India 2-22 after rain ravaged day - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

India 2-22 after rain ravaged day

By Will Swanton 03/11/2004 10:52:50 PM Comments (0)

Only 11 overs were bowled on a freakishly wet day at Wankhede Stadium, but they were more than enough for Australian fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie to keep India wallowing in misery.

India was 2-22 at stumps following just 49 minutes of play on a frustrating first day of the fourth Test which finished under floodlights. Rather bizarrely, the umpires abandoned play because of bad light despite the ground being well illuminated, a decision Australian captain Ricky Ponting appeared displeased about.

India's batsmen were understood to have complained about problems with sighting the red ball.

McGrath presented debutant Nathan Hauritz with his Test cap and then gave Virender Sehwag (eight) an off-cutter that connected with the dangerous Indian opener's off stump. With the next ball, Gillespie had rookie Gautam Gambhir trapped plum LBW and the dishevelled Indians were 2-11.

Hauritz dropped a catch at gully off Sehwag from McGrath's third ball of the day, a mistake that did not prove costly. With Shane Warne injured, captain Ricky Ponting fielding at mid-off in his first match back from a broken thumb and Damien Martyn rarely seen in a catching position these days, the Australian slips cordon had a new look.

Matthew Hayden was at first slip, Michael Clarke at second, Justin Langer at third and Hauritz at gully.

Sachin Tendulkar was lucky not to be run out while scampering through to get off the mark. Damien Martyn's throw at the stumps was likely to catch Tendulkar short of the crease but his bat got in the way.

Tendulkar was on one when McGrath had a legitimate LBW shout turned down from a ball that no shot was played to. It was awfully close. Tendulkar later ducked awkwardly into a McGrath bouncer and was struck on the shoulder.

Ponting lost the toss after Adam Gilchrist had won all three during his stint at the helm.

Local newspapers described the wet weather as "freakish November rains" and predicted more of the same for Thursday.

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