MELBOURNE – Debutant Ed Cowan says the lack of a decision review system cost Australia two wickets and precious momentum after the hosts ended a controversial opening day of the first Test against India on 277 for six yesterday.
The opening batsman ground out a half-century before he was given out caught behind
off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shortly after Mike Hussey had departed angrily when he was dismissed in a similar manner for a first-ball duck off a fiery Zaheer Khan.
Australia recovered through an unbeaten 63-run stand by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and paceman Peter Siddle to give the hosts a slight edge at the close, but the outspoken 29-year-old Cowan said the chance to drive home that advantage was stolen.
“Today, momentum went against us because of it. Two of the top six [wickets]. . . that’s the game,” he told reporters after scoring 68 at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“Of course, I was disappointed for [Hussey]. It was a massive moment in the game.
“We thought we were half an hour away from really nailing them, driving them into the dust. We get through Zaheer Khan’s spell unscathed and it’s a totally different complexion on the day’s play.”
India’s cricket board (BCCI) vetoed the use of the review system before the series, leaving both players fuming that they had no recourse, but the tourists were also frustrated when numerous appeals were turned down in the final session.
Zaheer dismissed Hussey a ball after bowling captain Michael Clarke for 31, before Ashwin made it three wickets for the addition of nine runs to leave Australia reeling on 214 for six. (Reuters)
Australia 1st Innings
E. Cowan c *+Dhoni b Ashwin 68
D. Warner c *+Dhoni b Yadav 37
S Marsh c Kohli b Yadav 0
R. Ponting c Laxman b Yadav 62
*M. Clarke b Z Khan 31
M Hussey c *+Dhoni b Z Khan 0
+B. Haddin not out 21
P. Siddle not out 34
Extras (1nb, 2w, 21lb) 24
TOTAL: (for six wickets, 89.0 overs) 277
Fall of wicket: 1-46, 2-46, 3-159, 4-205, 5-205, 6-214
To bat: L. Pattinson, B. Hilfenhaus, N. Lyon
Bowling: Khan 23-5-49-2, Sharma 20-6-40-0, Yadav 20-4-96-3, Ashwin 26-2-71-1
India: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, *+MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, UmeshYadav.
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Ian Gould (England)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle,
TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel
Reserve Umpire: Ashley Barrow.