Hyderabad Test: Australia declared first innings on 237/9

Hyderabad: India took early control of the second cricket Test with a dominating display by the bowlers on the opening day in Hyderabad.

At stumps, India were five for no loss with openers Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay batting on four and zero respectively as they survived the brief period.

If Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran through the top-order during an incisive first spell, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh wreaked havoc in the post-tea session when Australia lost five wickets for only 28 runs as they slumped to 237 for nine from a relatively comfortable 208 for four.

Jadeja had the best figures of three for 33 while Bhuvneshwar grabbed three for 53. Harbhajan chipped in with two for 52.

Clarke and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade (62) added 145 runs for the fifth wicket to bail Australia out of trouble after Bhuvneshwar’s opening spell reduced them to 63 for four in the opening hour and half.

Credit should also be given to Wade, who played a gutsy knock of 62 off 144 balls with eight boundaries. And more importantly, he gave his captain the support he needed.

Wade played with a fractured cheekbone but that did not dent his confidence as he comfortably negotiated the spinners during his three-hour stay at the wicket.

Earlier in the day, with suitable help from the wicket, the talented Bhuvneshwar rocked the Australian top-order with a triple strike in his first spell removing openers David Warner and Ed Cowan along with the dangerous Shane Watson.