Australia will monitor David Warner for any concussion symptoms, with Matthew Renshaw on standby to replace the veteran opener should he be unable to carry on in the second Test against India.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (13*) and KL Rahul (4*) will resume their unbeaten opening partnership when day two commences in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon (AEDT).
India reached 0-21 at stumps on the opening day after gritty half-centuries from Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb guided Australia to a fighting 263.
Warner, who scored one and 10 in Nagpur in the first Test, was the first Aussie batter to go on Friday after taking 21 balls to score the first runs of his innings.
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He had faced a barrage of short balls by seamer Mohammed Siraj and took a couple of blows — on the elbow and, most notably, the back of the helmet — before he was out caught behind thanks to a peach of a delivery from Mohammad Shami.
Warner undone by Shami seed | 00:28
Warner then did not come out to field when it was India’s turn to bat.
He didn’t have a concussion test after taking a hit to the helmet, but will have to be replaced by Renshaw if he can’t continue in the match.
Khawaja said his fellow opener felt “weary” after the hit on the head.
“The medical staff will have to figure out what happens from here on in,” he added.
Australia worked with spin right from the second over of India’s innings, with debutant Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon bowling six overs between them. Fellow off-spinner Todd Murphy wasn’t introduced into the attack on the first day.
Captain Pat Cummins was, remarkably, the only fast bowler named in Australia’s XI for the second Test after selectors bravely opted for three specialist spin bowlers. All-rounder Cameron Green was unavailable for selection due to injury, with Travis Head returning for Renshaw.
Rahul’s BLINDER robs Khawaja of a ton | 00:51
But Shami, who took four wickets while spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had three each, said India’s fast bowlers knew the conditions well and the pitch was not necessarily suited for spinners.
“We get drilled into our heads that Indian pitches are slow and not for fast bowlers,” he said.
“It’s a good weapon if the short ball is used. Bouncer is a good option.”
The second Test will resume on Saturday, with the first ball due to be bowled at 3pm (AEDT).
— AFP
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