First Test: Australia reach 84/1 at lunch vs India

Australia lost opener David Warner before reaching 84/1 by lunch break on the opening day of the first cricket Test against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.

Skipper Steve Smith (1 not out) and Shaun Marsh (1 not out) were at the crease when the umpires called for the close of the morning session.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the visitors were off to a brilliant start with opener Matt Renshaw (36 retired hurt) and Warner (38) putting on 82 runs before being separated by pacer Umesh Yadav.

Sensing the vulnerability of the Australians against quality spin, India skipper Virat Kohli surprisingly brought his premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to open the bowling alongside Ishant Sharma.

 

With both the left-handers at the crease, Ashwin in his second over managed to extract some turn off the pitch which Warner handled well before Kohli brought in his second offie Jayant Yadav into the attack.

The Australian duo handled quite well a few close calls, including a review for Renshaw, to go past the 50-run opening stand as left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was employed from the Yadav's end.

With the spinners failing to break the partnership, Kohli threw the ball to his fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who responded in his very first over by ending Warner's 74-ball vigil.

Warner, who fired six boundaries by now, played on a full delivery from Umesh, which took a thick inside edge to clatter into his middle and leg stump.

One ball later, Renshaw also walked off with the Australia team management confirming he had to "retire hurt" with an "upset stomach". The southpaw can come back to bat any time in the innings but either at the fall of a wicket or if another batsman retires.

With both the openers back, India had the chance to get back into the game but Smith and Marsh handled the situation well to go for the lunch interval unseparated.

--IANS

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