Australia recovers after Haydens first-over dismissal

Australia electing to bat after winning the toss were 129 for one in the post lunch session on the opening day of the first cricket Test against India in Bangalore on Thursday.

Bangalore, Oct 9 : Australia electing to bat after winning the toss were 129 for one in the post lunch session on the opening day of the first cricket Test against India in Bangalore on Thursday.

Electing to bat, the visitors suffered a big jolt when opener Mathew Hayden was dismissed by Zaheer Khan on the third ball of the match, but Simon Katich and captain Ricky Ponting steadied the innings by batting cautiously.

The two Australian batsmen negotiated the first spells of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma and never really looked in trouble against the spinners to steer the team to a comfortable 129 for one to more or less take the honour in the post-lunch session.

Ponting, who has never really been successful on Indian soil in an otherwise fabulous career, seemed determined to make amends and was batting on 68 while opener Katich was giving him company on 55 at the lunch break.

Hayden, playing his first Test since a nagging achilles tendon injury ruled him out of the West Indies tour in June, edged a fuller length delivery bowled close to off stump and Dhoni accepted a low catch in front of him.

But that turned out to be the only moment of success for the hosts as both Ponting and Katich ensured that there were no further setbacks with some sensible batting.

Ponting, who became the fourth batsman to play in 200 Test innings after Allan Border and Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, negotiated the Indian attack with Katich at the other end with a sense of purpose.

The two slowly but steadily put on a fifty partnership in 87 minutes and 104 balls as they negotiated the spinners with ease while Zaheer and Ishant restricted them at the outset.

India went into the Test with two spinners and two fast bowlers, a rather defensive ploy employed by skipper Anil Kumble.

Australia preferred right hand batsman and leg break googly bowler Cameron White for off spinner Jason Krejza in their eleven making the latter their 12th man.

It turned out to be a dream debut for the 25-year-old White, the 402nd Test cricketer for Australia, five days after playing grade cricket in Australia and months after playing in the IPL for Bangalore-based Royal Challengers.

Regarded as a batting allrounder, White was called in to fill the spinner's slot left vacant by an injured Bryce McGain. Jason Krejza's poor bowling in the tour opener against Board Presidents XI at Hyderabad tilted the scales in White's favour.

ANI