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Australia look to be in a spot of bother at 354 for 6 in their first innings of the opening Test match at the Adelaide Oval. The first day’s play on Tuesday saw the Aussies go aggressively at the Indian bowling with opener David Warner leading the way. However, by the end of the day’s play, the hosts have been pegged back with the late strikes from the Indian seamers and add to that the back injury to Michael Clarke which forced the Australian Captain to retire hurt.
Above photo: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 09: David Warner of Australia bats in front of Wriddhiman Saha of India during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 9, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
Above photo: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 09: David Warner of Australia is congratulated by Michael Clarke as he reaches his century during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 9, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
On a batting beauty at the Adelaide Oval, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in the 1st Commonwealth Bank Test match. India made a bold move in giving Test debut to leg-spinner Karn Sharma. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were made to sit out as India played the three quicks in Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Mohammed Shami along with the lone spinner in Karn Sharma.
It was a ferocious start from David Warner which upset all the early plans of India’s new Test Captain Virat Kohli. India was lucky to get a couple of wickets before lunch despite all the carnage from David Warner who raced away to 77 in the morning session. The tourists’ much needed first break came when opener Chris Rogers drove away from his body to edge an Ishant Sharma delivery into the hands of Shikhar Dhawan at second slip in the 8th over. Chris Rogers made just 9 in an opening stand of 50.
The second breakthrough came in the 19th over when Shane Watson looking to play a forcing square cut on the frontfoot got a thick edge which was snapped up by the safe hands of Shikhar Dhawan at second slip. The wicket taker was Varun Aaron who otherwise was being taken to the cleaners by David Warner.
Above photo: Australia (L) and India’s team line up to pay tribute to Phillip Hughes prior to the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on December 9, 2014. Photo credit: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images
The afternoon session saw David Warner slow down but bring his 10th Test century in just 106 balls. Skipper Michael Clarke too was attacking and in no time brought up his half century. Just when these two batsmen were taking the game away, a short ball ended Michael Clarke’s stay in the middle as the Australian Captain twitched his back to retire hurt on 60 in the 44th over with the hosts at 206 for 2.
By Tea, Australia were 238 for 2 in 50 overs with India feeling the pressure of the slow over rate as well. And that forced Virat Kohli to bowl Karn Sharma at one end and the part-time off breaks of Murali Vijay at the other end. Fortunately for India, an over ambitious David Warner got out trying to slog Karn Sharma for a six which resulted in a miscued hit that was caught at deep mid wicket in the 57th over. Warner finished with 145 from 163 balls with 19 fours.
Above photo: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 09: Michael Clarke of Australia reacts as he injures his back as he is tended to by Peter Brukner (L), Australian Team Doctor and Alex Kountouris, Australian Team Physiotherapist during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 9, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The second new ball did the trick for India to come back in the contest with three wickets going down for 9 runs in five overs. Mitchell Marsh was first to depart fending off a short ball from Varun Aaron to gully after scoring a promising 41. Night watchman Nathan Lyon was bowled through the gate by an inswinger from Mohammed Shami for 3 while Wicket Keeper Brad Haddin who came out to bat reluctantly edged an outswinger from the same bowler to Wriddhiman Saha.
Brad Haddin fell in the last over of the day’s play leaving Australia at 354 for 6 in 89.2 overs. Steven Smith remained unbeaten on 72.