Indian batsman failed to make the full use of first days play as they lost wickets at regular interval after tea to end up the days play on 297/6. At stumps M.S. Dhoni and Irfan Pathan was two not out batsman’s at the crease. Both are playing on the score of 8 runs.
Earlier Indian captain Anil Kumble won the toss and decided to bat first on bouncy wicket of Waca ground in Perth. The decision to bat first was well supported by the openers Sehwag and Jaffer as they went on to put 57 runs in the first hour of play.
However some tight bowling after the first hour strangled the openers and soon a perfect delivery by Johnson took the edge off Sehwag’s bat on its way to Gilchrist to dismiss the opener for 29. Few overs later Jaffer also departed on 16 runs which is his highest score in current tour. He was picked by Brett Lee.
The Indian ship was then steadied by Rahul Dravid (93 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (71 runs) as they both put on 118 runs for the third wicket to help India pass the score of 170’s. The duo successfully combated an all-pace attack on the WACA pitch to guide India to 177-2 at tea on day one in Perth.
Sachin Tendulkar in his 71 runs knock was more aggressive than his opposite partner and he manages to hit 9 boundaries. Rahul Dravid also manage to hit his first half century of the tour after coming to bat at his favorite number three position.
After tea, all Indian batsman’s have short stay at the crease as India lost four quick wickets in last session to lost the gain initiative at close of first day’s play. India’s in-form batsman Saurav Ganguly (9 runs) followed Tendulkar soon as Mitchell Johnson struck for the second time in the day.
Rahul Dravid and V.V.S Laxman (27 runs) put on 64 runs for fifth wicket, before Dravid got out on 93 runs as India slumped to 278/5. Few over later Laxman were also got out to give Brett Lee his 3rd wicket of the inning.
Earlier both team made few changes before going into this test match. For Australia, South Australian speedster Shaun Tait replaces Brad Hogg. The visitors brought in opener Sehwag and left-arm medium-pacer Irfan Pathan in place of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.
Australia: Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (C), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait.
