Add Category
Updated
Half-centuries to Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Starc have given Australia reason to smile on a tough day one of the first Test against India in Pune.
Playing his fifth Test and first in the subcontinent, Renshaw took the slow and steady path to great effect, with his 68 leading the tourists to 9-256 at stumps.
The score would have looked far worse for Australia if not for Renshaw and also a stunning late show by Starc (57 not out) featuring three sixes and five fours.
Early in the day, Australia did exactly what had been called for, with Renshaw and opening partner David Warner remaining watchful on a Pune pitch that was doing all sorts for India's spinners.
Renshaw made it through a review for caught behind in the 10th over and five overs later Warner had his leg stump hammered off a giant front-foot no ball by Jayant Yadav (1-58).
The pair were picking their spots — defending for the most part but not missing out on the rare bad balls — and looked set to make it through to lunch before Warner's concentration appeared to abandon him.
After 21 successive overs of spin, seamer Umesh Yadav (4-32) entered the attack and Warner (38) chopped his second delivery on to his stumps.
Then the day's play took a turn for the odd when an uncomfortable Renshaw also started wandering towards the sheds.
He was called back by umpire Nigel Llong and had to endure a lengthy conversation before being allowed to run off the field with what turned out to be some digestive issues.
Skipper Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh (16) made it through to lunch and put on just 37 runs in almost 20 overs as the watchful trend continued, but a poorly timed sweep sent Marsh on his way.
It was a particularly painful non-contribution considering he had replaced the in-form Usman Khawaja in the line-up, but there was more pain around the corner.
Peter Handscomb (22) and Smith (27) were out LBW and caught at mid-on respectively in the space of five deliveries just before tea.
Mitchell Marsh (4) made it through to the break alongside Renshaw but the all-rounder could not last much longer, trapped in front by Ravindra Jadeja (2-74) in the fifth over after the resumption.
But Renshaw had Aussie fans smiling one over later as he hammered a four through the leg side to pass 50 for the third time in his brief international career.
Matthew Wade's (8) stay alongside Renshaw was short-lived as Umesh nabbed another wicket and Renshaw joined the rest of the team back in the sheds three overs later after prodding at a spitting Ravi Ashwin (2-59) ball and getting caught at second slip.
His was the second wicket in a collapse of 4-15 but the bigger problem was the 7-56 the team lost to be 9-205 after having been 2-149.
Thankfully, Starc's ninth Test half-century helped the Aussies to the close of play with one wicket still intact.
Of the 51 runs scored in the last-wicket partnership, Josh Hazlewood has so far scored just one.
First posted