CRICKET AUSTRALIA v INDIA, FIRST TEST:AUSTRALIA FINISHED on 277 for six at the end of a controversial opening day of the First Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India had refused to condone the use of the decision review system (DRS) in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series and that appeared to have implications yesterday, with the dismissals of Michael Hussey, for a golden duck, and debutant Ed Cowan (68) both questionable.
The visitors’ refusal could also have repercussions for Hussey, who is battling to save his Test career and must now try to ease the pressure with an impressive second innings.
The two dismissals took place in a devastating 19-ball period which saw the hosts lose three wickets for nine runs after they were cruising at 205 for three.
Veteran paceman Zaheer Khan (two for 49) found himself on a hat-trick when he first bowled Michael Clarke for 31 and, with the next ball, umpire Marais Erasmus adjudged Hussey to have been caught behind by MS Dhoni from the first ball he faced.
TV replays suggested the ball missed the bat and glove by some distance.
And 16 balls later, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (one for 71) took the crucial wicket of Cowan when he was also caught behind by Dhoni, although the DRS most likely would have given Cowan a reprieve with “Hot Spot” appearing to show there was no nick.
It was an unfortunate end for the rock-solid Cowan who hit the best score by an Australian opener on his debut since Wayne Phillips (159) in 1983-84 against Pakistan.
However, Brad Haddin (21 not out) and Peter Siddle (34 not out) steadied things again for Australia with a very handy unbeaten 63-run seventh-wicket union.
Australia had found themselves in a strong position thanks to a superb 113-run third-wicket partnership between Cowan and the under-fire Ricky Ponting (62).
Cowan, 29, admitted the lack of a decision review system cost Australia two wickets and precious momentum at the MCG.
“You saw the replays, you saw my reaction, you join the dots, I guess,” he told reporters.
“With the DRS . . . as someone who loves their cricket and has watched a lot of cricket, I can’t understand why it can’t be handed down by the ICC (International Cricket Council) to be uniform at all games.
“And that’s me speaking as an outsider, not as someone who has been in the bubble for a long time.Today, momentum went against us because of it. Two of the top six (wickets) . . . that’s the game.”
SCOREBOARD:
E Cowan c Dhoni b Ashwin 68
D Warner c Dhoni b Yadav 37
S Marsh c Kohli b Yadav 0
R Ponting c Laxman b Yadav 62
M Clarke b Khan 31
M Hussey c Dhoni b Khan 0
B Haddin not out 21
P Siddle not out 34
Extras(lb21, w2, nb1)24
Total(for 6 wkts, 89 ovs) 277
Fall: 1-46, 2-46, 3-159, 4-205, 5-205, 6-214.
Bowling: Khan 23-5-49-2; I Sharma 20-6-40-0; Yadav 20-4-96-3; Ashwin 26-2-71-1.
