http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 start positively
Australia has got off to a fine start on day one of their first Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 being played at Mohali. The visitors are batting first, lost the wicket of Simon Katich early on when he was sent packing by left armer Zaheer Khan.
The left handed Katich, once again perished lbw in what has been his regular mode of dismissal in recent Test matches.
Katich was dismissed in the fifth over of the innings, the opener must be a disappointed man as he was eying a big score on a belter of a pitch where big scores are expected.
The Australian captain, Ricky Ponting was joined by Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326, and the two confronted the Indian attack with great composure making full use of any opportunity to attack the bowlers.
Zaheer Khan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566 toiled hard on a generally benign wicket as Watson and Ponting looked set to score big runs and make life difficult for the hosts after winning a crucial toss.
Shane Watson was lucky to escape when he was dropped by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 behind the stumps off Ojha, who was clearly a distraught man as his captain floored a straight forward chance off a light edge of the bat.
Ponting was not in much trouble at the other end. The resolute Tasmanian, who responded in grand style after being out of form at the start of the year by smashing a double hundred against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, has again looked a man possessed in this innings.
The Australians made just one change to the team that lost the second Test to Pakistan at Leeds in July.
The leg-spinner, Steven Smith was replaced by Nathan Hauritz, with the tourists hoping that he would make inroads into the powerful Indian batting line-up.
The Indians on the other hand included Harbhajjan Singh, who was doubtful for selection at the start of the match because of injury problems. The off-spinner recovered in time yet he has failed to make much of an impression at the start of the match.
He has been a real nemesis for Ponting, dismissing him 10 times in Test cricket, yet the right hander tackled him with ease in the first session of the match.
The duo of Watson and Ponting were together when lunch was taken with the two set for big scores.
The Indians would be hoping to make some inroads in the line-up after lunch to claw their way back into the game.
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