Australia 7-316 (Michael Clarke 103*, Moises Henriques 68, David Warner 59, Ravichandran Ashwin 6-88) vs. India

Michael Clarke led his side from the front by smashing a century as the majority of visiting batsmen struggled against the spin bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin.

Australia scored a reasonable total of 316 runs with three wickets still in hand after consuming 95 overs.

The first Test of the four match series commenced on Friday, February 22, 2013, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Earlier, Michael Clarke, the captain of Australia, won the toss and felt no hesitation in batting first. Ed Cowan along with David Warner opened the innings nicely as they got 4 fours in the third and the following over. Warner hit another two in the next over and was dropped at 18 by Virender Sehwag off Ravichandran Ashwin on the third ball of the 9^th over. Cowan posted the first six of the innings in the 14^th over but was stumped smartly by the Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, for 29 off Ashwin in the next over.

The openers provided a reasonable stand of 64 runs as Phillip Hughes was clean bowled by Ashwin for just six runs after the addition of eight runs. Shane Watson came in next and opened his account with a four and the first hundred of the innings appeared on board in the 27^th over. David Warner brought up his sixth Test fifty in the 30^th over and lunch was taken at 2-126 after four overs.

Shane Watson became the third victim of Aswin when he was declared leg before wicket for 28 immediately after the interval. David Warner surrendered his wicket against Ravichandran Ashwin for 59 off 93 balls with 6 fours and the Kangaroos were four wickets down at 131 in 36.4 overs. Michael Clarke came into bat under trying conditions as Matthew Wade appeared at the other end. The score was enhanced to 153 when Ashwin picked his fifth wicket by dismissing Wade for 12 runs. The debutant all-rounder, Moises Henriques, walked in next and tasted his first boundary in the longer version of the game in the 53^rd over.

Michael Clarke hit two back to back fours in the 58^th over off Ravindra Jadeja as the score reached the 200 runs mark in the 61^st over. Clarke kept on cruising and achieved his half century on the fifth delivery of the 67^th over with a huge six over long-on. Henriques added 3 fours in the next couple of overs and the hundred runs partnership for the sixth wicket was completed in the 73^rd over. Moises Henriques attained his maiden Test fifty in the 78^th over as Clarke continued stealing boundaries from his end at regular intervals.

The sixth wicket association was broken at 304 on the second ball of the 90^th over when Henriques was held lbw off Ashwin for 68 from 132 balls with 5 fours. Mitchell Starc was gone three runs later and was replaced by Peter Siddle. Michael Clarke blasted his 23^rd Test hundred on the fifth ball of the 95^th over and was applauded by the whole dressing room. Australia managed 316 runs for the loss of seven wickets at stumps on day one, Michael Clarke was unbeaten at 103 and Peter Siddle has yet to open his account.

Ravichandran Ashwin bowled excellently and grabbed six important wickets whereas Ravindra Jadeja held one.

The addition of another 50-75 runs for the Aussies can bring them to a secured position and India will try to wipe off the remaining three wickets quickly on the second day.