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Blimey...just flicked back to see Australia making a meal of chasing 34 to win. Warner another fail (is that a strong hint that his time is all but done ?)

But also Smith Khawaja and Head gone...29/4 and extras has made 14 of them !

Only need five more so no problem...but SA might wonder what might have been if they'd been able to produce a bit more resistance in that awful second innings.

Supports kingraf's pitch assessment , I guess

Two for Ashwin...Cummins not lasting long. All up to Handscomb now if they're to cross 200 , I reckon. Anything over that is a bonus now.

Murphy starts his Test career with a duck...and a wasted referral though it really doesn't matter much at this stage.

Four for Jadeja. The end is nigh for this innings , I think.

Certainly looks to be sub 200 from here alfie. Pretty poor if I may be honest.

177 all out. Poor return for Australia. Already a massive advantage to India.

177 probably more than looked likely when Smith got out ! Doesn't look enough unless they bowl out of their skins...but there is help for the spinners in this which is likely to increase if anything so if they can prevent India from getting a big lead they could still be in the game.

If India can get a lead of 100 they'll be home and hosed...

Lop sided scorecard. Four men 30-50 and no one else more than six ...in fact the rest were all binary 0 1 0 1 0 1...

Anyway praise where it is due...Jadeja bowled really well : thoroughly deserved his five wicket haul

Good backup from Ashwin who got better as the innings progressed.

Lively start by India with three boundaries in Cummins' first over...Rohit not messing about !

Will be interesting to see how Boland can perform away from home. You wouldn't think this pitch will suit him ; but he tends to nag away very consistently so he may do better than his modest pace , and bowling style , would immediately suggest.

Australia will certainly hope he can at least provide some control , to aid the spinners. He has started accurately which is a good sign at least.

I am polar opposite on this alfie, I think Boland will be excellent on this track. Not sure he will get many wickets but he will tie one end down. I would have preferred to see him partnered with a spinner though...

A Lyon into the arena very early ! Replacing Boland after just one over...

Quiet since that 13 run first over.

eirebilly_01 wrote:I am polar opposite on this alfie, I think Boland will be excellent on this track. Not sure he will get many wickets but he will tie one end down. I would have preferred to see him partnered with a spinner though...

Oh I don't think he will be expensive. Just not sure he will be able to pick up wickets the way he does on the MCG...and that might leave a lot of responsibility on Lyon and his new boy partner.

Boland will probably be tasked with a lot of the "donkey work".

Rohit flowing ; Rahul still stuck on zero...ah , he's away now.

I do think that Boland and Lyon would make a good partnership here with Boland keeping it very tight and the Indian batsmen trying to hit out against Lyon.

alfie wrote:Will be interesting to see how Boland can perform away from home. You wouldn't think this pitch will suit him ; but he tends to nag away very consistently so he may do better than his modest pace , and bowling style , would immediately suggest.

Australia will certainly hope he can at least provide some control , to aid the spinners. He has started accurately which is a good sign at least.

I’m still convinced he’s not very good. Despite all evidence to the contrary so far! I’m not convinced of anything he is special at. He’s outbowled Cummins so far though - the skipper has been far too greedy trying to force things like he knows they don’t have enough runs.

The commentary is dreadful. The two worst cricket commentating countries on earth.

Hadn't realised until now this had started, and its pretty much over already!

Rahul is very watchful but is doing a great job, Rohit seems well up for this and looks very comfortable out there.

The 50 partnership already brought up and Australia are in dire need of a wicket.

If ever there were a test match over on day one...

Looks like India are going to rack up 500 as well, if Australia maintain these negative bowling lines.

Is Cam Green injured? Shocked the Aussies have gone in with only 4 bowling options, one being a young spinner on debut and one being Boland

So Murphy got a wicket...but at 77/1 India are pretty well placed.

Guildford won't be happy though with Ashwin coming in at three....

Unless he's a designated Nighthawk

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Is Cam Green injured? Shocked the Aussies have gone in with only 4 bowling options, one being a young spinner on debut and one being Boland

Yes Green is injured , Olly. Left the Aussies with a bit of a problem , to be fair. No way to balance the side without him ; and underwhelming spin options apart from Lyon.

They really needed to take advantage of winning the toss and batting big first up. But from the first couple of overs it largely went awry , except for two handy partnerships between Smith/Labuschagne and Handscomb /Carey. Indian spinners just too good.

Mountain to climb to get back into this now.

Can't see beyond 4-0, hardly putting my neck on the line there. At home on spinning tracks, India at the moment are likely to have 3 spinners who are all better than anything the opposition can field. Then those three can all bat, so it also gives insane depth with quality batting down to 8 and a more than useful number 9. So good luck competing against that lot!

England's series win in India in 2012 looks more impressive with each passing year. Since then India have played 15 test series at home and won all 15, this visit from Australia will make it 16 in a row, barring a miracle. That run of 15 test series has comprised 42 tests in total, of which India have won 34 and only lost 2 (one v Australia and one v England, both in the opening match of a series). It's complete dominance.

4-0 does look probable for this one - odds available of 4/1 on it! - but 4-0 looked probable for Australia when India visited last time and were bundled out for 36 in the opener. Then India made an astonishing escape to win the series. So, some caution, but the gulf does look gargantuan.

I am not quite ready to call whitewash yet ! Think this Aussie team might have a bit more resilience than that - and they do have some handy players who might be fit for later Tests. I mean , this match isn't actually over - yet

But certainly today underlines the difficulties they are facing in this series. Could hardly have gone better for India on day one. Rohit will be rightfully happy...

A fine start to the series for India. Jadeja was outstanding, Ashwin caught up as he got a few overs under his belt, and Axar did look threatening. The quicks did a fine job upfront. The catching, barring one tough drop from Kohli wasn't shabby either.
Rohit has played a very fine innings in line with the demands of the conditions and match-situation. He's not a greater resumer, and I am just happy he didn't throw it away with a reckless loft towards the end of the day. With Kohli and Pujara rather struggling against spin of late, and more importantly as India are without Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, its really up to Rohit to keep going and lead his side to a big score.
I wouldn't rule Australia out, not even for this test, forget the series. Cummins can do extraordinary things, and Lyon is a very fine bowler. The track is lovely and lively with enough to keep the bowlers interested throughout. India really need to make it count in the first innings.

I think i read somewhere that of the 450 wickets Ashwin has taken in International test matches, 75% of those wickets have been in India. Is he the highest wicket taker in one specific country ever?

The on disappointment for India was KL Rahul. His mindset itself is a problem. He played as if he knew he just didn't deserve to be out there. Very negative in approach on a track that demanded greater intent. Didn't really look like he wasn't going to score much. How long can the team management keep giving him chances? They should appoint Pujara as Rohit's test deputy, at least he doesn't have to be picked as a specialist vice-captain!

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Is Cam Green injured? Shocked the Aussies have gone in with only 4 bowling options, one being a young spinner on debut and one being Boland

Yes Green is injured , Olly. Left the Aussies with a bit of a problem , to be fair. No way to balance the side without him ; and underwhelming spin options apart from Lyon.

They really needed to take advantage of winning the toss and batting big first up. But from the first couple of overs it largely went awry , except for two handy partnerships between Smith/Labuschagne and Handscomb /Carey. Indian spinners just too good.

Mountain to climb to get back into this now.

Thanks Alfie - that is a blow. Presumably Starc and Hazlewood are also hurt? I really struggle to see where 20 wickets (well 20 wickets in not many runs) are going to come from with this Aussie attack, asking an awful awful lot of Cummins and Lyon to do the donkey work plus be wicket takers.

No consideration to a Maxwell type to bat 7 and bowl some overs?

Tough first day. Doesn't mean the series is over, but as Duty has pointed out, India when they have Jadeja in particular (he offers such ridiculous balance to a side) at home are a beast that aren't often stopped. Be interesting to see how Kohli goes in this one

India has a sub-optimal selection

One seamer too many....instead they needed a batsman....& that should have been Gill. But such is the difference in class for this pitch that this might not matter in the end.

On this pitch l think even 3 spinners is half a spinner too many.....the pitch has bounce.....and good amount of spin....though not turning square yet.

The few that spun big and few that bounced were enuf to get into the head of Aussie batters and they started throwing their bats and perished.
Though the way to go on this pitch is to throw the bat a bit, but not in panic.....be in controlled aggressive frame of mind.
Blocking ain't taking you too far....wickets fall in clusters

Ind has two sessions tomm to score heavily.....get to about 300 by tea
Thereafter I think pitch will crumble rapidly to to powder
If India bat positively I give them a lead of 130 to 180 max......and a near innings win

Aussie do not seem to have the spinners needed to exploit the pitch yet...and seamers are a waste unless they can bowl really fast and find reverse, which btw is possible but requires a special skill and some experience of exploiting these conditions

msp83 wrote:As for the selections, I am fine with Suryakumar at 5. But KL Rahul is getting selected as vice-captain really, has been in terrible form across formats, and Gill has excellent recent record across formats. KL should really deliver on this underserved chance that he has got, and not end up embarrassing Rohit and Dravid.

Rahul has had a good run in 11 tests leading into this game.......good overseas run especially so in difficult English and SA conditions....and that too facing the new ball
Can't be dropped for 2 moderate tests vs BD....based on the credits he has in his account he will get the full series, or atleast 3 tests
Test matches selections also cannot be influenced by white ball performances

Duty281 wrote:England's series win in India in 2012 looks more impressive with each passing year. Since then India have played 15 test series at home and won all 15, this visit from Australia will make it 16 in a row, barring a miracle. That run of 15 test series has comprised 42 tests in total, of which India have won 34 and only lost 2 (one v Australia and one v England, both in the opening match of a series). It's complete dominance.
 

I made a point in my previous post that Aussie spinners do not have the skills to use Indian pitches
That series of 2012......Eng outspun India....with Monty being the key.....he bowled at pace, with undercutting spin that is most effective on such...and Swann played a good supporting hand adapting to Indian pitches ......and Anderson as usual had his bursts
btw  Lyon can and will also adapt and have some success .

back to 2012....Ind did not have a spinner to match Monty.....now they have two of that type in Jadeja and Axar......undercutting fast , fired in.
The other star for Eng was KP......he danced down the track and Ashwin was found wanting ....then Ashwin was new and did not have the faster, undercutting , arm, legcutter, carrom ball type bag of guiles or so much control and variations in his flight.....and under assault Dhoni's 1 dimensional captaincy wilted
btw Embuldeniya's style of bowling too will work well on such pitches.......
From what I have seen of Michael Swepson......he would have been  far more effective then their second Offspinner

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Is Cam Green injured? Shocked the Aussies have gone in with only 4 bowling options, one being a young spinner on debut and one being Boland

Yes Green is injured , Olly. Left the Aussies with a bit of a problem , to be fair. No way to balance the side without him ; and underwhelming spin options apart from Lyon.

They really needed to take advantage of winning the toss and batting big first up. But from the first couple of overs it largely went awry , except for two handy partnerships between Smith/Labuschagne and Handscomb /Carey. Indian spinners just too good.

Mountain to climb to get back into this now.

Thanks Alfie - that is a blow. Presumably Starc and Hazlewood are also hurt? I really struggle to see where 20 wickets (well 20 wickets in not many runs) are going to come from with this Aussie attack, asking an awful awful lot of Cummins and Lyon to do the donkey work plus be wicket takers.

No consideration to a Maxwell type to bat 7 and bowl some overs?

Tough first day. Doesn't mean the series is over, but as Duty has pointed out, India when they have Jadeja in particular (he offers such ridiculous balance to a side) at home are a beast that aren't often stopped. Be interesting to see how Kohli goes in this one

Starc, Hazlewood and Green all ruled out through injury. Maxwell too - broken leg. It sounded like Maxwell was going to tour as well. Combination of being a good player of spin, right-handed and bowling a bit one would presume. Jhye Richardson not fit for Tests yet either. He's been playing BBL but even that workload has seen him miss some games.

