Australia v India: 1st Test, Melbourne

Monday, December 26, MCG
Start time: 1030 AEDT; 0500 IST; 2330 GMT

Australia:
1 David Warner, 2 Ed Cowan, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey,
7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

India:
1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Virat Kohli,
7 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.

If last year is to go by, and with the weather conditions, which look very similar, the winning toss imo will prove vital to either team. Strauss won the toss 12 months back and made Aus bat, and with much glee Aus were 98 all out, and thus realistically out of the match. This could prove to be the big difference in this fixture.

After a hard Xmas day thus far, (but enjoyable) I shall be tuning in tonight for some relaxation and hopefully, plenty of great cricket.

Think VVS will bat 5 and Kohli at 6 for India.
India have found first tests of an away tour the toughest, and if they manage to put up a good show in the first match, that will set them up pretty well.
The Indian bowling, with the return of Zaheer Khan, has a much better feel about it, but both Zaheer and Ishant Sharma, who tends to raise his game in the company of Zaheer, have to stay fit along with the impressive yet inexperienced Umesh Yadav.
Ravichandran Ashwin may not be much inspired by the nature and recent past record for spinners at the MCG, but I believe he'll have a big role with the ball right from the go.

Australian bowling unit may not have so much of experience or big names, but in their own conditions, with some of the youngsters coming through nicely, they are a force that shouldn't be underestimated.

Last time round, Australia got bowled out for 98 against England, after being put in. The toss was crucial then, as the weather kept the bowlers interested.
Rain is indeed predicted during the match, but not to the extend of seriously impacting the match times, at least as of now.
Hoping for some fine cricket.

Are India really likely to go in with both Zaheer and Ishant? Don't they both have injury concerns hanging over them? Would be a very risky strategy IMO. I see Australia having the edge in the bowling, India in the batting, should be a fascinating contest...

Unless fresh concerns come up, both Zaheer and Ishant are set to play. India is going in with their first choice attack after some time for the first time, touch wood!.

Australia wins the toss and will bat. MS would have bowled first anyway... he says.

After the hail storm and mini tornados yesterday... there should be a little moisture in the pitch but hopefully it will dry out.

Best of luck for both sides. Let's hope it's another great contest between these two great sides.

Will be an intriguing series no doubt. Just hoping that Ishant and Zaheer can stay fit. Last thing I want as a neutral is to see the game ruined by injuries! I am backing a draw in this first game though... Despite the Australian fraility in batting.

Off for rain, but straight back on! Good work from the umpires. Warner gone! You have to wonder did the little break take away his concentration? Still a bit of nip out there aswell so India could easily get two or three here.

Bowle Yadav, caught Dhoni after attempting a hook shot.

Warner out. Gloves one off Yadav attempting a hook shot.

First ball back after they went off for some rain... but they then came out again before they reached the change rooms.

This is the first time that I have seen Marsh bat so I will look forward to seeing how he goes. I know Mike Selig really rates him and thinks his techniqu is ideal for Test match cricket. And I must say the first thing that strikes me is his demeanour is almost dismissive off that first over from Yadav, and it looks like he has good self confidence and a hint of arrogance about his batting. Now to see if he can score runs! That is the mockers put on him then...

Marsh out for a duck...caught at cover by Kohli off Yadav again.

JDizzle wrote:This is the first time that I have seen Marsh bat so I will look forward to seeing how he goes. I know Mike Selig really rates him and thinks his techniqu is ideal for Test match cricket. And I must say the first thing that strikes me is his demeanour is almost dismissive off that first over from Yadav, and it looks like he has good self confidence and a hint of arrogance about his batting. Now to see if he can score runs! That is the mockers put on him then...

Thanks JD

Ricky cops one in the scone... or neck region up to the helmet?

Looked worse at first glance that it was I think. Arm, then head. Good thinking to kick it away from Ricky here though. Is there a bit of pace in this pitch then? Yadav and Ishant are getting it through at 140 kph and Warner has been bounced out and Punter hit?

Setting the field to bounce Ricky out... Could be dangerous. If he gets going with that pull shot he could get in quickly.

Punter looking really nervous here early on. Both Yadav and Ishant causing him trouble! Cue a Punter 100.

More pace than when the drop in pitch was first put in. It has matured over the last 3 years or so according to the groundsman. The effort ball can produce the tennis ball like bounce when it hits the right spot and kicks off the seam.

What's all this slipping from Ricky? He looks so unbalanced playing those pull shots. I hope he has the right spikes in his boots!

Yadav and Ishant looking the goods this morning. Keeping it on the right length. Can they keep it going or will they start to tire and begin landing it just short of a full length?

Sharma and Yadav are getting it through with a fair pop which is interesting.

He does look woefully out of form. He has always struggled with that early on in his innings (falling over). Definitely an LBW candidate here, but if he can get through to 30 then maybe we will see him flowing a bit better.

Good knock from Cowan. Very disciplined. 68-2 at lunch.

Off the ground 1 ball before lunch. 68/2.

I feel as though if they hadn't gone off for those 5 minutes it would definitely had been Australia's 1st session. As it is - maybe 50-50; with India having much the better of that last hour.

To be fair he didn't 'always' struggle with falling over like he has in the last couple of years.

Looks like the rain is coming down heavier now at lunch during the Cricket Show.

