Friday, October 10 2008 --
Australia will play a 4-Test match series against India in India in October-November 2008 season. The first Test is being played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore from 9th to 13th October 2008. In this test, Australia won the toss and decided to bat. On the first day of the Test, Ponting scored a brilliant century, as Australia scored 254 runs for 4 wickets.

Hussey’s innings

On the second day of the first Test match between Australia and India in the 2008 season, the Australian innings came to an end with 430 on board. Michael Hussey played an innings of tremendous concentration and scored his ninth Test century. He had started this match without scoring a half-century from five Test innings and hence it was a remarkable effort. Australia has won each Test when Hussey has made a century and hence this is an omen for India.

The partnership

During the fourth over of the day, Shane Watson was dismissed cheaply by Ishant Sharma. As the Australian score was 259 for 5 wickets, it appeared that the good start offered by Ponting would be wasted. At this juncture, Hussey and Brad Haddin managed a good partnership of 91 runs. Eventually, Ishant had Haddin out on 33 on a slower ball which was a offspin-style delivery and VVS Laxman caught Haddin at short cover.

Indian bowlers

Ishant was encouraged by the way he had Haddin dismissed and bowled a similar delivery to Cameron White, the debutant and dismissed him also. Ishant appeared as the most dangerous bowler during the first two sessions of the day. At the end of the day, he had figures of 4 for 77. However, the best figures were of Zaheer Khan who ended with 5 wickets for 91 runs. After the tea break, his spell of reverse swing bowling was very effective. In a space of seven balls, he dismissed Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and lastly Hussey.

At the close of the 2nd day, India scored 68 runs for no loss with Gautam Gambhir batting on 20 and Virender Sehwag batting on 43.