India opener Vijay flays ailing Australia with Brisbane ton

Indian opener Murali Vijay put Australia to the sword in their Brisbane fortress with a brilliant 144 to help drive the tourists to 311 for four at the close of play on the opening day of the second Test on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old shared an opening partnership of 56 with Shikhar Dhawan, stalled a little in the sweltering heat after lunch and then opened up after reaching his fifth Test century in the final session.

His innings came to an end after five and a half hours when he stepped down the pitch in search of a 23rd boundary and was caught behind off Nathan Lyon, Australia's off-spinning hero from their 48-run victory in the first test.
 
"It was mentally challenging but when you are playing for your country you've got to do your stuff to the best of your ability," Vijay told reporters.

"You can only go close to perfection, I think I did pretty well today."

Ajinkya Rahane, who shared a 124-run partnership with Vijay, will resume on 75 not out on day two along with Rohit Sharma (26) as India look to inflict a first defeat on Australia at the Gabba since 1988.

It was a tough first day as stand-in Australia skipper for Steve Smith, who lost Mitchell Marsh to a hamstring problem after the all-rounder had claimed his first test victim in Dhawan with the only wicket to fall before lunch.

Debutant paceman Josh Hazlewood was also forced to leave the field midway through his 16th over, having taken his first two test wickets after lunch.

Marsh family

A miserable day for the Marsh family was compounded when Mitchell's brother Shaun, recalled to replace injured captain Michael Clarke, dropped Vijay on 36 and again on 102.

"Eventful day," said Australia coach Darren Lehmann. "Would be nice to have a full contingent out there.

"We've got get back in the game, they outplayed us today."

Vijay had illustrated his rich vein of form with knocks of 53 and 99 in the first test in Adelaide and fully vindicated returning skipper captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat first after winning the toss.

Grabbing his third half century of the series with a drive through the covers for four in the first over after lunch, he was then forced to weather a period of pressure as Hazlewood removed Cheteshwar Pujara (18) and Virat Kohli (19).

Vijay kept his cool through a second session in which the tourists were only able to add 62 runs to their lunch score of 89-1 but hit his stride again when the bowlers tired in the afternoon sun.

Successive fours off Shane Watson took him to his century but he initially looked unaware of having reached the milestone before whipping off his helmet and raising his bat to the visitors' dressing room.

Tea

Indian opener Murali Vijay got his third half century of the series but debutant Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as Australia restricted the tourists to 151 for three at tea on the opening day of the second Test in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Vijay had put on 56 in an opening partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and survived a period of intense pressure on a sweltering day at the Gabba to remain at the crease unbeaten on 72 after the second session with Ajinkya Rahane, who was 13 not out.

Hazlewood's first wicket may have been fortuitous, with Cheteshwar Pujara adjudged caught behind for 18 even though TV replays clearly showed the ball had clipped his helmet, but his second was all about pace and bounce.

The 23-year-old, whose inclusion was one of three changes to the Australia side from the first test win, tempted Virat Kohli into attempting a cut and the erstwhile India skipper was caught behind for 19 after only managing a thick edge.

Lunch

India eased to lunch on 89 for one after winning the toss and electing to bat first on the opening day of the second Test against Australia at a sweltering Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan put together India's first half-century opening partnership in an away Test for more than three years before they were separated when Dhawan slashed wildly at a Mitch Marsh delivery to be caught behind for 24.

Vijay survived a scare of his own in the following over when he was dropped by Shaun Marsh at gully off the bowling of Mitch Johnson and reached the break on 46 not out with Cheteshwar Pujara alongside him on 15.
 
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, returning to lead the side after missing the first Test defeat with a thumb injury, will have been pleased with his team's start on a bouncy surface which was expected to favour Australia's fast bowlers.

The hosts, who have not lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988, overhauled their pace attack for the match with Josh Hazlewood winning his first cap and left-armer Mitch Starc recalled to the side in place of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.

Johnson, whose bowling shattered England in the Ashes opener at the Gabba last year, got a bit of early movement but there was no real fire and the Indian openers started the scoreboard ticking over.

They reached the 50 partnership, India's first such opening stand on the road since the Lord's test of 2011, when Dhawan slapped a Johnson ball off his pads to deep square leg for a run four.

All rounder Mitch Marsh made the breakthrough in the following over, however, when his short, wide delivery elicited an equally poor shot from Dhawan and Brad Haddin snaffled up the top edge behind the stumps.

Haddin retained his vice-captaincy but it was Steve Smith who was handed a blazer before the start of play to signify his becoming Australia's 45th Test skipper as a stand-in for the injured Michael Clarke.

India also made three changes with Dhoni replacing Wriddhiman Saha, all rounder Ravichandran Ashwin coming in for leg spinner Karn Sharma and fast bowler Umesh Yadav replacing Mohammed Shami.

Australia won the first Test in Adelaide by 48 runs at the weekend to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, which was rejigged in the wake of the death of Phillip Hughes.

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