Zeenews Bureau
Perth, Jan 16: It took every one by surprise when Kumble decided to bat first after winning the toss, but at the end of Day 1 on a fast WACA pitch Indian batsmen ensured that they do not let their captain down. Dravid and Tendulkar came, batted and conquered the pace quartet of Kangaroos on world’s fastest pitch ensuring that India get close to 300 mark at stumps. Probably a century would have been the icing on the cake but Brett Lee had a different script. India at 297/6, would like to get past the 400 mark tomorrow morning.
No team after scoring 400 plus runs in the first inning has ever lost a match at Perth a fact that India should be aware of. Brett Lee was the pick of the Australian bowler getting the most important wicket of Sachin Tendulkar leg before wicket.
Both the teams fought hard and set the stage for a great show on the second day of the third Test match of the Border-Gavasker Trophy.
Australian pace machine Brett Lee sent shock waves down the Indian batting line-up as he took the wicket of VVS Laxman for a score of 27 runs. The Australian seamers tested the Indian batsmen’s skills to the fullest and emerged as winners by claiming three crucial wickets in quick time. India were 284 runs with six players of the team back in the pavilion.
The impetus was on MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan to guide the visitors to safer shores as the first day’s play reached its crescendo.
Rahul Dravid missed out on hitting a century against Australia on the first day of the third Test match at Perth. After standing on the crease as a wall, the classy batsman fell for 93. Dravid was caught by Ricky Ponting at mid-off on the bowling of Andrew Symonds.
Earlier, Sourav Ganguly fell to Mitchell Johnson for a score of nine runs. He was caught brilliantly by Mike Hussey. Ganguly fell soon after Tendulkar was out for 71.
Prior to this, Lee claimed the prized wicket of Tendulkar. He was out LBW to a tearing fast delivery from the speedster. Tendulkar had added crucially in the 139 runs partnership for the third wicket with Dravid.
Ending a long dry season of runs, Dravid scored a classy half-century. The knock was a positive chapter in Dravid’s recent run of form and he timed the ball impeccably on route to a well deserved fifty.
Tendulkar - Dravid partnership
Tendulkar slammed his 49th Test century when it was required by his team the most. His innings stabilised the Indian batting which suffered early losses. Studded with an array of boundaries, the innings was as refined as one will come across and helped India reach 154 runs without any further damage.
He was aptly supported by Dravid as he stood solid in the face of tearing pace of the Australian players.
The experienced duo of Tendulkar and Dravid used their skills to the maximum and helped India cross 100 runs post lunch of the first day. They milked the Australian pacers for precious runs and improvised on the loose deliveries to dispatch them for boundaries. The partnership brought some stability to the Indian line-up after suffering from early hiccups.
The Indian scorecard read 74 runs for the loss of two wickets at lunch on the first day of the third Test match against Australia. The pace bowlers ruled the roost in the first session and did not allow the batsmen to settle in a rhythm. Tendulkar was batting at 13 runs while Rahul Dravid gave him company.
Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee struck gold early in his spell as he claimed the wicket of Wasim Jaffer who was at a score of just 19 runs. With both the openers back in the pavilion, the onus was on Tendulkar and Dravid on the crease to stabilise the Indian innings. India were 59 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson drew first blood for his team as he claimed the wicket of Virender Sehwag just when he looked set to build up on a big innings. The batsman edged an outswinging delivery into the hands of Adam Gilchrist as the shot was played too close to the body. He departed after scoring 29 runs and India were 57 runs for the loss of a wicket.
The Indian squad was off to a good start early on in the third Test as the opening pair of Jaffer and Sehwag powered India past 50 runs in quick time. Sehwag scored freely and made 23 runs studded with some cracking boundaries.
Kumble won toss
Indian skipper Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat in the third Test match against Australia at Perth. The pitch would assist the seamers in the initial session and Australian four pronged pace attack would like to improvise early on.
There were two changes in the Indian team with Virender Sehwag coming in place of Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan in for Harbhajan Singh. The Australian squad also made two changes as Chris Rogers was taken in place of injured opener Matthew Hayden and spinner Brad Hogg making way for Shaun Tait.
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting(c), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist(w), Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait
India (Playing XI): Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble(c), Ishant Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh
