Mohammd Shami claimed two wickets to keep the national flag flying high. India, however, failed to seize advantage against Australia (259/5) on Day 1 of the Melbourne Test.
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Indian bowlers struck early on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia on Friday. While former India captain Sunil Gavaskar feels it was the best effort from the team on the tour so far, he told NDTV on Friday that the hosts should have been bowled out by the end of the day's play. Instead, Australia finished the day on 259 for 5, with captain Steve Smith unbeaten on 72. (Scorecard | Highlights )
Australia suffered early blows after opting to bat in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pacer Umesh Yadav removed in-form David Warner for a duck - his first in nine Tests this year. Mohammad Shami then combined with spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to maintain pressure for most parts of the day.
"This has been India's best bowling performance in the series so far," said former India opener Gavaskar. "(But) It could have been even better had they bowled fuller. If only India could have had someone at the top of the (batting) order who could have bowled usefully. An impact bowler perhaps."
While Umesh and Shami claimed two wickets each and Ashwin removed Shane Watson on 52, India faced a stiff resistance from Smith and Haddin (23) who remained unbeaten till the end of day's play. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni even got Murali Vijay to bowl five overs but without success.
According to Gavaskar, the current Indian team does not have dangerous part-time bowlers who can add variety and pick wickets.
"Vijay bowled half a dozen overs but he was hardly dangerous. The current team does not have the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh who would turn their arms over usefully and get a wicket," he said. "This Indian team lacks an all-rounder, an impact bowler."
While honours were shared at the end of the day's play, Gavaskar has warned that the Indians must bowl out Australia early on Saturday to seize advantage. (Shami Plans to Send Australia Packing Early on Day 2 )
"The team needs to strike early on Day 2. If Australia survive the first hour, they can score 400 or even more," he said. This has happened even in the first two Tests with Mitchell Johnson - in particular - denying India at Gabba with a determined 88.
Removing Smith in the ongoing match though would be the first goal of the bowlers. The young Australia captain has been in fluent form in the series.
"India have not been able to find success against him (Smith). Over here (in Melbourne), Smith looked completely at ease against both pace and spin. On a pitch which will become easier to bat on as the days go by, India will have to get wickets in a rush," said Gavaskar.
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