Stand-in skipper Shane Watson was out for 17 in a middle-order collapse as Australia staggered to 7-153 at tea on day one of the fourth and final Test against India.
In sunny conditions on Friday on a pitch already starting to show signs of cracking and variable bounce at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla ground, the visitors once again had no answer to India’s spinners.
Australia are facing the prospect of a four-nil series sweep for the first time since losing in South Africa in 1969-70.
Steve Smith has looked in sparkling touch in tough conditions and is 25 not out off 104 deliveries. Smith has added 17 in 13 overs for the eighth wicket with Peter Siddle (five not out).
Australia were well placed at lunch at 2-94 after losing the wickets of David Warner for a duck and Phil Hughes for 45 (including 10 fours).
Opener Ed Cowan (38) was bowled around his legs attempting to sweep spinner Ravi Ashwin at 3-106, triggering a middle-order collapse of 5-30.
The key dismissal of Watson came nine runs later, stumped for 17.
Matthew Wade (two) appeared unluckily to be given out caught bat-pad at silly point.
Recalled allrounder Glenn Maxwell (10) played an ugly slog, trying to hit his way out of trouble, and was caught at wide mid-on.
Tailender Mitchell Johnson was bowled for three, offering no shot as Ashwin (3-33) claimed his 25th wicket of the series and third of the day.
Paceman Ishant Sharma and spinner Ravindra Jadeja had taken two wickets each.
Australia made five changes, recalling Watson, Wade, Maxwell, Johnson and James Pattinson for skipper Michael Clarke (back injury), Mitchell Starc (ankle surgery), Brad Haddin, Xavier Doherty and Moises Henriques.
Watson, who won the toss in his new role as Australia’s 44th Test captain, said it had been an emotional few days.
The 31-year-old was one of four players banned from the third Test for disciplinary reasons after failing to complete a homework assignment on time, then was granted permission to return to Sydney for the birth of his first child.
“It’s amazing how if you get through the tough times, some nice things come along,” Watson said.
However as Watson discovered on Friday, more tough times are not far away when touring India where the Aussies have won one series since 1970.
