India and Australia met in Channai for the first Test in their four-match series with both sides giving debuts to one player; Bhuvneshwar Kumar for India and Moises Henriques for Australia.
The visitors started well and dominated the opening session for the loss of just two wickets but India fought back after lunch, taking three wickets and all five from Ravichandran Ashwin.
Michael Clarke (103*) and Henriques (68) put together a fine partnership to put the Aussies seemingly back on top but the late wickets of the debutant and Mitchell Starc saw the visitors end on 316-7.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me today for this opening Test in the four-match series between India and Australia.
Early news has come in regarding the toss. Michael Clarke has won it for Australia, and he has chosen to bat first on what is a quite remarkably dry pitch. Do India want it to spin, perchance?
This one doesn't quite carry the air of excitement as India vs. Australia would have done a few years ago. India are fairly fresh from their 2-1 series defeat to India. Australia's last was a three-match series at home to South Africa, in which they lost 2-1.
Team news on the way...
INDIA XI: Sehwag, Vijay, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Jadeja, Dhoni, Ashwin, Harbhajan, Sharma, Kumar.
AUSTRALIA XI: Warner, Cowan, Hughes Watson, Clarke, Wade, Henriques, Siddle, Starc, Pattinson, Lyon
It means there are two debutants in this one, one for each side. For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar instead of Pragyan Ojha, which is an odd decision as he bowled better than anyone else (for India) against England. Australia have Moises Henriques in for his first Test.
Only three of this current Australia side has played a Test in India before, quite a change from what seemed an ageless generation before. The other eight players have less than 20 caps each.
Harbhajan Singh, on the other hand, gets his 100th cap today. Looking at the pitch, he along with the other two frontline spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will see a lot of the ball.
Just about five minutes to the start of play of what should be an intriguing series. It will be good to compare Australia's performance to that of England, with the Ashes on the horizon.
As you might expect it's sunny in India. Looks very nice over there indeed, compared to outside my window where it's sub-zero. Almost. The teams are out; Ed Cowan and David Warner will face Kumar.
A decent line and length to start with from Kumar, but a lack of pace as you might expect on this dry pitch. Cowan picks up a couple from the first over of the day and the Aussies are underway.
Sharma is given the new ball at the other end and with it the chance to size up Warner. A small appeal is dismissed, with the visitors picking up leg byes from a bouncy delivery. Nothing more from Sharma's opening over with Warner still to score.
Fantastic delivery to open the new over from Kumar as he squeezes one through the gate to Warner. The batsman survives and gets himself off the mark to the leg side next ball. Cowan latches on to one short of a length to pull backward of square for four.
Warner helps himself to a four now, guiding on over the huge gap at square leg. Much better timing from him. Dhoni does well behind the stumps to stop a fine leg glance going for more than one and a slightly less fine glance from Cowan brings the third four of this bright Australian start. The third one follows straight after, through mid-off and a massive 13 come from Sharma's second over.
Good bowling from Kumar, who pitches more full, gets a touch of swing and Warner is just able to deal with it. The batsman gets a thick inside edge on the next one but it races away for four. The next one is more deliberate; a fine low cut that fizzed through backward point. It's limited-overs stuff from Australia at the moment.
It's already time for some spin! Barely 20 minutes in and Harbhajan replaces Sharma; I don't see either seamer getting a whole lot of overs today. Cowan picks up a single, which is the first run for a while that hasn't been a boundary. A really nicely timed shot from Warner is stopped on the boundary for three. Five from Harbhajan's first over.
At the other end Kumar is given a bit more time. I make it the first maiden of the day as Cowan defends an over of good length bowling.
Big, loud appeal off the first ball of Harbhajan's next over, but there was an inside edge from Warner's bat, who then pushes into a leg-side gap for two runs. They run three leg byes with a slight touch making it nearly to the boundary. Cowan then gets down to sweep very fine to the boundary and Australia continue to fly.
That's enough of seam, says MS Dhoni who brings in Ashwin. Oh dear! A poor drop from Sehwag at slip from Warner, who follows up by hitting three runs. That was a good height on not too quick for the fielder and he really should have held it.
The spin has finally started to slow to runs down now. That was Harbhajan's best over so far, but he finishes with a bad one to Warner, who puts it to the boundary to bring up Australia's 50, well inside 45 minutes.
Cowan flicks one off his pads for an easy single to rotate the strike to Ashwin. The spinner then finds the inside edge of Warner, but Australia escape for two. Fantastic bowling to end the over as Warner swings and misses from a big bit of turn.
