India's Anil Kumble celebrates with teammate Akash Chopra (right) after dismissing Australia's Simon Katich during the third day's play of the first Test between India and Australia in Bangalore yesterday. India conceded a 228-run first innings lead to Australia after being dismissed for 246 runs.
-Reuters photoBANGALORE, India (AP):
AUSTRALIA LOST four wickets on a crumbling pitch to start their second innings yesterday after skipper Adam Gilchrist declined to enforce a follow-on in the opening Test.
Frustrated by India's tailenders for three hours, Gilchrist asked his openers to bat the second time.
Australia, chasing their first Test series triumph on Indian soil in 35 years, bolstered the lead to 355 by compiling 127, but suffered a top order collapse by the close of the third day's play.
Australia scored 474 in their first knock and dismissed India for 246, despite a defiant stand from the home side's tailenders yesterday.
During their last tour to India in 2001, Australia lost a Test match after enforcing the follow-on, which appeared to have played a role in Gilchrist's decision not to risk batting last on an unpredictable Chinnaswamy Stadium track.
FLASHBACK
Three years ago, India fashioned one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test history after being forced to follow on in the second Test at Calcutta. Outplayed in the opening Test at Bombay, India had bounced back from the brink to clinch the series 2-1.
Pace ace Glenn McGrath, whose haul of four for 55 were Australia's best figures said Gilchrist's decision not to enforce the follow-on was due to the pitch's condition.
"It was just the state of the wicket that caused this decision; we weren't thinking of Calcutta three years ago," said McGrath.
"The pitch is tough to score on, it will only get worse," he said. "It's far better to bat on day three, rather than on day four or five."
McGrath said the pitch's condition was generating reverse swing "even in the first 10 overs".
"Whoever is more patient will hopefully win this match," said McGrath.
"We're in pretty good condition right now. It would be nice to get 450 or 500 runs in front," he said.
Justin Langer fell for a fourth ball duck to pace bowler Irfan Pathan at the start of the second innings.
Matthew Hayden (30) was run out by a direct hit from Harbhajan Singh at point, and then Simon Katich (39) edged leg-spinner Anil Kumble to Rahul Dravid at first slip.
Darren Lehmann (14) was caught by Aakash Chopra at forward short-leg off spinner Harbhajan Singh, leaving Damien Martyn (29 not out) and Michael Clarke (11 not out) together at stumps.
TEST RECORD
Australia's ace leg-spinner Shane Warne closed in on Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's all-time Test record of 532 wickets when he broke the Indian lower order's resistance yesterday morning.
Warne, whose haul of two for 78 took his tally to 529, broke the defiant seventh-wicket partnership between overnight batsmen Parthiv Patel and Pathan 15 minutes before the lunch break.
Resuming at an overnight score of 150 for six, Patel and Pathan took their stand to 60 before Warne had Pathan caught behind by Gilchrist for 31. The partnership came after Australia's pace bowlers ripped through India's top order on Thursday to seize control of the match.
Pathan began the day's play by hitting fast bowler Glenn McGrath for four to third man, before lofting him to the mid-off fence.
He smashed Warne to the mid-wicket fence in yesterday's 24th over, but was out next ball as tried to fend away a ball outside the off-stump.
