Lyon impresses, India 3-223 at tea

Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon regularly threatened India’s batsmen, but the tourists progressed to 3-223 at tea on day three of the first Test.

Skipper Michael Clarke declared before the start of play at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, with Steve Smith finishing 162 not out and Australia boasting a total of 7-517.

Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris claimed a wicket each before lunch, but Lyon was the hosts’ most potent bowler in the second session.

Lyon, fresh from an underwhelming tour of the UAE where he captured three Test wickets at an average of 140, bowled an impressive 12-over spell from the City End.

He dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for 73 in somewhat fortuitous circumstances – the ball ricocheting off the thigh, between Pujara’s legs and onto the stumps.

But it was due reward for Lyon, who created plenty of nervous moments with the way he flighted the ball.

Ajinkya Rahane looked particularly uncomfortable against Lyon and almost gave away his wicket on five, when Johnson was just unable to get to a skied ball.

But Rahane (19no) made it to tea alongside stand-in skipper Virat Kohli (48no).

Clarke fielded despite the flare-up of his chronic injury, shifting out of the slips to better manage the three degenerative discs in his lower back.

The captain remained on the sidelines for approximately 20 minutes after lunch, but returned to the field.

Paceman Peter Siddle is unwell and managed two overs during the second session.

Harris, playing his first Test since undergoing major knee surgery in March, engineered the initial breakthrough when Shikhar Dhawan played on.

Johnson delivered a sharp three-over spell at the end of the morning session.

Opener Murali Vijay wore one bouncer on the body and ducked under another before departing on 53, caught behind off Johnson.

The next delivery shook up both Kohli and Johnson, with the left-armer striking the badge of Kohli’s helmet.

The Australians, with thoughts of Phillip Hughes’ desperately unlucky death in their minds, rushed to Kohli’s aid.

But the 26-year-old quickly got on with business.

Kohli continued to play a steady hand after lunch, with his most nervous moment coming on 32 when a leg-side edge off the bowling of Shane Watson almost carried to keeper Brad Haddin.

Lyon, who was in the field for NSW when Phillip Hughes was struck by a bouncer, thumped the No.408 on his chest after removing Pujara.

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