1st Test: Controversy mars opening day

Australia question absence of DRS as India fight back at the MCG.

MELBOURNE: Debutant Ed Cowan said the absence of a Decision Review System cost Australia two wickets and precious momentum after the hosts ended a controversial opening day of the first Test against India on 277 for six.

The opener ground out a half-century before he was given out caught-behind off Ravichandran Ashwin shortly after Mike Hussey had departed angrily when he was dismissed in a similar manner for a first-ball duck off a fiery Zaheer Khan.

“Today, the momentum went against us,” said Cowan. “I was disappointed for Hussey. It was a massive moment in the game. We thought we were half an hour away from really nailing them, driving them into the dust.”

The Indian cricket board vetoed the use of the review system before the series, leaving both players fuming that they had no recourse, but the tourists were also frustrated when numerous appeals were turned down in the final session.

Zaheer dismissed Hussey a ball after dismissing captain Michael Clarke for 31, before Ashwin made it three wickets for the addition of nine runs to leave Australia reeling on 214 for six.

Hussey’s dismissal by umpire Marais Erasmus left him furious and television replays appeared to show the ball missing his glove and glancing his sleeve on the way through to Indian captain MS Dhoni.

Amid the drama, Haddin (21) and Siddle (34) rode their luck to stumps but the Australian wicket-keeper appeared particularly fortunate when a strong lbw appeal was turned down despite it appearing plum in front on the replay.

Resuming on 170 for three after the tea interval, Clarke and Cowan added a brisk 45 for the fourth wicket, before Zaheer, who had struggled for rhythm in his first test after a four-month injury layoff, found his line in devastating fashion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2011.