The Chennai right-hander, cruelly dismissed for 99 in the series opener at Adelaide, made it look easy to score his fourth Test century on a Gabba pitch where the Australians are undefeated for 26 years.
Vijay was out late in the day, caught behind off spinner Nathan Lyon for 144; equalling Sourav Ganguly’s 2003 knock as the highest score by an Indian at the Gabba.
“Today was really hot and was testing us all. As a batsman I could see a lot of bowlers sulking out there because it was really hot,” said Vijay. “The [final] session was really important for us and I thought a lot of people in their team were getting tired. I wanted to wait until then and make use of it.”
At close of play, India were 311-4 with Rahane unbeaten on 75 and Rohit Sharma not out on 26.
The century continued Vijay’s impressive start to the four-match series with scores of 53 and 99 in India’s 48-run defeat in the first Test.
However, he was helped along the way by two chances put down by Shaun Marsh on 36 and 102, both off Mitchell Johnson’s bowling.
It was a sorry day in the field for the Australians, with pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc having fitness problems in the heat and Mitchell Marsh also forced off the field with hamstring trouble.
“I thought the first session was okay, the second session very good, third session very poor,” said Australia coach Darren Lehmann. “It was very hot and we understand that as a group and a team but we’ve got to be better than that in the last session.”
Vijay’s dominance came after India had their third bad umpiring decision in the series with the dubious dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Pujara appeared to be caught off the grill of his helmet 40 minutes but was sent on his way by English umpire Ian Gould for 18. India seem to be paying for their refusal to use the decision review system in Tests over accuracy fears.
Debutant Hazlewood also grabbed the key wicket of Virat Kohli for 19, giving Brad Haddin his third catch of the innings.
Kohli, who was outstanding in Adelaide with a century in each innings, attempted to cut but was beaten by the extra bounce and edged it to the keeper.
It was a tough first day for new skipper Steve Smith as his bowlers failed to press on after having the tourists 137-3 halfway through the day.
India have not won in five Tests at the Gabba. The Australians have not lost at the ground since a nine-wicket defeat to a Viv Richards-led West Indies in 1988.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.
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