Day one, First test, Melbourne 2011

Day one started with Warner warning the Indian seamers; quick singles, audacious drives, and a stunning pull to midwicket stands. Rain break gave India the first break, and Umesh followed it up with a well directed bouncer to end what threatened to be an Australian session. Shaun Marsh left without troubling the scorers . A case of impatience to discuss IPL 2012 tactics with Warner? 68/2 at lunch. For India, the first session was like a good tea; plain, black and with little sugar.

Ponting came on and played his shots; ugly, ungainly and unbalanced with occasional glimmer of his class. Finally, he fell to the ghost of a ball from 2008, this time bowled by a different bowler and caught by a different fielder, but the ball was unmistakable. All this while, Ed Cowan remained calm and composed as if possessed by a careful spirit. Aptly described on Cricinfo commentary as, “He’ll either play a majestic shot or not score!” With a docile Cowan and aggressive Ponting , the lunch session clearly belonged to Australia. 170 for 3.

As the ball grew older, Zaheer grew sharper and much more threatening. It was only matter of time before he managed a breakthrough; the victim being Clarke with a peach of a delivery. The very next ball saw the back of Hussey. While Hussey got a rough one; there are few takers for Hot spot’s no-show on Cowan’s edge to Dhoni bowled by Ashwin. DRS detractors must be laughing loud in their lobbies. 214/6.

An uncharacteristic Haddin innings, and a streaky Siddle cameo helped Australia climb back from their recent habit of batting collapse. All in all, a neutral day, and not very far from becoming one-sided in favour of Australia, unless India can pull up and get through the thick tail quickly enough.277/6.

If not for the last twenty odd overs, the day might have been easily one-sided in India’s favour. A one sided match will be spoken only once in its life time, but a closely fought match has a life of it’s own. It can emerge from the depths anytime, and the immortality can never be taken out of it with any price. Let’s expect an immortal match.