India vs Australia: India fight back, Ashwin puzzles Aussies

Not really sure what the Indians had for lunch, but whatever it was, it has given them new zest for the post lunch session against Australia.

The Aussies came back from lunch with Warner and Watson looking at ease against the Indian spinners. The bowlers looked listless and apart from Ashwin, lacked penetration. But post lunch, they’ve looked a different bowling unit.

Led by the impressive Ashwin, India nipped three Aussie wickets quickly to leave the visitors in a precarious position, before Captain Clarke and debutant Henriques steadied ship somewhat towards the end of the second session.

The Australians were guilty of playing back to Ashwin, who was probing with his line and showed guile that Harbhajan lacked to get all three dismissals leg before wicket. First to depart was Watson, who played back to one that didn’t bounce as much as he thought and was struck just outside the line, but no DRS and the umpire ruled in favor of the bowler. Then Warner, same mistake. Played back to a fullish delivery, misjudged the length and was caught dead in front. Matthew Wade played down the wrong line and was caught by one that just straightened enough.

Clarke and Henriques did very well to keep the batting intact and the Aussies will be banking on their captain’s tremendous form to see them through the day without further damage with able support from the debutant.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, mostly with a view of avoiding batting fourth plus having just one frontline spinner. India, in a surprising move, omitted Pragyan Ojha in favor of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, handing the UP lad his first cap.

Ed Cowan and Dave Warner opened the innings and set about their task well. The Indian fast bowlers were deservedly put away by the Aussie openers. Against average medium pace bowling, they were never going to be troubled.

Ishant Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, touted as the future of Indian fast bowling, seemed anything but dangerous. Ishant looks lesser and lesser the bowler who cranked up the speed at Perth in his debut series, clocking 150k and Bhuvneshwar was almost impotent in non helpful conditions.

Harbhajan Singh, playing his 100th Test, wasn’t looking anything like the ‘Turbanator’ who bamboozled the Aussies in “that” series. He was too short, or too flat if he bowled full, and allowed the Australian openers to get away. The usually quiet Cowan tonked him down the ground for six, further highlighting Bhajji’s plunge.

Ashwin bowled well, getting the ball to turn and bounce, regularly tossing up the ball. India’s chances weren’t done any good with Sehwag dropping Warner off Ashwin when on 18.

Warner made them pay for that drop with some controlled batting and motored along to a half century.

Ashwin repaid the faith shown in him though with a lovely flighted and turning delivery to get rid of Cowan. The batsman stepped down the track and missed the ball which spun away and Dhoni completed a very good stumping. Phil Hughes never looked comfortable out there, trying to stay back and inevitably dragged one on trying to cut one awkwardly.

Watson having accepted a batting only role partnered Warner well and saw his team through to lunch.

If Ashwin can keep up his brilliance and if he gets sufficient support from his fellow bowlers, we might well see India bat today!