Captain Ricky Ponting led from the front with a brilliant century to help Australia reach 254 for four at close on the opening day of the first Test against India at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Thursday.
- Scorecard | Images from Day 1
Zaheer Khan though spoiled Australia's day when he dismissed Michael Clarke (11) leg before wicket in the final over.
He also claimed a wicket in the first over of the day, when he had Matthew Hayden caught behind for 0.
But the day belonged to Ponting, who registered his maiden Test century on Indian soil. The 33-year-old right hander delighted the fans with a brilliant 123, which included 13 boundaries in 243 deliveries.
Ponting and Simon Katich survived some early jitters before putting up a 166-run partnership for the second wicket to rally the team back. Katich scored 66, hitting seven boundaries in his 149-ball knock, before he was caught behind off Ishant Sharma.
At the close of play, Michael Hussey was unbeaten on 46.
Morning session: (75 runs, 1 wicket, 27 overs)
Zaheer delivered the first blow for India in the first over of the match. He got the prized wicket of Matthew Hayden with a perfectly pitched outswinger; the left-hander was forced to play at it, but could only edge the ball to behind the wickets.
The early wicket put Australia on the backfoot and both the pacers -- Zaheer and Ishant-- exploited the situation quite well. Ponting, desperate to make a mark, was tested the most, particularly by Ishant, who troubled him in the last series in Australia too. The tall Indian pacer's sharp, rising deliveries, coupled with good movement off the pitch, caused problems for the Aussie captain.
Ponting's first boundary was a treat to watch as he drove Ishant straight down the ground in the sixth over. But, thereafter, the Indian bowlers gave him a difficult time.
Harbhajan Singh came into the attack to a huge roar from the crowd. Perhaps they were waiting for his battle against Ponting, who was still looking very tentative, to begin. But the Aussie captain silenced the crowd by driving Harbhajan for a boundary through fine leg, as the bowler drifted on to his pads, to move to 28.
Ponting grew in confidence with every passing over and proved it with a lovely boundary off Harbhajan, when he stepped down and drove the bowler through mid-wicket.
Katich was going unnoticed at the other end, but did well to keep the scoreboard moving with good rotation of the strike.
The pitch hardly offered help for the spinners and, as a result, they struggled to make an impression.
Australia's game plan was quite clear: play out the first session without losing further wickets.
They reached a comfortable 75 for 1 in 27 overs at the lunch break, with Ponting unbeaten on 41 from 84 deliveries, including five boundaries.
Post-lunch session: (91 runs, 1 wicket, 30 overs)
Ponting brought up his half-century with a stylish cover drive off Zaheer for a boundary. The Aussie's second half-century on Indian soil took 104 deliveries and was laced with seven boundaries.
Katich brought up the 100-run partnership for the second wicket with a single in the 40th over. Though a bit slow, this partnership was assuming dangerous proportions as far as India was concerned.
Ponting then thumped Harbhajan over the mid-wicket region for a boundary to reach 60 and equal his best score in India.
What a relief it must have been for Ponting, who before this innings had averaged just 12.28 in eight Tests in India.
Katich hit Harbhajan for two boundaries in the 44th over of the innings to bring up his half-century. He smashed a half-volley from the offie through the covers to bring up his fifty off 121 deliveries, hitting six boundaries in the process.
Australia's run-rate showed marked improvement.
They brought up the 100 in the 40th over, but the 150-mark took a mere 10 more overs.
Ponting brought up the 150 with another cracking shot as he stepped down and flicked Harbhajan over the mid-wicket region for a boundary.
He moved into the 90s with another easy boundary through the off-side off Harbhajan, who looked as clueless as his other team mates on how to stop Ponting.
Katich went about his business quietly and efficiently much to the delight of the visitors. He eased Ishant through the covers for a boundary in the 55th over, but fell three balls later. After showing so much composure through the day, he let a slight lapse in concentration end his long vigil at the wicket.
The left-hander hit seven boundaries in his 149-ball knock, adding 166 runs in 325 deliveries for the second wicket with Ponting, to give Australia early control of the match.
Ponting though continued to look solid as he reached 94 not out at the tea interval, with Australia well-placed on 166 for 2 in 57 overs.
Michael Hussey, sent ahead of Michael Clarke to keep the left-right combination going, was yet to open his account.
It was a struggle all the way for the Indian bowlers after lunch, except for the lone wicket of Katich. With Ponting looking good for his first century on Indian soil and more, they look set for another hard session before close of play.
Post-tea session: (88 runs, 2 wickets, 22.2 overs)
Ponting seemed determined to complete his century as quickly as possible. The first ball he faced after the tea interval, he drove Kumble straight down the ground for a boundary to move to 99.
Off very next delivery he completed his first century in India; it was a stroke through point that fetched him three runs. The Aussie captain celebrated the landmark by raising his bat and punching the air in delight. The sporting Bangalore crowd responded with a huge ovation.
It took him 185 deliveries to complete his 36th century in Tests and included 13 cracking boundaries. This was his 16th Test century as captain, a world record he now shares with compatriots Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Before the match Ponting had stressed how desperate he was to set the record straight in India. This was his chance, and he made sure he didn't let it go.
The Indian bowlers checked the run-rate in the last session as Australia reached 200 for 2 in the 68th over.
In the 70th over, Ponting, on 110, survived a close caught-and-bowled appeal against Kumble, when he hit a ball straight back to the bowler. The umpires consulted each other before ruling Ponting not out, though close replays suggested he could have been out.
Ponting and Hussey made things look easy and were gathering runs at a fair pace. They brought up their 50-run partnership in the 74th over, with Hussey steady on 26.
India's patience finally bore fruit when they scalped the important wicket of Ponting, who was adjudged leg before wicket as he attempted to sweep Harbhajan but missed and was struck on the pads. It was the ninth time that Ponting had fallen to Harbhajan in Test matches.
Clarke, who scored a century on debut at this venue in 2004, got off to a good start, slamming Kumble for two boundaries in the 84th over. In the same over, Hussey slammed a short delivery from Kumble to the fine leg fence as Australia progressed to 245 for 3.
India took the new ball in the 88th over and it paid dividends as they struck in the final over the day.
Zaheer trapped Clarke (11) leg before wicket with an incoming delivery to help India deal the visitors a body blow at the right time.
Australia though will be happy that they finished the day on 254 for 4 off 89.2 overs.
Hussey kept the good work going, remaining unbeaten on 46 from 115 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries.
Zaheer claimed wickets in the first and last over of the day to finish the day with impressive figures of 2 for 39 in 17.2 overs. Ishant also worked hard to return figures of 1 for 49 in 16 overs.
Kumble, playing in possibly his final Test in front of home fans, struggled; he went for 84 runs in 27 overs. Harbhajan also toiled for his lone wicket, which cost him 71 runs in 25 overs.
The wicket in the final over of the day should give the Indians a huge boost heading into the second day. They will be hoping capitalise and put pressure on the Aussies on the morrow and look to bowl them out within the 350-run mark.