Travis Head kept India at bay on Day 2 of the first Test in Adelaide, after Australia’s top order collapsed thanks to some accurate bowling from the Indians.
Playing at his home ground, Head reached stumps at 61 not out, guiding Australia to 191/7 after India made 250.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets, bowling beautifully to answer concerns about his suitability for Australian conditions, while pacers Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets each.
Australia were 126/7 – the same score India were on Thursday before Ashwin joined centurion Cheteshwar Pujara for a 62-run partnership, and Head and Pat Cummins produced something similar to lead the hosts’ fightback, making exactly 50 together before Cummins misjudged a leave and fell LBW to Bumrah.
Earlier, Aaron Finch was bowled for a duck and debutant Marcus Harris went after scoring 26, while Shaun Marsh became the first Australian top-six batsman to record six consecutive single-digit scores since 1888. Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb failed to convert good starts, while captain Tim Paine fell for just five.
