http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 off to a bright start in second Test
The Australians are off to a great start on day one of the second Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.
The visitors, who lost the opening Test in Mohali in what was one of the most gripping Tests of recent times, looked good from the start with openers Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Simon Katich taking the Aussies to lunch without being separated.
The Australians, who won the toss and opted to bat first have brought in Peter George in place of left arm pacer Doug Bollinger, who is down with a side injury that even ruled him out of action on the last day at Mohali, as the hosts sneaked home despite
losing 9 wickets whilst chasing down 216 runs for a win.
It was a special performance by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 at Mohali yet he was suffering from a back injury throughout the match and the injury has ruled him out of the second and final Test.
The wicket looks full of runs and after winning the toss Ricky Ponting made the right call for the second time in consecutive Tests.
However, despite winning the toss in the last two Tests, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and the first match at Mohali, Ponting has lost the games and Australia would be hoping it is a case of third time lucky for the Tasmanian.
Shane Watson, who had a memorable game in Mohali, continued his rich vein of form. The right handed all rounder struck boundaries with ease in the opening session racing to his third consecutive score of 50 or more in as many innings.
His partner Katich was obdurate at the other end and seemed content at holding up an end as the burly Watson flayed away from the other end.
Watson has thus far struck 9 fours in his 54 runs knock that has come off 73 balls. Simon Katich was the one who was more defiant, yet scored 43 runs off 95 balls.
The Australians were dealt a blow immediately upon resumption after lunch when Katich fell to Harbhajan Singh, he was snapped by the veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid.
Meanwhile the hosts have been forced to make as many as three changes due to injuries, opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CA-Pujara-c1209 replaces the hero of the Mohali Test VVS Laxman.
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