But to the visitor’s dismay, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist stunned them with a superb counter-attack an hour before and after tea. Symonds was savage against the seamers, and he greeted Anil Kumble with a four and six straight back to reach his half-century off just 44 balls. Symonds soon became part of history — he was Kumble’s 600th victim — as India finally managed to break through the sixth wicket partnership of 103 runs.

Gilchrist reached his half-century from 59 balls and eight boundaries but RP came back in his second spell to dismiss him after getting hit for three fours in a row. He then went round the wicket to wipe off the tail with two wickets in an over. Kumble picked the final wicket of Clark to terminate the hosts’ innings in exactly 50 overs.

Australia were wiped off in nearabout four hours. It was four years back that Australia last lost a home Test — against India. But conclusions will only be drawn after three more sessions of play. Will the batsmen please stand up?

Scoreboard

India (1st Innings) (Overnight297/6)

MS Dhoni lbw Clark 19

I Pathan lbw Johnson 28

A Kumble c Rogers b Clark 1

RP Singh c Hussey b Johnson 0

I Sharma not out 0

Extras: (19-lb,9-nb,9-w) 37

TOTAL: (all out, 98.2 overs) 330

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-59, 3-198, 4-214, 5-278, 6-284, 7-328, 8-330, 9-330.

... contd.