It's a lot of players unavailable.

Worth remembering that James Pattinson is basically retired, still only 32-years-old, due to injury as well. He was a brilliant if somewhat overlooked bowler given the injuries and his career largely coinciding with Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood.

Boland is a very good bowler but not one for Indian conditions. Swepson is a talented bowler but slower leggies rarely fare well in India. Agar is neither a Test number 7 or a frontline spinner. Lance Morris is quick but very raw.

I'd guess with the injuries Neser might be called up. I'm a big Neser fan but similar to Boland don't think he's an Indian conditions bowler at all.

Lots of issues for them. At full strength I'd presume they would have gone Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon with Green also bowling. Not having a second spinner of note is obviously an issue but that seam attack has a lot of quality, variety, pace and height. All things that can make something happen, albeit requiring gruelling consistency, on tough pitches.

With the absentees it seems they've picked the best bowlers standing. Boland isn't suited to conditions though. Whilst I think Murphy is a really talented bowler and probably their second best spinner it means they have two offies in a 4 man attack.

India would have been overwhelming favourites with Oz at full strength still. It's a shame we aren't getting to see the full battle though. Hopefully we see some big returnees over the following Tests so that this can be a starter before the main.

Imagine one at least of Starc and Hazlewood will be back for Test number two (hope so anyway !) Won't solve the attack balance problem though : likely to see a lot of spin-friendly pitches and I'd question whether any of the second spin options are capable of making a big difference.
Like KP_fan , I think Swepson (who apparently was hardly even considered for this match) might have been a better choice than Murphy ; but I suppose they have one eye on the future and are rather hoping the new boy might produce something significantly different from Lyon's wares. I missed most of his spell late yesterday but see his figures are OK : will be interested to see how he bowls today.

The other big problem for Australia may be that the batting is too heavily reliant on Smith and Labuschagne - especially in these conditions. I fear Warner (despite the 200 against SA) is at or past his sell-by date ; Renshaw and Handscomb are decent bats but hardly stars at this level ; and while Khawaja has had a magic recent run it remains to be seen whether he can produce more of the same in India. Still staggered that Head wasn't picked for this one but also acknowledge he has much to prove against quality spin.

And they are going to see a lot of quality spin over the next few weeks.

If Australia are to effect any kind of fightback in this match they need a good session or two today. If India get 300 it is Game Over. Will want to pick up Rohit early as he can take the game away from you very quickly once settled.

Murphy made a good start with a very good first over , beating and nearly bowling Ashwin with one. Cummins at the other end will want to be tighter than last night.

But , slightly oddly , Lyon has immediately replaced Murphy. Seems Murphy only started because Lyon had bowled the last over yesterday... Think I'd have let him have another couple after that first over. 86/1.

117/1 at drinks. Ashwin was threatening to race away , launching Lyon for six and hurrying to twenty ; but Boland brought some welcome control with a lot of dots...

And on resumption , Murphy has the break ! Trapped Ashwin lbw on review for a useful Nighthawk's 23 . 118/2

Big - and rather lucky - break for Australia ; as Pujara tries to sweep away a frankly pretty poor , wide leg side ball from Murphy , but somehow just spoons it up to Boland at backward square...Murphy won't mind ! He has three now for twenty-eight on debut ; and with Boland applying the brakes at the other end it is 135/3 and the run rate down to exactly three per over now.

Lyon replacing Boland. He's been out bowled by his new pal so far - in fact a bit expensive. Team needs him to step up now with this Rohit/Kohli pairing probably key...

Aussies are not getting the ball to jump off a length at all
In fact both off spinners are on the contrary operating with low bounce....I think it's because of high release and no side spin

151/3 at lunch. Just 74 added in 28 overs - over rate slower than yesterday despite a lot of spin. Rohit very sound , on 85 ; though quite circumspect for the most part. Kohli has started quite nicely with a couple of handsome boundaries already in his 12.

