Just when India needed something substantial from him, Sachin Tendulkar delivered in sublime fashion. For the 39th time, and the first in Adelaide, the little master scored a hundred, denying Australia the first-day honours they had threatened to take.

Grateful for the opportunity to take first use of a good pitch with more bounce than was the case against England last winter, India were in danger of wasting their advantage when they subsided to 156 for four. Tendulkar and V. V. S. Laxman, the other form India batsman of this series, nevertheless ushered their team to calm waters, even though Laxman, having completed a worthy fifty, fell late on, taking his eye off a bouncer from Brett Lee. By that time, the fifth-wicket partnership had realised 126 in 32 overs.

Applauded all the way to the wicket in this his valedictory Test in Australia, Tendulkar’s scratchy start was redolent of previous travails in Adelaide, where he had averaged only 20 before yesterday. But after a long wait either side of lunch to get off the mark, he opened his account with a magisterial on-driven four off Lee and then drove three off-side fours in the next over from Mitchell Johnson.

When Brad Hogg was introduced, it did not take Tendulkar long to unleash the slog-sweep that has been so productive for him against the chinaman bowler. Not for the first time in the series, a respectable ball outside off stump from Hogg disappeared over mid-wicket for six despite a man on the boundary edge.

Initially, Tendulkar played Hogg from within his crease, repeatedly lapping him fine on the leg side with precision. Later, he danced down the pitch to both spinners. First, Hogg was hit down the ground for six and four; then, with 92 to his name, Tendulkar drilled Michael Clarke over long-on for a third six. Off his next ball, his 133rd, he beat extra cover with a beautifully timed punch for four to reach his ninth hundred against Australia. Tendulkar said afterwards that he had been determined to make a century in Adelaide after the special visit he made to the city in 1998 to pay homage to Donald Bradman on his 90th birthday.

Like Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag could not be contained, reaching an enterprising fifty from 77 balls. Rahul Dravid was tied down before edging to second slip and Sehwag was eventually caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden off Lee, again Australia’s best bowler.