Australia are 4/221 at the close of play on day two of the Second Test against India in Brisbane. Chasing the visitors first innings total of 408, an exhausted Australian side rallied after a hot and debilitating first day of play that saw an Indian batsman post the highest ever first innings total at the Gabba.
Murali Vijay dominated the first day of play on a hot Gabba wicket which was running traditionally fast with good bounce and carry. The opener from Chennai played with striking confidence, battling his way through heat exhaustion to post an important 144 runs for the tourists.
On a day that had a new captain at the helm and the Aussies scampering in the heat, the front-line pace attack faltered as Mitchell Johnson struggled to bowl a consistent line and Mitchell Starc even more erratic. Johnson still offered his terrifying pace and the odd ball to ‘zip’ of the seam, but much was left to Nathan Lyon and débutante Josh Hazlewood.
Hazlewood picked up 2 wickets on a hard first day and was the one to do the damage on a cooler Day 2. He became the first bowler since Nathan Lyon to grab ‘five-fer’ on debut. Bowling with consistent pace, shape and a tight line, the boy from Bendemeer in rural NSW dismissed Virat Kohli and Indian legend M.S. Dhoni as both batsmen threatened to revitalise a stagnated Indian innings.
Steve Smith used a record-topping 8 bowlers as he demanded the best out of the talented Indian line-up. This variation was largely due to the breakdown of Mitchell Marsh with a hamstring injury and Josh Hazlewood through cramp for much of the days play.
Nathan Lyon chipped in with three wickets, helping remove Vijay and again clean up the tail cheaply for the Aussies. Brad Haddin captured a record equalling six dismissals and led an impressive fielding display as the total was restricted to 408.
Bowling in cooler conditions on day 2 the Indians were out to extract the most from a fiery wicket. David Warner enjoyed the ball coming on to the bat with a typically enthusiastic opening to the Australian innings.
Warner blasted 28(29) including 6 boundaries but was halted trying to tuck a ball off his pads, popping up a leading edge over the keeper and caught by a retreating Ashwin in second slip.
Shane Watson is making a habit of posting 20-odd and throwing his wicket away through loose shots, falling short of a solid innings on 25 after trying to smash the spin of Ashwin over mid on.
Chris Rodgers timed the ball well and hit square and straight of the wicket confidently. He kicked on to post an important 55 relieving some pressure on his position in the First XI. The returning M.S. Dhoni catching a sharp chance down the leg-side off the bowling of Umesh Yadav to remove the Aussie opener at 3/121.
Shaun Marsh offered a technically-sound and patient 32 against some excellent spin bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin, eventually holing out caught by Ashwin off the bowling of Yadev after edging a pull shot off the ribs high into the air.
It was again Steve Smith who restored balance for Australia. The captaincy seeming to add a steely edge upon his already booming confidence, Smith crashed and bashed with elegant ease as the Indian advantage dissipated.
Smith is unbeaten on 65 heading into day three with his side needing 187 to reach India’s first innings total. The débutante captain has the chance to repeat Virat Kholi’s achievement in Adelaide on Friday of a century in his first innings as captain.
Rain caused an early end to day two in the final session and overs should be caught up. Wickets will need to fall quickly if weather continues to disrupt play during the final three days to force a result. The match is evenly poised and crowds will no doubt flock to witness history as Smith chases his ton and maiden victory in his first match as captain.