Murphy and Boland have outperformed their more experienced mates : Boland (0/7 from 9 overs) very tight which Cummins - 0/41 from 8 - hasn't been ; and Murphy 3/36 much the more effective spinner , Lyon going for 66 from his 20.

Australia hanging in ; but will need wickets this afternoon.

KP_fan wrote:Aussies are not getting the ball to jump off a length at all
In fact both off spinners are on the contrary operating with low bounce....I think it's because of high release and no side spin

Maybe true - but could also be the pitch has changed a little from yesterday ? I'd have expected Lyon to get one or two to jump but not seen any yet. We might see a lot of low bounce as this progresses.

Well now : it seems Murphy - apart from being a pretty handy looking bowler - is also that priceless thing : a lucky bowler .

Straight after lunch , rubbish ball outside leg and Kohli glances it too carelessly for Carey to take an excellent catch ! Four for the new boy and Australia are pegging India back at 151/4.

Bit early to say India are going to collapse ; but apart from Rohit none of their bats have really fired yet and we see a couple of players inexperienced in Tests up next in S Yadav and Bharat. So an important session , this.

Cummins in action to have a go at the new bat. Can't see Yadav poking around for long , though I don't suppose he will be going full on t20 just yet...

161/4

And another one gone...Lyon has Yadav at 168/5. Bowled him !

I swear that is the sixth time in this match I have walked away from the TV for a few seconds and a wicket has fallen

Australia would like me to keep moving around , no doubt.

Jadeja in ahead of the keeper. Rohit really holding this innings together , on 95 and he'd like someone to stick around with him...

Hundred for Rohit

Achieved in style with a lofted off drive for four...this has been a very fine innings. Head and shoulders over all other bats in this match.

And India take a lead at 178/5.

Without Rohit, India would be in a whole pile of trouble. This an incredible knock from him in these conditions.

226/5 at tea. A slow day : just 56 overs bowled despite the spinners bowling most of them. India not in a rush - only 149 scored in the day so far but batting hasn't been easy on this pitch , though it is no spitting cobra just yet. Setting themselves up you'd think : Australia has a new ball due after tea but the bowlers might be getting a little weary.

Rohit has played beautifully , and has had valuable assistance from Jadeja in a stand now worth 58. Murphy and Boland in particular have bowled rather well , and Lyon has brought more control as the day has gone on. Has been a good effort from the tourists to keep a lid on : they won't want to let India get away in this last session. (They have had another bit of ill fortune too as Renshaw didn't take the field this morning and was sent for tests on his knee. But he's come back on so hopefully all OK. really don't need any more injuries !)

Good old new ball ...

Cummins has Rohit dropped one ball (!) and then bowls him (for a splendid 120) ...and now five for Murphy who once again overturns an lbw verdict to see off Bharat.

At 240/7 India are looking at a less than commanding lead. Great fightback from Australia

Jadeja has work still to do...

The two previous Aussie spinners to take a 5fer on debut were Nathan Lyon and Jason Krejza (8/215!). I think Todd will be hoping to emulate the former…

Whatever goes on to happen here , Murphy has validated his selection , I think. Not that a good start against India is always a guarantee of a long career (Jason Krejza , where are you ?) but he looks a good prospect and Lyon won't go on forever. Couple of "gifted" wickets today ; but a bit of "golden arm effect" is a very useful skill to have...

5/68 now from 28 overs. Leaving Lyon (27 overs , 1/81) in the shade .

JDizzle wrote:The two previous Aussie spinners to take a 5fer on debut were Nathan Lyon and Jason Krejza (8/215!). I think Todd will be hoping to emulate the former…

Ha ! Hadn't seen your post when I referenced Krejza , JD , honest . Great minds think alike

Any lead on this track is important as I think that Marnus and Smith might bat better in the second innings. Game very much on even if its still very much advantage India.

Jadeja and Axar seem to be taking it away from Australia now...lead over 110. , three wickets left. Should be decisive .

300 up and this is a matter of time now...this partnership has pretty well cooked the Australian goose. Batting depth and a full hand of bowlers has served India well.

Ironically , after all the fuss about the funny pitch preparation it is these two left handers who are doing the damage with the bat