Australia on top against India as Tendulkar misses out again

Captain Michael Clarke and former skipper Ricky Ponting left Australia in a strong position on day one of the second Test against India in Sydney.

 The tourists were bowled out for 191 after winning the toss, with Sachin Tendulkar, still one short of his 100th international century, making 41.

Seamer Zaheer Khan (3-26) then removed the Aussie top three cheaply.
But Ponting (44 not out) and Clarke (47 not out) added 79 for the fourth wicket as they reached 116-3 by the close.
The build-up to the 100th Test to be staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground was dominated by talk of Tendulkar's landmark, which has been on the cards since his 99th ton at the World Cup in March.

But rookie James Pattinson (4-43) tore into India's top order and was well supported by Peter Siddle (3-55), who took his 100th Test wicket, and Ben Hilfenhaus (3-51) as all 10 India wickets fell to pace bowling, including nine to catches in the slips or at short-leg.
Gautam Gambhir fell for a duck, edging the third ball of the match to Clarke at first slip, Rahul Dravid (5) soon followed and when Pattinson accounted for Virender Sehwag (30) and VVS Laxman (2), it was left to Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to lead the tourists' recovery at 96-4.

But just when the 'Little Master' looked set for another tilt at his century of centuries after hitting eight fours in his 41 from 89 balls, he dragged a wide delivery from Pattinson on to his stumps.
When he won the toss, India skipper Mahendra Dhoni would have hoped not to have been summoned to the crease seven overs into the afternoon session.
But with the help of Ravichandran Ashwin (20), Dhoni managed a gritty unbeaten 57 - his maiden fifty on Australian soil - to hand a modicum of respectability to his side's total before he ran out of partners.

Wickets continued to tumble as India's last three men all fell without scoring, and Australia's inexperienced top three were soon back in the hutch themselves within nine overs.
Left-armer Zaheer had David Warner (8) and Shaun Marsh (0) caught in the slips before trapping Ed Cowan lbw for 16.
But Ponting, whose international future looked in doubt before the series, and Clarke used all their experience to drop anchor for the rest of the day and ensure Australia held the edge going into day two.