Brisbane, Dec 17: Opener Murali Vijay (144, 213b, 22×4) batted fluently to put India in a position of command at the end of the first day’s play of the second Test against Australia here Wednesday. At stumps, India were 311 for four with Ajinkya Rahane (75 batting, 122b, 7×4) and Rohit Sharma (26 batting, 34b, 2×4, 1×6) at the crease.
Sunil Gavaskar always used to say that the main attribute of good batting is to know which ball to leave and which to play at. On the fast and bouncy Gabba pitch here, Vijay did just that to perfection as he grinded it out for his fifth century in Test cricket. It was no doubt, a commendable feat as in his last innings he had been a prey of the ‘nervous nineties’.
It was a game, where Australia were expected to bounce out India. But the visitors surprised everyone by electing to bat after winning the toss. It was a clear indication of the positive frame of mind India were in.
Australia on the other hand were hit hard by the absence of the injured Ryan Harris – their workhorse – on his home ground. They were pushed further into a corner as Mitchell Marsh retired in his sixth over with a strained hamstring while the Brisbane heat caught up with the other pacers, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Marsh was later ruled out of the game and even though debutant Hazlewood and Starc were later declared fit to resume on day two, it will be difficult for them to go all out as there will be worries on their minds regarding their niggles.
Under these circumstances, India were off to a good start with Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay putting on a 56-run opening stand, thereby nullifying the early advantage of the new ball. Dhawan after getting himself in, fell trying to cut away from the body against Marsh. The resultant knick was gratefully snapped up by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Cheteshwar Pujara (18) and Virat Kohli (19) looked good for many more, but fell to Hazlewood. Pujara was distinctly unlucky being given out caught behind off the grill of his helmet.
Kohli, on the other hand after playing a spanking drive tried to cut a ball that was too close to his body and could only nick it to Haddin. At 137 for three, India did look in a spot of bother. Prior to that Vijay also had a touch of fortune as Shaun Marsh dropped him off Mitchell Johnson at cover.
In walked Rahane and with Vijay steadied the innings. Both defended dourly and were ready to attack the loose balls which came aplenty as the bowlers got tired in the searing heat. Both played some lovely drives in front of the wicket and when the short ball arrived it was duly dispatched to the fence with square-of-the-wicket shot – the pull and the cut. The two added 124 runs for the fourth wicket before Vijay was stumped off the bowling off Nathan Lyon.
Scoreboard:
India (1st innings): Murali Vijay c Haddin b Lyon 144, Shikhar Dhawan c Haddin b Mitchell Marsh 24, Cheteshwar Pujara c Haddin b Hazlewood 18, Virat Kohli c Haddin b Hazlewood 19, Ajinkya Rahane batting 75, Rohit Sharma batting 26, Extras (b-4, nb-1) 5, Total (for four wickets) 311.
Fall: 1-56, 2-100, 3-137, 4-261.
Bowling: Mitchell Johnson 15-2-64-0, Josh Hazlewood 15.2-5-44-2, Mitchell Starc 14-1-56-0, Mitchell Marsh 6.2-1-14-1, Nathan Lyon 20-1-87-1, Shane Watson 10.4-5-29, David Warner 1-0-9-0, Steve Smith 1-0-4-0.
PTI