Series' highest wicket-taker's 4-40 helps India dominate Day One at Feroz Shah Kotla; Aus 231-8 at close
Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets as India stamped their mark on the opening day of the fourth Test against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla here
yesterday.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of Mitchell Johnson on Day One of the fourth Test against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi yesterday
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The spotlight before the match had been on Shane Watson, who was back in the line-up having been one of four players suspended for the third Test for disciplinary reasons, and was also named captain when Michael Clarke was ruled out with a back problem.
But the 31-year-old failed to inspire his side, who suffered a mid-session slump before Steve Smith and Peter Siddle provided some resistance to help the tourists reach 231 for eight at stumps.
Ashwin led India’s afternoon charge with Ishant Sharma (two) and Ravindra Jadeja (two) among the wickets as the home side look to complete a series whitewash.u00a0Watson won his first toss at the Test helm and opted to bat, but soon saw David Warner heading back to the pavilion for a duck.
Replacement Phil Hughes, batting at No 3, quickly found his rhythm, hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three fours in the seventh over and two more when the paceman was replaced by off-spinner Ashwin. His progress was ended on 45.
Ed Cowan was on 38 when Ashwin claimed his first wicket, bowling the opener round his legs, but it was Watson’s wicket for 17 that was particularly celebrated by India.u00a0Jadeja’s delivery drew Watson away from his stumps and Mahendra Singh Dhoni was quick to whip the bails off to leave their opponents on 115 for four.
Matthew Wade quickly followed for two, pushing Ashwin to Murali Vijay at silly point, before Glenn Maxwell threw away his wicket by prodding a ball from Jadeja straight into the hands of Sharma.
Mitchell Johnson, another of the suspended quartet to miss the third Test, added just three runs to the board before he also succumbed to a delivery from Ashwin.u00a0Steve Smith was a spectator to events at the other end of the crease, having come in at number five, but his 53-run partnership with Siddle helped Australia regain some composure.
Siddle was proving just as stubborn and built another stand with James Pattinson for the ninth wicket. Siddle was unbeaten on 47 at the close with Pattinson 11 not out, as the pair added 42 runs to the score.u00a0
Brief Scores
Australia: 231-8 (Peter Siddle 47 not out, Steven Smith 46; R Ashwin 4-40, R Jadeja 2-34, Ishant Sharma 2-35).u00a0
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