KEY POINTS:
Mitchell Johnson's hostile early spell put Australia in command before Shane Watson and Michael Clarke made sure they stayed there at tea on day three of the first Test against India.
Having resumed today at 0-68 in reply to Australia's 430 in Bangalore, the Indians limped to 6-210 with a session to play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Johnson (3-42) tore through the best of the home side's batting, defeating Virender Sehwag (45), Sachin Tendulkar (13) and VVS Laxman (0).
After lunch, Watson (1-28) chimed in to claim Rahul Dravid (51) lbw to an inswinger.
Debutant legspinner Cameron White (0-23) confused Sourav Ganguly (38no) and Mahendra Dhoni (nine) in a useful spell before tea, largely by bowling dead straight balls on a dusty surface when it would appear to have been easier to spin them.
His straightness contributed indirectly to Dhoni's wicket just before the break, when the Indian 'keeper was bowled on the back foot by a delivery from Clarke (1-22) that turned just enough to beat the outside edge and crash into off stump.
Tendulkar entered this series needing another 77 runs to pass Brian Lara as the leading runscorer in Test cricket, but he could manage only reduce that to 64 today before presenting White with a first Test catch.
Needing an early wicket to establish a foothold in the innings after an off-colour start in the field last night, the Australians found one through the pace and accuracy of Brett Lee (1-32).
Seventh ball of the morning he angled one in from around the wicket to Gambhir, who was horrified to find the ball straighten off the seam to pin him lbw.
On a pitch that offered variable pace, bounce and a patchwork of cracks, Johnson also found some reverse swing and his analysis for the morning was an outstanding 3-19 from 8.5 overs.
He did not take long to trouble Sehwag, and two balls after he was beaten outside off stump as the impetuous opener lashed at a wider delivery and his low edge was held by slip Matthew Hayden.
Tendulkar began confidently but soon after lobbing a checked drive from Johnson just centimetres in front of White's dive from short cover, he did it again: this time the ball carried comfortably.
Laxman fiddled uncertainly at a length ball angled across him by Johnson and the thin edge was pouched safely by Brad Haddin.
- AAP