Much better there from Harbhajan, who finally causes some trouble for the Australian batsmen with just one coming from the over.
Likewise from Ashwin. Australia escape a couple of nervy moments from bouncing deliveries and come away with two from it. The rate has slowed but India do need a wicket.
Cowan takes matters into his own hands, advancing down the wicket to slap Harbhajan right back over his head for six. Both batsmen have moved on to 29 runs from less than 50 balls. Rapid for Test match batting.
WICKET! Cowan (29) st Dhoni b Ashwin
There is the wicket, and it is the most likely bowler who claims it, Ashwin. Really quick work from Dhoni behind the stumps to whip off the bails of Cowan, who had again attempted the big shot. Phillip Hughes makes his way to the middle.
Hughes gets off the mark quickly, but that is an excellent over from Ashwin and it now looks better for the hosts after Australia's storming start.
The overs are flying by at the moment. Harbhajan tries his luck with an LBW appeal but it was clearly not-out against Warner.
Hughes, after what happened to Cowan, is happy to defend from Ashwin, who is pitching his deliveries right up to the crease and finding spin. It's another maiden, the second in a row.
Harbhajan Singh continues and Warner clips him early to the leg side for a single. Hughes picks up two with some good running and an ecxellent chase from Jadeja stops his cut reaching the boundary. Six from the over, though, and I'd swap Singh out if I were Dhoni.
WICKET! Hughes (6) b Ashwin
Australia are in danger of trying to score too quickly. Hughes looks to slap a shorter one from Ashwin to the boundary but succeeds only in bottom-edging on to his stumps. The early work with the bat is being undone slightly. Here's the experience of Watson to steady the ship.
A wicket-maiden for Ashwin, who has bowled superbly, almost single-handedly countering the Aussies' fine start.
As I thought, Harbhajan is removed from the attack for Sharma. A wide, loose one gifts Watson an easy cut for him to open his account with a four. Excellent fielding from Jadeja prevents another four; Watson didn't even bother running, so no runs at all.
Ashwin continues and Warner gets three with a shot that is just about stopped at the backward square boundary. A single for Watson gets Warner back on strike but there are no more runs from the over. Can either side get on top of this before lunch?
It was just the one over for Sharma, as Jadeja comes into the attack. Watson gets one run with a clip to leg and Warner sends him back the very next ball. Jadeja slips a delivery slightly down leg side and Watson picks up two by helping it on its way.
Warner tries to sweep Ashwin but instead finds the back of the bat and it fizzes just behind the stumps; he picks up a single for it. Three more come from the over and now Australia are starting to tick along.
A Jadeja over fair flies by without any drama whatsoever. A maiden for him and he's started pretty well with the ball.
A four off the last ball of Ashwin's latest over with a fine sweep from Warner.
Watson goes on the defensive from the left-armer Jadeja. He's not been fluent thus far but importantly for Australia after a couple of dismissals off attacking shots he has been solid. There have been 26 overs in a bit more than an hour and a half.
Ashwin continues to bowl well, but just can't tempt Warner into anything risky. It's a patience game, as Warner picks up one with a clip to extra cover, which is the only run from the over.
A push gets Warner a quick single, before Watson latches onto one that Jadeja drops a foot or two short to crash through midwicket. A single then brings up Australia's 100.
Watson is now looking to take the attack to both spinners. A similar shot to the last over this time goes slightly in the air but flashes through mid-on for four.
FIFTY FOR WARNER: Dhoni makes another bowling change and Harbhajan is coming back in for Jadeja. An early single from Watson gets Warner a look-in to reach his 50, and he does get there with two at the first time of asking.
Jadeja was just changing ends, as he now replaces Ashwin. A couple more for Watson, working it away nicely off his pads. Those are the only two runs and we'll have time for probably two, maybe three overs before lunch.
Harbhajan continues and finds a thick edge from Warner, but it goes wide of the slips and they run two. Watson hammers one into Kohli at silly mid-on, but he's immediately ready for action. Brave. Four from the over.
Watson works two runs after another edge, but this time it was softer and falls short. They run another two, this time a more deliberate shot off the pads, and there will be one more before the break.
LUNCH: Harbhajan bowls a loose one again, he has tossed up too many easy runs so far. This time Warner beats the diving Tendulkar at backward point for four runs. That's lunch and I give that session to Australia.
Well, despite a patch of nervy batting when they lost Cowan and then Hughes in quick succession, Australia have been on top. They started almost at Twenty20 speed. The spinners settled it down somewhat, but apart from Ashwin have not pegged their visitors back enough.
While the players have a break so will I. Join me again at approximately 6.40am for the second session.
Hello again all. I'm back. We're not many minutes away from the resumption of play.
Session one went to the Australians. India were not disciplined enough with their bowling and offered too many chances for boundaries, which the Aussies duly took. For a reminder of what happened, take a look at our report of the morning session.
The players are out and it will be Ashwin to Watson.
WICKET! Watson (28) lbw b Ashwin
Ashwin gets some good post-lunch turn - on the pitch, that is, I can't comment on how well his food went down. He gets an immediate response as Watson is too late getting bat on a straight one and is caught plumb in front. Suddenly it looks better for the hosts. Here comes captain Clarke.
Clarke is off the mark straight away. So one run and one wicket from the first over back after lunch. Good stuff.
It's Hsrbhajan at the other end. The batsmen exchange singles and Clarke is in no mood to hang around; he's got four from his first seven balls. Another wicket before 150 is up and India can wrestle control back in this one. That's a big ask though with the now settled Warner and the ever impressive Clarke.
WICKET! Warner (59) lbw b Ashwin
Did I say he was settled? He gets his feet all mixed up to Ashwin but escapes with his wicket intact. However, only for one more delivery as Ashwin squeezes one through and it looks to be hitting leg stump. Well, well, well. Matthew Wade is in.
Wade gets off the mark straight away, but he's almost undone by Ashwin too. Really good flight and spin from the bowler who has taken all four wickets so far.
Just one run off Harbhajan's next over, for Clarke. He's not getting the same amount of joy from the pitch as Ashwin is so far, but at least he's better with his length since lunch.
Ashwin again causing all sorts of trouble for the batsmen, mixing up his speed and trajectory. Australia just cannot score from him at the moment and that's a very well-bowled maiden.
There's a slight mix-up with the running between Wade and Clarke, but the former is safe in the end after turning up the pace. Clarke also takes a single, which are the only two runs from the over.
Wade gets a single, taking the first opportunity to get himself off strike and his captain, one of the best at dealing with spin, on. Clarke helps himself to a couple for a total of three off the Ashwin over. It wasn't as good as his last one but runs are still hard to come by.
There's the first sign since lunch of Harbhajan's tendency to drop it slightly short. Clarke spots it and rocks back to crash through covers for four and with it bring up his 7000th Test run. Clarke runs a good two with a push into the off side and sees the over out with a solid block.
Wade is pegged back a little by Ashwin, but relieves some of the pressure with a nudge to point for a single. Clarke sees out the final two balls. Slow progress from the Aussies, but they will just want to settle after India's fine start to the session.
Jadeja comes back into the attack for Harbhajan. Now it is the combination of left-arm and right-arm spin for Australia to deal with. They manage just one run from it, a Wade nudge after coming down the wicket.
A very good shot from Wade, dispatching a loose short one through the off side for four. He finishes the over with a single, and that was probably Ashwin's poorest over, which says a lot because it really wasn't that bad.
Wade takes a quick single at the start of Jadeja's next over. Clarke gets somewhat pinned back in his crease, unable to score as the over was very good from the left-armer.
WICKET! Wade (12) lbw b Ashwin
This is definitely a bowling combination that has changed the game. Wade is pinned back on his crease and is too slow getting bat on one that pitched and straightened right on the crease. He can have no complaints, it was right in front. Here comes the debutant Henriques.
Clarke gets a single with a thick outside edge, putting the newbie on strike. He defends his first two deliveries in Test cricket and gets off the mark with a nudge off his pads.
Ashwin gets a big bounce wide of Henriquez's off stump and the batsman picks up a single the following ball. Good shot from Clarke to end to over, he advances and guides a cover drive to the boundary.
Jadeja continues from the opposite end. Good placement from Henriques gets him two runs on the off side with the last ball of the over. The scoreboard is ticking over slowly now.
Another two coming off the last ball of the over, this time Clarke. The umpire calls drinks. This has been a superb response after lunch from India and they've dominated so far. Henriques can bat, however, so another wicket would put the hosts on top, otherwise there's still the potential of a big partnership.
A similar story after drinks. Just two from Jadeja's over, both from Henriques who worked one off his pads to backward square leg.
A very poor ball from Harbhajan drops at seamer's length and is given the treatment it deserves by Henriques who hammers it to the deep midwicket fence. He then works a single off his pads with six coming from the over.
Jadeja starts his 12th over and Henriques looks to attack, but a firm drive is stopped in the covers. In the end he gets just a single off the over as Australia edge towards 200.
A better over from Harbhajan. He bowls much more full which forces Australia to work for their runs. The pair exchange four singles from the over without a great deal of danger.
Jadeja carries on around the wicket to the right-handers. After a couple of singles Clarke clips into the gap on the leg side for a well-worked couple. Another four from it and in truth the two spinners who aren't Ashwin don't look likely to take wickets.
A bit of turn is being found now by Harbhajan, from a spot just outside the line of off stump. A far better over in all, and Australia manage just one from it through Henriques.
Jadeja pitches one far too wide of the leg stump - not hugely far, but he is bowling to Clarke - and the Aussie skipper sends it for four. He then goes off side to crash one through mid-off for another boundary. Both batsmen get a single to end one of the most expensive overs since the first half-hour of the day.
Harbhajan is worked once to off and once to leg for a single for each batsman, the only two runs from the over. Australia are now five away from the 200 and the ship is slowly being steadied by this pair.
A bowling change for India now as they turn to Sharma again for some seam. Last time it was for just one over for an end-change. Some decent pace shown from him in only his fourth over, just a single from each batsman from the over.
It's still Harbhajan from the other end, with the Aussies working singles in the gaps in the field. A flick off the pads from Henriques brings up their 200.
Henriques, who has batted competently on his debut, gets two runs with a thick edge to fine leg looking for the pull. He works another single, which brings up the 50 partnership; a key partnership, as they were under huge pressure when they came together.
Jadeja replaces Singh and both batsmen get a single each to rotate the strike. Henriques showing his skill with the bat with some very good defensive play. Two runs from Jadeja's return to the attack.
Still seam and Sharma from the other end. Clarke swings at one down leg side but misses the ball; he picks up a leg bye but looks annoyed that he missed the chance of a four. That's the only run from Sharma's over. A few more before tea, I reckon. Maybe three or four.
Ashwin comes back in and almost gets an immediate reward. The fielders appeal for an edge on to Clarke's pads, but the umpire Dharmasena gives it not out. India's refusal to use DRS has gone against them there - that's a shambolic call and would have been overturned, there's a clear edge. Two overall from the over, but it should have been a wicket.
TEA: Kumar replaces Sharma at the other end. After a few singles Clarke pulls of a superb cover drive, leaning into it and it races to the boundary. A good over for the Aussies to end the session. This partnership clawed them back into the session after Ashwin tore through them early on.
A very good session of Test cricket. We had wickets, boundaries and a very poor umpiring decision that would have been reviewed had India agreed to use DRS.
While the players break, I will have a quick one. Join me again in roughly 20 minutes' time.
Welcome back all. The players are out and the third session is just getting underway.
FIFTY FOR CLARKE: It's Ashwin to begin. He gets immediate bounce, with Clark top-edging instead of pulling, but it falls safe. A few balls later, however, he reaches his 50 in some style, with a booming six right down the ground.
Henriques, not wanting to be outdone, cuts Kumar superbly for four. He tries again, but this time it's more of an edge and it races through where second slip would be. Same result, though, four runs.
Clarke uses his feet fell to flick into space on the leg side and get a single. Really good shot from Henriques to clip a short ball between wicketkeeper and third man. After a single, Clarke follows suit to open up his body and slam a four through midwicket. Ten from Ashwin's over, that was unheard of until now.
Henriques shows his patient side with some good defensive shots and prods to fielders. Kumar gets a little bit of swing away from the batsman and he guides it through the point area for four, before Clarke retains the strike for the next over with a single of his own.
I don't know what Ashwin had to eat at tea, but he's just plopped a leg-side gift for Clarke to gladly unwrap behind square for four runs. In total seven come from the over and Ashwin is suddenly far less disciplined than he has been all day.
Clarke clips a decent inswinger really well off his pads and collects three runs in the process. Those are the only runs from Kumar's next over, and Australia have started this session well. The partnership is 99.
Clarke clips to midwicket for a single to bring up the 100 partnership. Henriques plays all round a quicker one from Ashwin but it misses the outside edge. Better from the spinner, just one from that over.
Dhoni likes to mi up his seamers and Sharma comes in for Kumar after just a few overs. The batsmen are patient to Sharma's pace and work themselves a few singles to keep the score ticking over at a decent pace.
There's also a change with the spin as Jadeja returns to replace Ashwin. He immediately gets his length right and the Aussies cannot go after anything just short of their crease. A good maiden for Jadeja.
Sharma's first delivery of the next over is very wide, but Henriques cannot take full advantage and gets just the single. Good length from Sharma in this over, if his line is slightly too far outside off to tempt the batsmen.
