The ‘green-top’ Brisbane wicket was the much talked about topic lately and it certainly lived up to the expectations as the Aussie pacers made Indians hop, duck and fend off rising deliveries in the morning session of the 2nd Test.
It was not all Australia though, as Indian batted with a lot of grit and determination to ensure the hosts does not finish the morning session on top. Shikhar Dhawan, however, couldn’t capitalise on the start, but still the session belonged to India.
Murali Vijay, who is in superb touch, continued his run-scoring form and is now cruising towards another half-century in the series. Vijay scored back-to-back fifties in Adelaide and is just four runs short of another well-deserved one in the series.
The Indian opener was not rattled by the chin-music he faced from Mitchell Johnson and company, and ensured that India receive no further jolts, after losing Dhawan (24), and batted through the first session with Cheteshwar Pujara (15 not out).
Mitchell Marsh was the only successful bowler for Australia, by dismissing Dhawan to claim his maiden Test wicket. India finished the session on 89/1 with Vijay and Pujara are unbeaten.
Earlier, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first on a pitch, which looked to have something for the seamers. Dhoni made three changes in the squad and drafted Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav and himself in the playing XI.
For Australia, Steve Smith made his captaincy debut in whites, while Josh Hazlewood got his maiden Test cap.
