Agency :
India picked up three late wickets to pull things back on day one of the first Adelaide Test on Tuesday after a splendid batting display by Australian opener David Warner (145), skipper Michael Clarke (60 retired hurt) and Steve Smith (72*).
The day began with 63 claps in honour of late Phil Hughes and the national anthems. Warner paid fitting tribute to death and stayed positive from the word go. Warner hit a first-ball boundary and he stayed positive, reaching his 10th Test hundred off just 106 balls. Throughout his innings there were many emotional gestures and when he crossed the milestone the left handed batsman embraced Clarke in a long mid-pitch hug.
Clarke was also given a huge ovation as he came to the wicket, an acknowledgement of his leading role in the days after Hughes’ death, in which he read a tribute at the funeral and was one of the pallbearers.
Clarke, who had to pass a pre-match fitness test on hamstring problems to play, went down with a recurrence of back trouble and retired hurt on 60. Opting to bat first, Australia dominated the day and were crusing along nicely before India struck three vital blows late on day to reduce the hosts to 354 for 6.
The hosts were comfortably placed at 258 for 2 when Warner became debutant spinner Karn Sharma’s maiden victim, which triggered a collapse of sorts with Mitchell Marsh (41),night-watchman Nathan Lyon (3) and Brad Haddin (0) falling in quick succession to help India stage a fightback.
In the first session, Warner dominated the proceedings and brought up his 50 off just 45 balls. Warner’s fellow openers Chris Rogers showed lot of discomfort and was out in the eighth over for a just nine off 22 balls when Ishant Sharma forced an edge to Shikhar Dhawan at second slip.
Shane Watson followed in the 19th over, giving Dhawan his second catch in the slips off Varun Aaron and making way for Clarke to come to the wicket. He scored just 14.
Starting the second session from 113 for 2 – Warner and Clarke dominated the post lunch session and scored 125 runs without loss of any wicket.
Warner, who was unbeaten on 77 at lunch, started from where he had left off and brought his century by pushing Karn Sharma towards long-off for a single. Two overs later, Clarke celebrated his half-century.
Clarke got to this 28th landmark in Test cricket after facing 69 balls and hitting eight boundaries. Later in the same over the pair brought up their 100-run partnership off just 123 balls. The Australian captain then was retired hurt in the 44th over of the innings, about half an hour before tea, as he hurt his back fending a short ball from Ishant.
Steven Smith joined Warner to negotiate the final few overs to the tea-break, as the hosts reached 238 for 2. Smith was on 17, and Warner unbeaten on 131 as the team took tea. , India fought back in the match and showed some sense of purpose in the last session. The older ball didn’t help their bowlers though as runs continued to flow at a consistent pace, thanks primarily to Warner.
Finally a dangerous looking stand was broken as Warner was caught in the deep but Ishant Sharma and Karn got his first scap in his debut Test. He walked off to a rousing reception, whilst pointing his bat to the skies.
India hoped for a quick couple wickets at this juncture, but were thwarted by an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket between Smith and Mitchell Marsh (41 off 87 balls).
Aaron then provided India the breakthrough with a new ball as Marsh was caught at gully by Virat Kohli and then Mohammad Shami removed Nathan Lyon soon afterwards. Shami redeemed his day with another late strike, having Brad Haddin caught behind for 0 in the last over of the match.
