BANGALORE, 8 October 2004 — Michael Clarke hit a sparkling 151 on his debut and a revitalized Glenn McGrath then ripped the heart out of India’s batting as Australia took command of the first Test yesterday.
Fast bowler McGrath took three wickets, including that of Rahul Dravid as he claimed two in his first two overs, before India tottered to 150 for six after the second day, still 125 runs shy of avoiding the follow-on.
Paceman Michael Kasprowicz ended Indian hopes of a fightback with two quick wickets before leg spinner Shane Warne produced the ball of the innings to bowl Vangipurappu Laxman for 31. The Australians, also spurred on by a rapid century from Adam Gilchrist, had amassed 474 before being dismissed one hour after lunch. Their domination of an exciting second day was built on the slender shoulders of the 23-year-old Clarke.
The New South Wales batsman anchored the innings from a shaky 149 for four on the first day as he shared a 167-run sixth-wicket partnership with stand-in captain Gilchrist.
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “It was a great day for Australia and me personally. The last four restless nights were fully worth it,” added Clarke, whose parents Les and Debbie were in the crowd.
The pair maintained an excellent tempo after resuming on 316 for five to increase the pressure on the home side.
Clarke, 76 not out overnight, had a few tense moments in the 90s before reaching triple figures by pushing left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan to midwicket for two.
He threw his arms up in triumph, kissed his baggy green cap and bat before being hugged by Gilchrist. Clarke was eventually eighth out, edging behind a wide ball from Zaheer Khan to end a 249-ball, five and three-quarter stay which included 18 fours and four sixes.
Gilchrist’s 104, his 11th Test hundred, came off only 109 balls before he was dismissed on the stroke of lunch when Harbhajan took a low return catch. He hit 13 fours and three sixes.
Harbhajan then triggered a slide as the last five wickets tumbled for 51 runs. His victims included Warne, who was caught by Dravid in the slips for a single to claim his 100th Test catch. Off spinner Harbhajan, who took a record 32 wickets in India’s 2-1 victory over the Australians three years ago, ended with five for 146. McGrath, however, concentrated on the top order as he removed Aakash Chopra and Dravid for ducks to reduce India to four for two before returning to send back Yuvraj Singh (1).
McGrath, aged 34 and back from a long injury lay-off, showed that he still has the guile to trouble top batsmen as he seamed a ball back to trap Chopra lbw before bowling Dravid between bat and pad with another fine off-cutter. He ended with three for 37 off 15 overs.
Ganguly (45) and Sehwag (39) put on 83 runs but Kasprowicz first induced the opener to flick to a midwicket trap before having Ganguly caught behind.
Warne then produced a beautiful delivery to remove Laxman, the ball drifting in from leg and leaving the batsman groping as it knocked back his off-stump.
