Skipper Kumble spins India into Test contention
Robert Smith
Skipper Anil Kumble inspired a dramatic Indian fightback to almost
bowl Australia out on the opening day of the first cricket Test at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
It all looked grim for the tourists, chasing their first series win
in Australia, when openers Matthew Hayden and Phil Jaques propelled
Australia to a 135-run opening stand. But Kumble claimed five wickets
and paceman Zaheer Khan 3-93 as the world No.1 side slumped to 337 for
nine by stumps to hand India the early momentum.
Stuart Clark was not out 21 with Mitchell Johnson on 10 at stumps.
At the heart of the Indian resurgence after a lethargic morning was
Kumble, who touched it all off in the hour after lunch with the wickets
of Jaques (66) and Mike Hussey (2).
He followed up with the wickets of dangerous big-hitters, Andrew
Symonds (35), Adam Gilchrist (23) and Brett Lee (0) to finish the day
with five for 84 off 25 overs. Kumble now has 589 Test wickets and lies
third as the all-time wicket-taker behind Muttiah Muralitharan (723) and
Shane Warne (708).
Kumble shared the opening day top billing with Hayden, who continued
his affinity with the MCG with his sixth hundred in nine Tests at the
ground to raise his 28th Test century.
The 36-year-old opening batsman moved past former national captain
Allan Border to become the eighth all-time player with the most Test
centuries.
The powerful left-hander continued his liking for India's bowlers,
bringing up his fourth century against them to average 65.14 compared to
his career average of 53.04. He was finally out when he miscued to Rahul
Dravid at mid-on off Zaheer Khan, a half hour after tea.
Hayden shared in a century opening partnership with Jaques and
departed at the fifth wicket down to massive acclaim from the 68,465
Boxing Day crowd.
He struggled early in the morning but was in imperious form in the
afternoon, and batted for 268 minutes and struck nine fours off 183
balls.
Jaques was deceived by a Kumble wrong'un and was smartly stumped by
Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He put on 135 for the first wicket with Hayden in
142 minutes.
Jaques, who has replaced retired opener Justin Langer, continued his
impressive summer, following up his scores of 100, 150 and 68 in last
month's two Tests against Sri Lanka and bringing up his first century
opening stand with Hayden.
Zaheer, bowling around the wicket, claimed Ricky Ponting's
significant wicket, bowling the Australian skipper for four with a
delivery that straightened off the pitch.
It was a rare batting failure for Ponting, the top-ranked batsman in
world cricket. Kumble snared another coveted wicket, trapping Hussey leg
before wicket with a googly that struck his back leg as he played
forward to the wrist-spinner.
Hussey went to the crease averaging 86.18 in each innings and his
cheap dismissal was rejoiced by the Indian fieldsmen.
Michael Clarke lasted 82 minutes before he fell to left-armer R.P.
Singh, caught at second slip by V.V.S. Laxman for 20.
Fielding substitute Dinesh Karthik latched onto a sharp catch at
mid-wicket to dismiss Andrew Symonds for 35 and Gilchrist gave his
wicket away lashing out to backward point where he dollied a catch to
Sachin Tendulkar.
Kumble completed his 35th five-wicket haul in Tests when Lee was lbw
to a quicker ball.
Zaheer picked up his third wicket with Brad Hogg caught at third slip
for 17.
India are chasing their first series win in Australia after winning
just four Tests in eight previous Australian tours. Melbourney,
Wednesday |
