for 5 at tea.
Clarke was unbeaten on 45, while the Portuguese-born Henriques was not out on 29.
Earlier, India left out left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and included Ravindra Jadeja in his place as the hosts opted for two seamers and three spinners.
