Uncapped India Board XI batsman Ambati Rayudu belted 71 not out in a stubborn display as Australia’s spinners were punished on Wednesday.
The home side recovered from 6-132 to reach 6-171 at tea on day two of the two-day game in reply to Australia’s first innings of 241.
Spinners Nathan Lyon (2-53 off 11 overs), Glenn Maxwell (1-20 off four) and Steve Smith (0-34 off four) all struggled to keep things tight on the small oval and fast outfield at Chennai’s Guru Nanak College Ground.
While Maxwell, with a wicket and a brilliant catch, helped push his case for selection as allrounder in the first Test on February 22, seam-bowling allrounder Moises Henriques gave an impressive performance by claiming 2-7 from seven overs.
Parvel Rassol was 14 not out at tea, after sharing an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 39 with Rayudu who hit eight fours and three sixes from 96 deliveries.
Lyon made the initial breakthrough for the tourists on day two when Robin Uthappa (24) was brilliantly caught by Maxwell at mid-wicket.
Henriques highlighted the variable bounce on offer by removing Mandeep Singh (3) caught behind from a hook shot and bowling Abinhav Mukund (21) with a delivery that appeared to keep low.
Lyon’s second wicket came in the first over after the interval when Kedar Jadhav (1) was caught behind attempting a cut shot at 4-61.
Maxwell, after making a duck in Australia’s first innings, took a wicket in his first over by trapping former Test wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel lbw for 23 at 5-102.
Paceman James Pattinson crashed through Stuart Binny’s defences for five at 6-132.
Australia’s Michael Clarke jogged laps of the oval and without any apparent concerns in an encouraging sign that the skipper can overcome a sore hamstring for the first Test starting on February 22.
Talisman
Guest
Whitestar, the ads, promos (I swear I'll NEVER watch the Block), subliminal ads DURING an over, commentators doing ads during an over got my blood boiling. James Brayshaw better learn quick smart that cricket viewers are not blind & do know something about the game. He carries on incessantly as if viewers are stupid - maybe I am, but it was the worst summer of cricket broadcast I've suffered through.
JohnB
Guest
Strange thing was, he did have another 30 minutes. They called it off early, which seems bizarre to me given the only point of the game is getting a bit of practice.
JohnB
Guest
White - if you were in PNG you'd have had the weird situation of the channel 9 feed which they take from Perth for some reason having the cricket on delay starting at 9 or 9:30pm local time (same as Aust Eastern Std Time) while it was being telecast live (and thus well into the run chase) on the local channel (and it's been similar for the ODIs). I can only assume if you live in Perth you might get it live on Gem? They must get ratings of about 3 men and a dog for the 9 broadcast in Perth.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
SOK
Brendon
Guest
You got any better ideas for our number one spinner Frankie? Please tell us
Brian
Guest
Than pick Bird & Siddle and still add one of the aforementioned ahead of Moises.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
I sorry but I haven't been mesmerised by one in a lifetime bowlers. I can't see how Lyon ever leapfrogged Hauritz. Hauritz's averaged pushed out after the last series in India. After this series, it more than likely, that Lyon's stats will be worst than Hauritz. Therefore we will be back to square one. Hauritz could at least bat and field as well.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Very true. Lyon's record stacks up well compared to most off-spinners that have played for Australia
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
One of the problems with once-a-generation players like Warne, Gilchrist or Botham is fans expect that every player of the same style that follows them will eb that good. Lyon's about an average offspinner. Yeah, he doesnt turn it that much, and bowls a lot of darts. Guess what - thats normal. Similarly, most legspinners are pretty inaccurate, and will bowl half-trackers and four balls, in between wicket-taking deliveries. Thats normal too. And Mr Hughes' reaction - thats normal for fans that have been spoiled by once-in-a-generation players as well.
Roger
Guest
If only Maxwell had 30 more minutes he could have slogged a 50 and then Arthur would have made it look like the best 50 ever. Arthur said in an interview yesterday that the makeup of the batting lineup is still in the air with the openers still to be decided so Watson and Cowan will fight it out in the second warm up game. He also talked up Khawaja's chances to come in for the first test but a good score from him will help his case alot. Henriques did his chances no harm whereas Maxwell went down the pecking order. My gut feel is that both Watson and Khawaja will be playing in the first test but it will really depend on how these guys go in Saturday's match. And what about Ashton Agar, looks like a very good talent, one to watch out for in the coming years.
Roger
Guest
Lyon is a must for the first test but not Maxwell, he can neither bowl or bat at test level. I would go with Watson and Warner at the top, Khawaja at 4, Henriquest at 6 and Lyon as the only spinner for the first test. Warner, Clarke and Khawaja can bowl 10-15 overs of spin between them.
Roger
Guest
Impressive return from Henriques and tidy for Lyon too. Bag Lyon all you like his results continue to speak for themselves. Pleasing to hear the we found some reverse, this has been a big difference between Aust and Indian quicks on recent tours, good signs from the tour match, solid start to the tour. If Henriques gets another hit out and can show he's good for a few then I guess Doherty's a strong chance, One thing you can say for Lyon is that he doesn't generally get milked, I think Doherty will be lucky to hold up an end, hopefully he can surprise us. Khawaja got a start with a 30 odd but expect a big one from him in the second warm up game as he is a must in the top 6. I am not convinced with Ed and would have Watson opening. Encouraging start for Bird in India too!
Red Kev
Guest
I would play Henriques instead of a "quick". Medium pacers will be more useful than pace in my opinion. Watson would have been great on India's pitches. Copeland too.
Brian
Guest
I can't see how Henriques can be considered, he's bowling well but his batting is in the realm of Starc, Johnson & Pattinson - you might as well play one of the latter instead.
Matt F
Roar Guru
It's not too surprising that Agar did better than Smith or Maxwell. Maxwell is a batting all-rounder (and the term all-rounder is very debatable in his case) while Smith was picked as the back up batsman according to the selectors and he barely bowls for NSW anymore. Agar should be bowling better than them.
Red Kev
Guest
Of course they will, that is why he opened in the second innings - his 14* will be treated like a double-ton.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
The beginners luck has run out with Lyon. He was toothless against SA. He basically bowling darts.
jameswm
Guest
I want to know how Lyon got his wickets. Did he get them from slogs, or pressure from good bowling? At 5 an over, I don't know how much of the latter it was. All 3 were caught, one by Wade. The batsmen may have been given a directive from higher up to after Lyon at every opportunity. He's sort of the most crucial cog in the team in India, in many ways. If it was a dustbowl, it shows that medium pacers can work. By the way Agar bowled 8 overs 1 for 27, getting out the no.8 who was well set. Better figures (by a fair margin) than Maxwell or Smith.
jamesb
Guest
He could've had a few more wickets, had Wade held on to a few chances.
jamesb
Guest
Moises did well picking up four wickets, but I get the feeling, the selectors will go with the Big Show.