A trap well set and a peek at the future

Half-an-hour later, the same cricketer was grinning from ear to ear as he saw Matthew Hayden being trapped by Bhajji on the sweep, by a mid-wicket fielder in no man’s land.

The ploy had worked and the jubilation by fielder Yuvraj Singh confirmed a little victory. A trap had been set and Hayden had walked, or swept, straight into it.

But for the next three-and-a-half hours the Indians watched how Simon Katich — later joined by Michael Clarke — stitched together a revival. Team India had not been made to bleed by Katich-Clarke as often as Hayden has, so they just didn’t know what hit them.

Two players regarded as the new, emerging guard of Australian batting had arrived.

‘The Pup’, as his mates call Clarke, danced down the track unafraid of the Indian spin twins or the pitch which he later called ‘‘as a pretty good one’’.

Not once in his knock did Clarke show that he was a debutant; his almost Indian approach to playing spin meant that he never let the bowlers settle down.

Alongwith fellow New South Welshman Katich, Clarke set about shutting India out of the first day. Clarke had done it before in one-day cricket, but Katich had been there, denying India a famous series win at Sydney last season.

In many ways, Katich was just carrying on from where he had left off.

Not even close to being as attractive as Clarke, Katich in his own way played the perfect No 3 role, proving his selection ahead of Matthew Elliott was a masterstroke. ‘Kato’ made up for his lack of shot-making ability with his efficient running and a head down approach.

Together they have set up Day Two nicely. Clarke will still be around, though Katich won’t.