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Perfect partnership

Arguably the world's best batsmen scored a century at Adelaide Oval yesterday. And it wasn't Sachin Tendulkar. Australian captain Steve Waugh made his 21st Test hundred on the first day of the first Test to draw level with the little master, and by doing so became the first player to score hundreds against all eight opposing Test nations. In scoring the last two runs of the day to take himself to 117 not out, Waugh also brought up exactly 8,000 runs in Test cricket as Australia finished the first day of this keenly anticipated series on 5/298.

Looking at that final score from a detached standpoint, it would seem that we had a rather normal day's play, with Australia holding the ascendancy on a good batting pitch but India still in the contest. But to look closer is to see what an enormous opportunity India let slip from its grasp after having Australia in strife in the first session.

After losing the toss, India bowled splendidly to make use of what life there was in the pitch to take early command of the match as Australia teetered on 4/52. The first session of the first Test in any series is a time of great import and can shape the course of the entire series. Therefore, the immaculate start that India made with the ball was exactly what was required to roll the Aussies on their home soil.

Sunil Gavaskar suggested on television before the toss that India should opt to bowl first, which would have been absurd on your standard Adelaide Oval wicket. The decision was taken out of Tendulkar's hands as the coin landed Waugh's way and India were in the field in any case.

Making inroads into the Australian batting order on the placid surface was vital in the context of India's confidence for the series and they were soon on top as Srinath took out Blewett (4), caught behind in his second over, Prasad dismissed Langer leg-before for 11, and then the man with the golden arm, Sourav Ganguly, had the dangerous Slater caught at cover in his first over for 28. Australia were then 3/45, the ominous Slater was out, and the Waugh twins were at the crease with Australia in desperate need of a significant partnership. It was not to be, as Prasad then had Mark Waugh (5) driving at one a touch too short for the stroke he played to be caught behind.

At 4/52, the innings was perfectly poised for a Steve Waugh rescue mission of the kind he has produced on numerous occasions for his country. Australia in a precarious position is a scenario in which Waugh thrives and even as India were dominating with the ball, the arrival of a fightback was still a matter of time, for it was unquestionable that some semblance of one had to arrive.

Whenever Australia appears to be in trouble, a big partnership at some point is almost an inevitability. Australia stresses the importance of batting in pairs and this season that philosophy has been especially noticeable as several record-breaking stands have been staged. Today, it was no different, as Waugh and Ricky Ponting proceeded to put on 239 for the fifth wicket, a record for Australia vs India. They surpassed the existing record of an unbroken 223 between Don Bradman and Arthur Morris at Melbourne in 1947-'48, the first series between these two countries.

Ricky Ponting, after a string of three ducks, scored his second century in succession to confirm his class and consistency and outshone his senior partner, playing an array of beautiful strokes as India allowed the game to be taken away from them. It could have been worse for the tourists had they remained unconquered at stumps, but a serendipitous misfield at deep cover two overs before the close resulted in the run out of Ponting for 125 as both batsmen ended up at the bowler's end.

So, although the scoreboard accurately shows a close contest, the momentum belongs to Australia as India are left to rue the missed opportunities. Tendulkar, who made positive bowling changes in the first session to prevent the batsmen from becoming settled, lost the initiative immediately after lunch when Australia were 4/76. Ganguly, taken out of the attack after just the one over that snatched Slater's wicket, was perplexingly allowed to bowl 5 overs following the lunch break when Kumble or Prasad could have been used to much better effect in support of Srinath.

With Ganguly there to be hit and Srinath no longer putting the ball in the right place, the pressure eased and Australia took full advantage by commencing the counter-attack. Unfortunately, India never regained control of the situation after that and as the Australians grew in confidence, the field became defensive as a deep point was used for the remainder of the day to prevent the boundaries square of the wicket.

Luck and an inability to seize the few chances offered also hindered India, although they needed to create more of an impression. In the middle session, Ponting appeared to get a bottom edge to wicketkeeper Mannava Prasad attempting to pull Agarkar which was denied by umpire Steve Dunne. This, however, only evened things up after Dunne had fired a surprised Justin Langer when a thick inside edge onto the pad was ruled to be lbw. Agarkar deserved better than his figures showed and appears lively enough to perform at Test level, but is unlikely to find too much assistance from this pitch. Interestingly, he was given the new ball ahead of Venkatesh Prasad, which was a positive move on Tendulkar's part as Agarkar seemed likely to get more out of it, while Prasad was just as effective bowling his seam first change.

The communication between Ponting and Waugh was not always clear and India had an opportunity to run out Waugh for 67 when he attempted a suicidal single to Rahul Dravid at mid off, but his throw narrowly missed. Ponting, also, could have been caught at 3rd slip for 91 from the bowling of Srinath when he attempted to shoulder arms and the ball came off the face of the bat, but agonisingly popped out of the hands of V.V.S. Laxman. Ponting offered no more chances, reaching his sixth Test century by getting to the pitch of one from Tendulkar - who could have brought himself on earlier - and driving beautifully through extra cover.

While Ponting batted gloriously, Waugh was pure business as he took everything in his stride in marching towards his first hundred against India.

The second new ball, taken by Prasad and Agarkar, only hastened the milestone as he whipped Agarkar off his pads for an all-run four to raise the hundred and then had to be treated for cramp immediately afterwards.

Making a ton takes more out of Waugh's aging body these days and his unwillingness to run may have played a part in Ponting's demise, as he took a single to the sweeper and turned, Ponting hesitated, and then made up his mind to run as Waugh turned his back.

Daniel Laidlaw