Wagging tail is not enough for Australia as India end wait for win Down Under

Australia fell to defeat in their first Test on home soil since the ball-tampering scandal as India overcame the hosts’ dogged resistance to win an outstanding Adelaide Test by 31 runs.

This is India’s first win in Australia for a decade — and only sixth ever — and gives them a great platform from which to win the four-match series. They have never won a Test series on Australian soil in 11 previous attempts.

The Second Test begins on Friday at the new Perth Stadium, a ground that will not strike fear into touring teams quite like the Waca across the Swan River. Australia have lost both their ODIs this year at Perth Stadium, against England and South Africa.

Chasing 323, Australia battled away, with every batsmen making double figures bar No3 Usman Khawaja and their last five wickets worth at least 31 each.

“It’s pretty shattering,” said Australia captain Tim Paine. “I’m really proud of the fight of the lower order, but I think over the five days we had a number of opportunities to get ahead of the game but failed to capitalise on any of them. India thoroughly deserved their win.”

Paine, who is the first Australian captain to win none of his first four Tests in charge for 90 years (Jack Ryder was the last) was full of praise for the way his bowlers batted to make India sweat on the final day.

Nathan Lyon, batting at No10 ended unbeaten on 28, as the bottom five outscored the top six. David Warner and Steve Smith’s absence — both are banned for a year for their part in sandpaper-gate — is being felt as keenly as ever.

“Our whole bowling attack, you can see how much it means to them playing for Australia, whether they’ve got the bat, ball or in the field, you can’t question their commitment,” Paine said.

“They have a red-hot crack for every single ball. That’s what we’re building to, that’s the style of cricket we want to play. They’re obviously some of our more experienced players and I think the more they do that, the more it will rub off on the rest of the group. I couldn’t question any of those guys.”

India may never have a better opportunity to win in Australia. That they lead the series without a major contribution with the bat from Virat Kohli (above) — who made three and 34 — will encourage the tourists greatly.

Cheteshwar Pujara, with 123 and 71, was the batting star, while perhaps for the first time ever, they have the seamers to thrive in Australia.

The wickets were shared in the fourth innings, with Ishant Sharma producing a peach to bounce out Travis Head, Jasprit Bumrah picking up the key wickets of Shaun Marsh and Paine, and Mohammad Shami and Ravi Ashwin taking three wickets apiece.

If they decide to shuffle their hand with a short turnaround between Tests — and this match being taxing on the bowlers — the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav are waiting in the wings.

This is the final opportunity for No1-ranked India to win one of three away series this year. They lost in South Africa then went down 4-1 in England (when they lost the big moments and the batting flattered to deceive around Kohli). Now, with a lead and Australia’s two best batsman unavailable, a rare opportunity knocks.