If the opening salvoes of the first Test are an accurate pointer, this series will be something of a treat for connoisseurs. When Australia coasted to 135 without loss shortly after lunch a huge total on a slow, flat drop-in pitch looked likely, but when stumps were drawn at the end of a cloudless day, they had subsided to 337 for nine.

Central to this unexpected turnaround was Anil Kumble with his 35th five-wicket haul in Tests. The India captain did not disagree that this might have been the finest performance of his career. Leading an attack that had not bowled in preparation for this series after the virtual washout of a solitary warm-up match, it was he who broke the opening partnership with a beautiful piece of deception; he who kept a tight rein on Australia’s scoring when no one else could; and he who continually asked questions with his variety, skill and cunning.

Kumble’s bowling overshadowed another notable achievement, Matthew Hayden’s fifth hundred from his past six Test matches at the MCG. The continuation of his remarkable form on this ground means that he has now scored more Test centuries in Australia, 19, than any other player. If he hit only nine boundaries, it was because the ropes were set as far back as they could safely go. It was a typical forthright innings, with shots in the V, and the Queenslander needed 183 balls for his 124.

The morning session, when Kumble surprisingly gave himself only two overs, had not augured well for India. Hayden might have been caught at third slip on nine off R P Singh had Kumble put a man in that position, but captains are often forced on to the defensive here sooner than they would like. India’s fielding was initially poor, with Sourav Ganguly marking his hundredth Test appearance by letting a ball through his legs for four.

Then came three wickets in six overs out of nowhere. Phil Jaques’ positive stay was ended when he was lured out of his crease by a googly he did not pick; Ricky Ponting was bowled by a beauty from Zaheer Khan from round the wicket that straightened to hit the top of off stump; and Mike Hussey was beaten by another fine Kumble wrong ’un that struck his back leg as he groped down the wrong line.

The India left-armers’ ploy of coming round the wicket helped to bring another wicket when Michael Clarke’s loose drive ended up in the hands of second slip. Three more uncharacteristically careless strokes proved costly, Hayden miscued a drive to mid-on, Andrew Symonds pulled Kumble to mid-wicket and Gilchrist top-edged a sweep to backward point. The latter dismissal owed something to Kumble angling the ball across Gilchrist from wide of the crease.

With the tail now exposed, Brett Lee was confounded by Kumble’s top spinner whereupon Brad Hogg immediately edged the second new ball to third slip. Not even 25 runs from the last three overs dampened India’s jubilation as they left the field.

Scoreboard

Australia: First Innings

P A Jaques st Dhoni b Kumble 66
M L Hayden c Dravid b Khan 124
*R T Ponting b Khan 4
M E K Hussey lbw b Kumble 2
M J Clarke c Laxman b Singh 20
A Symonds c sub b Kumble 35
†A C Gilchrist c Tendulkar b Kumble 23
G B Hogg c Dravid b Khan 17
B Lee lbw b Kumble 0 M G Johnson not out 10
S R Clark not out 21
Extras (lb 5, w 1, nb 9) 15

Total (9 wkts; 90 overs) 337

Fall of wickets: 1-135, 2-162, 3-165, 4-225, 5-241, 6-281, 7-288, 8-294, 9-312 Bowling: Khan 22-1-93-3; R P Singh 19-3-77-1; Harbhajan 20-3-61-0; Ganguly 3-1-15-0; Kumble 25-4-84-5; Tendulkar 1-0-2-0. India: W Jaffer, R Dravid, V V S Laxman, S R Tendulkar, S C Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, †M S Dhoni, *A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, R P Singh. Umpires: M R Benson (England) and B F Bowden (New Zealand).

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