Remember all the fuss over the pitch at Bangalore?

We were a week early.

Bangalore didn't ended up being the train wreck it was supposed to be. Now, though, the track at Chepauk Stadium is starting to look like the real spinners' paradise.

While Bangalore held up surprisingly well despite having cracks as wide as the seam on the ball, Curator PA Viswanathan's creation in Chennai had the bowlers footmarks at either end from as early as the third over.

Michael Clarke danced down the pitch and dust flew behind him. Already the pitch was looking like most in Australia do on the third or fourth days, so from Friday and beyond it could turn and bounce a mile.

Great for Shane Warne.

Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble had a few of his top-spinners jump sharply, while offspinner Harbahajn Singh extracted a large amount of turn straight away.

One ball from Harbhajan spat off a good length and went straight over the top of Matthew Hayden's middle stump.

Warne would not have been enjoying Australia struggle late in the day when Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke came and went quickly.

But needing only two wickets for the world bowling record, there was a bright side for him.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP