Cricket: 2nd Test: End of 1st Day's Play

Category: Misc Cricket

Australia's Cricket Tour of India 2004
2nd Test at Chennai

First Day's Play:
Australia won the toss and Hayden and Langer gave a perfect start to the test with a century opening stand.
Harbhajan took their wickets after lunch. Hayden holing out to long-off—Laxman taking the catch, and then Langer was caught at slip by Rahul Dravid. Australia were comfortably placed at 140 odd for 2.

Anil Kumble changed the complexion of the game by snapping quick wickets, and in a sudden turnaround Australia from 140 for two were all out for 235 runs.

Kumble took 7 wickets, with Australia's middle order collapsing to the sharp, rising deliveries of Anil Kumble.
Darren Lehmann was bowled for a duck, trying to cut a low delivery outside the off-stump and dragging it onto his stumps.
Adam Gilchrist was out caught at forward short-leg. Damien Martyn was also caught in front of the wicket. Michael Clarke, who scored a century on debut in the Bangalore test, was out LBW to a fastish delivery from Anil Kumble, which he tried to play on the back-foot, missed the line and was trapped in front. Jason Gillespie tried to play the ball off the front-foot and managed to spoon a catch, and Kasprowics too was caught off the bowling of Kumble, and Glenn McGrath was run-out to leave one-down batsman Simon Katich unbeaten on 36, and the Australian innings wrapped up with only 235 on board. From 130 for no loss to 235 all-out, Anil Kumble had bundled the Aussies.

Must talk about the Sportsmanship shown by the Aussie Batsmen.
Adam Gilchrist has always been a walker, that is, he walks when he has nicked or edged the ball, without waiting for the umpires signal to declare him out. Jason Gillespie too walked without waiting for the umpire's signal, and Micheal Kasprowicz walked even when David Shepherd had negated Anil Kumble's appeal and declared him not-out, still he walked. A remarkable gesture to raise the Sportsmanship spirit of the game. Well done Australia!

Indian Batting:
Virender Sehwag opened with Yuvraj Singh. With Akash Chopra out of the team, Yuvraj was opening for the first time.
Yuvraj had a lucky reprieve in the first over itself, edging a Glenn McGrath delivery to second slip, and Micheal Clarke dropped an easy catch. He jumped towards his right, cupped the ball in his hands, however, he couldn't hold on to it, and the ball seam-up, slipped out of hhis hands. That was lucky for Yuvraj. However, he didn't last long and nicked one from Warne to Gilchrist, with this wicket Shane Warne equalled the World Record of 532 Test match wickets. Yuvraj continued from where the Aussies had left off, and walked without waiting for the umpire's decision. A good gesture Yuvraj, keep it up. Hope you play well in the 2nd innings. It's tough to expect Yuvraj Singh to shine immediately in the opener's position. The question, "Why was Yuvraj made to open in the first place?" Akash Chopra should have been given the chance.

Irfan came in as the night-watchman and safely negotiated Warne's over.
So at the end of the first day's play of the 2nd test at Chennai, India were 28 for 1 in reply to Australia's first innings score of 235 runs.

I'll post about the second day's play after watching the highlights.

Cheers
Chirayu

At the end of the 2nd Day's play India are 291 for 6 in reply to Australia's first innings score of 235.