Indian batsmen caught on the wrong foot

Without the inspirational Sachin Tendulkar, rested ahead of the first Test against Australia starting on December 10, none of the Indian batsmen seemed to apply themselves.

Stand-in skipper Saurav Ganguly was the top-scorer with 38, Venkata Sai Laxman made 37, and the highest partnership — for the seventh wicket between Vijay Bharadwaj (16) and Ajit Agarkar (28) — yielded just 31 runs.

The Indians kept going on to the back foot on a wicket where they should have stepped out and as many as four of them were out leg before.

The best knock of the innings came from number three Laxman, who cut and drove the attack with superb poise in a 62-ball knock (5×4) which ended with a brilliant catch at gully by Gavin Robertson off part-timer Greg Mail, bowling his first over in first-class cricket.

NSW, who finished at the bottom of the domestic competition last season, enjoyed the best day of the year as young pace sensation Brett Lee claimed three for 56, Don Nash and Stuart MacGill claiming two wickets each.

Scoreboard

India (1st innings): Devang Gandhi lbw B Lee 15, Sadagopan Ramesh lbw b Nash 2, Venkat Sai Laxman c Robertson b Mail 37, Rahul Dravid lbw b MaCgill 21, Saurav Ganguly c Haddin b Nash 38, Hrishikesh Kanitkar c Hayne b MaCgill 0, Vijay Bharadwaj lbw B Lee 16, Ajit Agarkar b B Lee 28, Anil Kumble not out 13, Javagal Srinath run out 0, Venkatesh Prasad run out 4; Extras (b5, lb1, nb5) 11.

Total: (all out in 73.1 overs) 185

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-22, 3-66, 4-88, 5-107, 6-126,7-157, 8-168, 9-169

Bowling: Brett Lee 22-6-56-3, Don Nash 13-4-35-2, Shane Lee 18-6-35-0, Gavin Robertson 1-0-0-0, Greg Mail 2-1-6-1, Stuart MacGill 17.1-5-47-2

New South Wales (1st innings): Greg Mail batting 8, Gavin Hayne c Kumble b Agarkar 0, Corey Richards batting 23; Extras (lb4) 4. Total: (for 1 wkt, 14 overs) 35

Fall of wicket: 1-0

Bowling: Srinath 6-2-18-0, Agarkar 3-2-2-1, Kumble 3-1-6-0, Prasad 2-0-5-0