Well, maybe always struggle is a bit harsh but ever since I can remember (since about the '05 Ashes) there has always been the feeling that you can get him LBW early playing a straight one through mid wicket. The trouble is his technique relies much more on hand eye co-ordination and reflexes than someone's like Kallis's so it is bound to deteriorate quicker. Saying that I still think he has plenty to offer and I do expect him to come through this rough patch!

The 2nd half efforts just about makes it India's session.
Yadav and Sharma bowled fast, and Zaheer too, looked impressive without taking a wicket. Even Ravichandran Ashwin got a couple to bounce and turn early in his spel. India would need him to settle into a good rhythm, as he needs to keep one end tight so that the fast bowlers can attack from the other with just enough rest in between spels.
India shouldn't get carried away with the short stuff to Ponting. Of course Ponting getting hit rather than pulling it away to glory is a rather new development, but if he gets a few on the middle of the bat, then that should get him in, and despite his recent poor performances, he loves to bat against India in Australia, and an upstart here would be trouble throughout the series.

The rain seems to be staying in for a bit. Terrible!.

Seems we are close to a restart at the MCG. The covers are taken off.

Far too many short and wide offerings from the Indian bowlers, and the 2 Australian batters having a rather easier passage here.
Ponting is getting his pull shots away, and that isn't a good sign for India. Zaheer Khan not yet up to his usual pace, and Yadav, despite being fast, not getting the control on line and length.
Someone needs to put his hands up, or else it would all be running away from India quickly.
Australia 108-2.

Yadav going almost at 6. Time for Ishant? Particularly as Ponting is the man in?

Zaheer does look rather undercooked. His pace isn't up there, and he isn't swinging it either.

After some time, a quiet over, from Ashwin, and he did create a doubt or 2 in Cowan's mind in that over.

Cowan and Ponting both passed 50. Ashwin makes the odd ball do things and Ishant has had his favorit man in a spot of bother a couple of times, but in general, its been nice going for Australia, 152-2.

Ishant troubled Ponting throughout his stay, but its Yadav who gets him!.
C Laxman B Yadav 62.

Zaheer is back on, and he should be looking to reverse it a bit.
If he manages to reverse it, then Dhoni should waste no time in bringing Ishant back on. He of course had a pretty intense spel before tea, but think he has had enough time to recover.
Anyways, although he managed to turn a few and find extra bounce at times, Ravichandran Ashwin hasn't had his usual control and offered too many easy runs.

Australia lost 2 in 2. Zaheer was getting the reverse going, and Clarke was pretty well worked over, getting played on of a ball coming into him. Then Hussey got a brute of a delivery coming up sharply at him, it was too good for him to edge it, but he was given out by the umpire. The absolute last thing Hussey needed, after going through 2 back to back poor series, against SA and NZ.
Auss 210-5.

Erasmus with a terrible decision against Hussey, clearly no where near the bat. But Hussey can not use the DRS.
MEK Hussey c Dhoni b Khan 0

Aus 211-5

Ravi Shastri as per usual talking absolute rot about the DRS, being a total YES man for the BCCI.

Where is Nasser when you need him

Cowan thick-edges a ball into Dhoni's gloves.

EJM Cowan c Dhoni b Ashwin 68

Aus 215-6.

Further trouble for Australia, a supreme debut innings comes to an end from Ed Cowan, Caught Dhoni Bowled Ashwin 68.
Australia 215-6.

India right on top now, with Aus losing 3 wkts for 9 runs, but Husseys and Cowans wkts to dodgy umps calls.

Aus 217-6

Haddin is looking more composed than usual. Has played within himself so far, without trying something fancy.
Ashwin's doing OK, but I think its time for Ishant to return to the attack. Zaheer is doing things with the old ball, and Ishant at the other end would be perfect company.
May be Dhoni is thinking of the new ball available in another 8 overs. But then, they need Zaheer to be fresh and ready for that.

Its Ishant into the attack, in place of Zaheer. The first over was rather about wide stuff, not making Siddle play much.

Australia has got a rather longish tail. in place of a Shane Warne or a Brett Lee or a Mitchell Johnson, its Peter Siddle who is batting at 8.
But credit to Sid the Vicious, he has done a good job so far.

Hi msp...
A very good Indian fightback from 152/2 to 229/6. (I had to duck out for a few hours to visit some neighbours so missed Clarke & Hussey's dismissals) India stuck to their plan so full credit deserved. Zac coming into some form again and Yadav and Ishant have done well. It was good to see Cowan stay at the crease for a while but would have been nice to see him score some more runs.
These two will have to try and salvage a decent total. Can't help but feel that psychologically - India will feel on top after Day 1.

First signs of indiscretion from Haddin, goes fishing at Ishant, lucky not to get a touch.
He needs to stay out there, if Australia has to put up a decent total.

Indeed LB.
India stuck to their task and got the rewards. A fit and ready Zaheer Khan makes a world of difference to their bowling. His presence makes a fine impact on the other bowlers, particularly Ishant Sharma.
Unfortunate for Hussey though, Brute of a ball, but he didn't edge it!.

Yeah, I saw him earlier on the treadmill (he can't sit still!) and was wondering how he would answer the critics. It sounds like he was very unlucky.

I think Hads has been told "just to play his natural game"... but he's trying to play more responsibly. He won't be able to resist going for it I feel.

A toe tickler...

Haddin looked plumb lbw there...

Good resistance from Siddle and Haddin. Taken the sting out of the momentum India was building after those 3 quick wickets!.