Jadeja flashes down a maiden over. He has done well from his 17 overs, but Ashwin will remain the pick with his 5-76. Ashwin could do with some support.
FIFTY FOR HENRIQUES: Four singles in total from the next Sharma over, the final one bringing up Henriques's 50 on his debut. Great stuff from the 26-year-old.
Henriques gets a thick edge from the first ball of Jadeja's next over, but he escapes with a single. Clarke defends well, then takes the strike with another run as he edges towards his 100.
Dhoni reintroduces Ashwin, the only man to take any wickets. They could really do with one before the end of the day, but Clarke and Henriques work the space well with cautious singles, taking three in all from the over. Ten overs left today and they can take the new ball now if needed.
Jadeja really does get through his overs quickly. Another one flashes by with Clarke picking up two runs with a cut through point.
Henriques looks to go after a delivery flighted just outside his off stump, but picks out the fielder at cover. He runs a single with a clip to long-on. It's drinks and this day now looks to be dribbling to a conclusion. The batsmen are happy to tick over until stumps and surprisingly India seem to be as well.
India take the new ball and Dhoni gives it straight to Sharma, who replaces Jadeja. He goes a bit short with his first ball and Henriques is able to prod it to the off side for a single. A couple of really super fours in succession from Clarke; the first a neat flick off his pads and the second a lovely cut that split the fielders at point and cover. Australia are enjoying this new ball more than India.
Another four for Clarke, this time a drive just wide of the bowler. Kumar is not getting much in the way of pace, seam or swing and Clarke as having a field day with it as another eight runs come from the over.
Henriques clips the first ball of Sharma's new over towards mid-on for a couple and gives his captain - now on 92 - the strike with an easy single. The strike is rotated three more times in the over and six come from it. That's five left in the day.
Just the one run from Kumar's next over, with the last delivery almost catching out Clarke - it was pitched short, but not short enough to duck and the skipper just gets himself out of the way. Good bowling from Kumar there.
Dhoni has had enough of seam bowling, so Jadeja comes back into the attack. Very good line first up and Henriques leaves one that was a little too close for comfort. He gets himself back off strike, which turns out to be the only run of the over.
Fine cover drive from Henriques for four, which in turn brings up Australia's 300. He attempts a hook a couple of balls later but bottom-edges into his pads. He gets well away from the bouncer to end the over. Only a couple of overs left, can Clarke get the seven he needs for his century?
He's looking for it but Kohli defends well at cover to stop a certain four. Clarke settles for two a couple of deliveries later, putting him five away from 100.
WICKET! Henriques (68) lbw b Ashwin
Finally there's another breakthrough for India. Henriques gets down to sweep Ashwin, but missed the ball and the umpire deemed it to be hitting. Mitchell Starc is in next, so India can now try to focus on the tail.
Just three coming from that over from Ashwin. We've hit the quota of 90, but there will be a few more as there is still 15 minutes left.
WICKET! Starc (3) b Jadeja
Jadeja gets into the act and finally Ashwin has some support. Starc expects it to turn, but it flies straight on, past the bat and into the stumps.
Peter Siddle, the new batsman, blocks the rest of the over and it's a wicket-maiden for Jadeja.
Clarke flicks one round the corner for three runs, and Siddle again defends well from the spin and sees out the remaining five balls. Can India get one more before the end of the day? I'd say it's bang even at the moment.
Clarke moves on to 99 with a single early in Jadeja's over and Siddle then gets himself off the mark, clipping off his pads. Clarke comes down the track but picks out the cover fielder and he tries again, this time finding point. One more attempt to reach his hundred ends with him hitting to Tendulkar at mid-off, so he has to wait.
Siddle sees out an Ashwin maiden. One, perhaps two more overs left for Clarke to get his ton. He now has a full over to try. In fact this will indeed be the last over and Jadeja will bowl it.
CENTURY FOR CLARKE: Clarke picks out point again, before finding midwicket perfectly. The wait goes on; he has three balls left. Everyone seems nervous except Clarke, and he finally gets there with a superb four down the ground. What a knock from Clarke with his team under pressure.
STUMPS, DAY ONE: Australia 316-7
That's been a really good day of Test cricket. Two outstanding performers - one for each team. Ashwin bowled superbly for his six wickets and without him Australia would have run away with this. Likewise, without Clarke Australia would be in huge trouble.
That's all from me. Join Callum Mulvihill tomorrow at the same time for day two. I'll be on New Zealand vs. England in the ODI. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
