Only 4 wickets fall on day one of First Test:

Hughes 86 in Australia’s 299 for 4

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

The Australians winning a good toss, dominated the first day of the First of Three Tests scoring 299 for 4 wickets at the close on day one at the picturesque Bellerive Oval in Hobart, here today.

Left handers David Warner and Philip Hughes took the batting honours scoring 57 and 86 in the first two sessions with Captain Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey hugging the final session unbeaten on 70 and 37 and putting on an unbroken stand of 101 for the 5th wicket.

Jayawardene who will quit the captaincy at the end of the series, switched his bowlers around intelligently and it was Chanaka Welegedera who obliged with 3 wickets for 99.

Intermittent showers are expected today, and it is going to be cold and windy which would not be to the liking of the Lankans which could help the Australians to further consolidate their already strong position and take the game away form the Lankans.

Much hyped Phil Hughes

There was much hype about the comeback of left hander Phil Hughes. He was puffed up by the media here, but is not a patch on the former Aussie left handed greats such as Arthur Morris and Neil Harvey. It was gloomy and overcast when Captains Mahela Jayawardena and Michael Clarke walked out to toss and Clarke who spun the coin saw it turn in his favour and he gleefully agreed to bat first.

The wicket was looking a bit green and although there was going to be help for the seam and swing bowlers early on, it was expected to behave and be batting friendly with spinners coming into play on the fourth and fifth days.

Jayawardene said he would have preferred to bat.’

The pitch looks much better than it was a couple days back. We have got a new opener in Dimuth Karunaratne who we feel is very exciting’, said Jayawardene after the toss.

Wicket a bit different

Clarke said this wicket looks a bit different to what the boys have played on in first class cricket this season. There were a lot of questions asked before the game as to how the wicket was going to play because Sheffield Shield games here have finished in low scores and the games not going the full distance.

The ground looked a pretty picture, with the grass bank filling up with school kids sporting their school colours of yellow and red, the Southern Stands seats with green and yellow seating and the DERWENT RIVER flanking the Oval.

The first hour was ideal for seam and swing bowling. But sadly none of the Lankan medium pace bowlers Nuwan Kulesekera, Chanaka Welegedera, Shamindra Eranga or Angelo Mathews had the ability to use the helpful conditions and trouble the Australian batsmen by getting the ball to

wobble around. The Australian openers Ed. Cowans and David Warner, both Southpaws began quietly, having a good look at the bowling and how the much maligned wicket would play.

Cowan mistimes pull

With the score on 18, Cowans whose slot in the team was questioned by former Australian captain Ian Chappell mistimed a pull off Welegedera and sliced to Eranga at mid on for 4. It was an uncharacteristic shot from Cowan.

‘Wonder boy’ Phil Hughes, replacement for Ricky Ponting joined Warner and immediately got into his stride playing some lovely cover drives and seemed determined to cement his slot, now that he is back in the big league. The dashing Warner was at ease and was playing his natural game, slashing and piercing the off field with stylishly executed drives and when the short ball came along he pulled to the boundary. The Lankan bowlers, with no speed to scare the batsmen, just kept pegging on and hoping that the batsmen would make the mistake and gift their wicket. And the net wicket was a gift.

Both Warner and Hughes were going well and with lunch approaching, and the final over before lunch saw Jayawardene calling on Tillekeratne Dilshan to bowl. Warner pushed the fifth ball to the off and moved out as if to run.

Warner stranded

Non striker Hughes took off and dashed to the striker’s end and Warne was stranded when Mathews threw the ball to Dilshan who whipped off the bails. It was a cruel end to an innings that promised a three figure score.

Warner and Hughes had hoisted 79 for the second wicket and the score was 97. Warner had made 57 with 3 fours in 89 balls. Hughes who started off in a hurry, slowed down and went to lunch unbeaten on 27. Hughes came out with Shane Watson after lunch. It turned pretty cold after lunch which would not have been to the liking of the Lankans who would like the sun shining on their backs.

The wicket had got a bit quicker after lunch and it was good for stroke play with the ball coming on nicely to the bat. Hughes and Watson were not unduly worried and looked for runs.

Herath carted for six

Hughes excelled with the cut and the drive and once carted left arm spinner Rangana Herath over mid wicket for six which went 95 metres into the stands. He had a bit of luck when on 77 and the score 176.

Hughes’ attempted cut, got an edge to wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, but it was horror of horrors because umpire Tony Hill signaled ‘no ball’ and it was a big no ball. It was unacceptable watching the bowlers over stepping at this level.

Watson was batting in a new position. He generally opens. But seemed to settling down when Welegedera bowling over the wicket lured Watson to drive and the ball seemed to flying to the third man boundary, when Jayawardene fielding at second slip, dived goal keeper like to pluck an incredible one handed catch.

Vital wicket

It was a vital wicket and Watson had made 30 with 3 fours in 61 balls and had added 96 for the third wicket with Hughes. Clarke joined Hughes and took tea at 193 for 3, with Hughes on 82 and Clarke 7. After the addition of five runs after tea, Welegedera got a beauty through the ‘gate’ of Hughes to disturb his timber and send him back for 86 with 8 fours and one six in 166 balls. 198 for 4. Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Friday.