Australia vs India 2018-19, Second Test: 5 Talking Points from Day 1 

#4 Marsh and Head save hosts from a potential meltdown

Marsh and Head made a valuable stand, just when Australia were at a critical juncture

Shaun Marsh and Travis Head joined hands at the fall of the fourth Aussie wicket immediately after tea. Head hit the first ball of the partnership, to the fence and set the tone for what followed for the next 22 overs.

Luckily for Marsh, he was dropped on 24 runs by Rishabh Pant, when the former tried to cut and instead got a thin edge.

The fresh lease of life added renewed vigour in the elder of former Aussie national Geoff Marsh's sons, and he went on to add another 21 runs to his individual score in 36 more balls.

Travis Head, meanwhile, has looked in fine nick since Adelaide, where he made 86 runs across two innings.

He repeated his run with the willow by making another 58 (80 balls, 6x4) before departing as the last wicket of the day.

While both batsmen were around at the middle, Marsh and Head made a valuable stand, just when Australia were at a critical juncture, having lost four quick wickets while making just 36, and staring at the face of a potential meltdown.

The partnership ended 16 runs short of a hundred when Vihari performed his second act of the day.

The youngster had been persistent with his lines all day and forced Marsh to repeat the shot that saved him earlier at the expense of Pant. Only that this time, he was caught properly by Rahane, to mark the end of his innings (45 of 98, 6x4)