Stand-in skipper Shane Watson was unbeaten on 16 as Australia made a wobbly start to reach 2-94 at lunch on day one of the fourth Test against India.
Watson was controversially given not out on seven in the 26th over of the morning after a bat-pad appeal and a stumping appeal off the bowling of spinner Pragyan Ojha.
The shout for a catch from the bowler was turned down before Indian skipper and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni motioned to the square-leg umpire to call for a video review.
This was comical viewing as India have refused to employ the Decision Review System for this series because of the home side’s mistrust of technology.
“Players may not appeal to the umpire to use the replay system,” the ICC’s playing conditions state.
Following a review by the third umpire, Watson was ruled not out.
Cautious opener Ed Cowan was 27 not out at lunch off 83 balls.
Australia lost the wickets of David Warner for a duck and Phil Hughes for 45.
Warner, who played a loose shot outside off-stump to fall caught behind for two in Australia’s second innings of the third Test, was out in similar fashion for a duck caught at second slip in the second over of Friday’s fourth Test.
Hughes raced to 45 at the start of the 21st over with his 10th boundary, a classy push through cover with the ball on the rise.
Tall paceman Ishant Sharma (2-21) responded two deliveries later with a nasty bouncer that hit Hughes on the helmet and the little left-hander was out in the same over, playing a ball onto his stumps.
Watson, who won the toss in his new role as Australia’s 44th Test captain in the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke (back), 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 returned to Sydney for the birth of his first child.
“To be stood down from a Test match hit me very hard and it’s been a great process over the week to get back into the team and contribute again,” Watson said.
“To have the opportunity to see the birth of my boy – I can never thank Mickey (coach Mickey Arthur) and Michael (Clarke) especially for giving me the opportunity to go home.
“It’s amazing how if you get through the tough times, some nice things come along.”
