Smith celebrates after scoring his 19th Test hundred

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Australia looked as if they were teetering on the edge of another major batting collapse on the first day in Ranchi, but captain Steve Smith and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 117 and 82 not out respectively to turn the tide in the tourists’ favour.

During his superb innings of 117, Smith surpassed 5,000 Test runs and became the joint seventh-fastest to do so, needing just 97 innings. In terms of matches, he is the third-fastest as he reached the milestone in 53 Tests.

Smith also became only the third captain in Test history to score two of more centuries in a Test series in India. The other two skippers to have achieved the feat are Clive Lloyd of the West Indies and England’s Alastair Cook.

Choosing to bat first, Australia got off to a solid start as David Warner and Matt Renshaw amassed a 50-run partnership before Warner was caught and bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 19.

Renshaw went on to make 44 before being dismissed by Umesh Yadav, while Shaun Marsh could only muster two runs before falling to Ravichandran Ashwin.

Smith and Peter Handscomb stabilised the innings with a 51-run partnership, during which Smith brought up his half-century, before Handscomb was given out lbw off the bowling of Yadav for 19.

During their stand, India were dealt a huge blow when captain Virat Kohli injured his shoulder while diving to prevent the ball from going over the boundary.

Kohli was immediately treated by the physiotherapist and left the field. To make matters worse, he didn’t return for the rest of the day.

With Australia in a spot of bother at 140/4, Smith and Maxwell, who was playing in his first Test since November 2014 came to the rescue with an unbeaten 159-run stand, during which Smith surpassed his hundred and Maxwell his half-century.

Smith finished on 117 off 244 balls, which included 13 boundaries, while Maxwell remained undefeated on 82 off 147 deliveries, which included five boundaries and two sixes.

Maxwell is currently sitting on his highest score in Test cricket

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Yadav was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Ashwin and Jadeja claimed one wicket each.

Australia ended day one on 299/4 and will continue batting on Friday at 09:30 local time or 04:00 GMT.