Steven Smith endured a challenging start to life as Australia skipper after Murali Vijay’s century helped India dominate the opening day of the second Test at Brisbane.
Smith, deputising for the injured Michael Clarke, lost his first toss and then saw opening batsman Vijay, who was agonisingly dismissed for 99 on the final day of the first match, go one better as he completed his fifth format ton.
The 30-year-old, dropped twice by Shaun Marsh, shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 124 with Ajinkya Rahane until he became one of four catches for Brad Haddin, off Nathan Lyon, for 144.
Rahane, alongside Rohit Sharma, was unbeaten with 77 of India’s 311 for four at the close.
To make matters worse for Smith, he was deprived of the services of three bowlers throughout a seriously hot day.
Mitchell Marsh is unable to bowl again in this match due to another hamstring problem, Mitchell Starc suffered back and rib pain and debutant Josh Hazlewood battled cramp, although the latter two are expected to resume tomorrow.
The decision from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, returning to the India side following injury, to make first use looked sensible when Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan added 56 for the opening wicket.
Dhawan provided Mitchell Marsh, who along with Shaun became the fifth pair of brothers to play a Test for their country, his first format scalp in his fourth game when he edged behind to Haddin.
Hazlewood, handed his cap before the start of play by Australia great Glenn McGrath, then struck twice in the afternoon session, the first due to a poor decision from umpire Ian Gould, to reduce India to 137 for three.
Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged to have feathered the paceman behind, although replays showed it hit his helmet rather than the glove, and Virat Kohli edged to Haddin while trying to cut.
But Australia’s hopes of building on that double breakthrough were ended as India took advantage of injuries plus the high temperatures, which rose to 35 degrees, and humidity to add 160 in the final session for the loss of just Vijay.
The latter’s downfall came when, tying to make room to drive Lyon over mid-off, he got a thin edge behind.
Rahane, with seven fours, and Rohit saw India through to stumps with an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 50.