Brisbane - Indian opener Murali Vijay got his third
half century of the series but debutant Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as
Australia restricted the tourists to 151 for three at tea on the opening day of
the second Test in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Vijay had put on 56 in an opening
partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and survived a period of intense pressure on a
sweltering day at the Gabba to remain at the crease unbeaten on 72 after the
second session with Ajinkya Rahane, who was 13 not out.
Hazlewood's first wicket may have been
fortuitous, with Cheteshwar Pujara adjudged caught behind for 18 even though TV
replays clearly showed the ball had clipped his helmet, but his second was all
about pace and bounce.
The 23-year-old, whose inclusion was one of
three changes to the Australia side from the first test win, tempted Virat
Kohli into attempting a cut and the erstwhile India skipper was caught behind
for 19 after only managing a thick edge.
Vijay and Dhawan (24) had earlier vindicated
returning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat first when they
survived some early movement to post India's first half century opening stand
on the road in more than three years.
All rounder Mitchell Marsh made the
breakthrough with his maiden test wicket in the following over, however, when
Dhawan slashed at a short, wide delivery and Brad Haddin snaffled up the top
edge behind the stumps.
Vijay reached his ninth test half century
with crunching drive through the covers for four and things looked bleak for
Australia when Marsh was forced off the field with a right hamstring problem.
Steve Smith, who was presented with a
blazer before the start of play to signify his becoming Australia's 45th Test
skipper as a stand-in for the injured Michael Clarke, got the response he
wanted from his players, however.
The fielding went up a gear and the bowlers
stifled the Indian batsmen to the extent that they were only able to add 62
runs in the second session to their lunch score of 89-1.
Australia won the first test in Adelaide by
48 runs at the weekend to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, which was
re-jigged in the wake of the death of Phillip Hughes and concludes with tests
in Melbourne and Sydney.