Lunch Australia 84 for 1 (Smith 1*, Marsh 1*) v India
Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
01:28
Australia opt for two quicks and two spinners
Pitches in India turn. That is fact. The one in Pune was aging so rapidly that there was a rough outside the left-hander’s off stump by the 10th over. And yet it wasn’t the spinners that produced the breakthroughs. Umesh Yadav – who was called on as late as 20 minutes to lunch – had David Warner bowled for 38 off the inside edge and even as the visitors were trying to regroup the other opener Matt Renshaw raced off the field, retiring ill for 36. One ball, two batsmen sent off the pitch, and they say Test cricket wants for action.
There was plenty happening – even without wickets falling and stomach bugs – in the first Test ever played at the MCA stadium. Ishant Sharma’s brand new boots were taking bits of the pitch away with them as he followed through and R Ashwin, brought on in the second over, already had large bulls-eyes of rough to aim at. That he had to go through a wicketless session is testament to the Australians’ skill and application.
On a pitch where the ball deviates off the straight, it is important not to follow it. Warner and Renshaw were excellent at this extremely important virtue of batting. The other thing they did well during a partnership of 82 was putting the bad balls away. They racked up 10 fours and a six in the time they spent together.
More to follow
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo