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Photos: Clarke hits ton; Ashwin traps Aussies
Another Michael Clarke masterclass helped Australia avoid total collapse on Day One of the opening Test against India at the MA Chidambaram stadium on Friday.
Clarke has surpassed the run-scoring feat of Australia batting great Don Bradman after completing 7,000 Test runs during the first Test. Bradman is revered as cricket's greatest batsman after plundering 6996 runs at 99.94.
The Australian captain remained unbeaten on 103 even as stumps were drawn, his 169-ball innings inclusive of 11 hits to the fence and one over it.
Clarke and Henriques combine superbly
Michael Clarke and Moises Henriques combined superbly in Chennai. It is exactly what the Australian think tank would have wanted, a stable partnership.
Henriques was trapped by R Ashwin (68) plumb in front.
The debutant's 132-ball knock included just five boundaries but he helped his captain add 151 runs for the sixth wicket.
Ashwin give India a vital breakthrough
Ashwin yet again gave India a vital breakthrough. He struck twice after lunch to dismiss both Shane Watson (28) and David Warner 59.
He also trapped Moises Henriques.
Wade fall prey to Ashwin
Clarke wins toss, decides to bat
Earlier, Australia captain Michael Clarke playing his 90th Test, won the toss and elected to bat.
The Aussies sailed along smoothly with openers David Warner and Ed Cowan playing the Indian comfortably. They tackled the first hour without much problem.
No fireworks for Harbhajan
On a track which Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni expected to turn from the first day itself, the hosts employed spin just 22 minutes into the match.
Harbhajan Singh bowled in tandem with R Ashwin, but the former was ineffective.
Before tea, Bhajji was unsuccessful -- bowling 19 overs for 71 runs, without yielding any wickets.
Warner shone with a promising half-century
Australia's David Warner was the more postive of the openers. He used his feet well against spinners and whacked the bad balls at will.
First, he combined well with partner Ed Cowan at the top of the order and then partnered Shane Watson to give Australia a steady start to the Test.
He was finally dismissed for 59 after lunch, caught plumb in front of the wickets, off Ashwin.
Cowan was first Aus wicket to fall
After giving Warner great company at the top of the order, Cowan went on to become R Ashwin's first victim of the day.
Cowan was out to a pre-determined shot, stumped by Dhoni. Cowan's 29 came off 45 balls and included four fours and a six.
Two overs later, Ashwin dismissed Philip Hughes when the batsman hit an inside edge onto the leg-stump. He made 6 of 15 balls.Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking all five Aussie wickets before tea.
Harbhajan Singh play 100th Test
India made the shocking decision of dropping Pragyan Ojha, their best bowler against England, and hand a Test debut to Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Harbhajan Singh played his 100th Test match. Harbhajan received a commemorative plate from N Srinivasan (BCCI President) for his 100th Test match.