Aus vs Ind Test 1 Day 2: Clarke, Smith score hundreds, Australia overpower India
Adelaide: On day two of the first Australia vs India Test at Adelaide Oval, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith dominated the Indian attack as the hosts ended day two on 517/7 after rain interruption and bad light cut short play on Wednesday.
Here is how the action unfolded.
Steve Smith was the real showstopper of the day. The nimble footed Australian showed no respect as he thrashed Indian attack to all corners of the ground. One of his straight hit scared Varun Aaron who just managed to pull back himself in time.
Michael Clarke too brought up his 7th Test hundred in what turned out to be stop-start day of cricket due to rain. While Clarke's effort was special, there was no celebration as he reached the three-figure mark.
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While Clarke and Smith dominated the Indian attack, a poor show in the fielding did not help the matters either. On second day's play, Indian fielders dropped catches and Saha, wicketkeeper missed out one easy stumpping opportunity.
Karn Sharma was the unlucky bowler on all the four occasions. The leggie though finally managed to get his second wicket after Cheteshwar Pujara caught Michael Clarke in what turned out to be the final over of the day.
Earlier, the showers in the morning delayed the start and brought an early lunch, and after another delay, captain Michael Clarke and Steven Smith resumed but could only face 11 deliveries before play was suspended again.
(Photo: AP)
That was enough for Smith (103 not out) to register his fifth test century though Clarke, who came back out after retiring hurt with a back injury on Tuesday, was stranded on 98.
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On Tuesday, Clarke left the field on 60 after straining his lower back during the first day's play, but after receiving injections and treatment he marched out to the Adelaide Oval crease with Smith after a short rain delay.
The pair resumed with the score 354-6 and Clarke had moved to 85 with Smith on 98 when rain caused another delay late in the session.
India had captured a flurry of late wickets in the final session on Tuesday to give them some hope of limiting the hosts, but their bowlers were unable to reap any benefit from the overcast conditions.
India captain Virat Kohli had lost the all-important toss and Clarke gladly sent his team into bat on a day of tributes for Phillip Hughes, who died tragically after being hit by a ball two weeks ago.
Though Clarke bravely returned to carry on his innings on Wednesday, he is far from being out of the woods as far as his injury is concerned, the team's physio Alex Kontouris said.
Describing it as "quite a significant back injury", Kontouris said Clarke had last sustained a similar back strain 18 month ago when he was at the Champions Trophy tournament in England.
Clarke, who has battled a back condition throughout his career, had only just returned to the side from a third hamstring strain in three months, and his new fitness worry will cast doubt on his ability to lead the team going forward.
After the Adelaide test, Australia host India in tests at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
