Opener Murali Vijay cracked a fluent 144 as India put up a solid batting display to take the honours on the opening day of the second Test against Australia by reaching a comfortable 311 for four here on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Vijay, who missed a century by one run in the second innings in Adelaide, notched up his fifth Test ton to guide India to a good position on a hot day at the Gabba. Vijay was dropped by Shaun Marsh on 36 off paceman Mitchell Johnson but he capitalised on the reprieve, scoring 144 off 213 balls.
The right-handed opener got good support from Rahane (batting 75) as the duo shared a 124-run stand for the fourth wicket with the Australian pacers struggling to find any rhythm in the hot and humid conditions. Vijay was again dropped on 102 by Shaun again off Johnson but he could not cash in on the second chance. Apart from the two chances he gave to the Australians, Vijay stroked well throughout in his innings which he paced very well.
He looked at ease against the Australian pace battery and effortlessly drove the fast bowlers. He was hardly troubled by Nathan lyon untill he charged the spinner to be caught behind. Skipper MS Dhoni had taken a bold decision to bat on the green and pacy Gabba wicket and his decision stood vindicated as Indian batsmen responded well to the call. Rahane was batting on well and giving him company was Rohit Sharma (26 batting) when stumps were drawn for the day.
Shikhar Dhawan (24) was a disappointment as he yet again failed but Cheteshwar Pujara (18) was unlucky to be given caught behind off debutant Hazlewood while dodging a high ball as it touched his helmet's visor and not his gloves. Virat Kohli, who scored two hundreds in the lost Adelaide Test, made a good start but was guilty of cutting a ball which was too close to the body and was caught behind off Hazlewood.
Injured Marsh won't bowl further in 2nd Test
Australia were dealt a blow as their all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will not bowl again in the remainder of the second Test due to a hamstring injury. Marsh strained his right hamstring and limped off the field just moments after lunch leaving Australia severely under-resourced. Marsh grimaced and pulled up short in his follow after delivering the final ball of his first over after lunch, and his sixth of the innings, and immediately left the field to be assessed.
Team physio Alex Kountouris later said Marsh was unlikely to bowl again in the Test. "Mitchell Marsh has got a mild hamstring strain, low grade strain, on the right leg. He's had surgery on the left leg a year ago and he also injured the right one about two years ago," Kountouris told reporters. "It's unlikely he will bowl again (in the Test). He will have a scan and we will try to get him on the field tomorrow and hopefully have him batting in some way that's useful."
Marsh's injury, which came after he finally claimed his first Test wicket in the morning session, meant a greater bowling workload for the side's other all-rounder Shane Watson. Kountouris was busy attending one Australian bowler after another through the day, with Mitchell Johnson the only one of the four main seamers to get through unscathed. Mitchell Starc struggled with back and rib pain and debutant Josh Hazlewood battled cramps. However, both are expected to be available to bowl on Thursday.