4th Test: Labuschagne ton, partnerships carry Australia to 274/5 at stumps on Day 1

GONE! This is a big wicket and what a way to bring up your first Test scalp. In-form Smith (36) is walking back, dismissed by debutant Washington Sundar who breaks a 70-run stand that looked ominous. Smith is dejected, caught by Rohit at short mid-wicket as he tried to flick the offie. Australia 87/3.

Smith stands tall to punch Saini for a couple. The pair continues to look good as the three-figure mark approaches for the hosts. Australia 87/2.

ICYMI

Labuschagne was quick to gauge the short length and pull Saini for a four to move into the 30s. The Aussie No. 3 is batting on 32 now. Smith is on 31. Australia 79/2.

Sundar bowled three consecutive maidens first up, but it's Siraj who begins after Saini post the lunch break. A tad surprising. Australia 74/2 in 30 overs.

Fifty partnership comes up for the third wicket

The players are back on the pitch after lunch as Australia, 65/2, will hope Smith (30*) and Labuschagne (19*) push them into a position of strength.

A few minutes away from resumption post lunch

And Sundar completes a hat-trick of maiden overs to bring LUNCH on Day 1. Labuschagne (19*) and Smith (30*) have done well to repair the damage after Siraj and Shardul gave the hosts early jitters to leave them in a bit of bother at 17/2. Following Tim Paine's decision to bat first, Australia lost openers Warner (1) and Harris (5) early but have reached 67/2 at the first break of the Test on Day 1.

Sundar has begun brilliantly, bowling back-to-back maidens. He is coming up for his third over now, which should be the last over before lunch.

Double change by India. After Saini, it's the turn of debutant Washington Sundar, as we see first sign of spin.

Thakur is proving a tad expensive here, with the last ball of his seventh over (1/27) hit for another four by Smith, who reaches 29*. Australia 61/2, and Navdeep Saini has been brought into the attack by Rahane.

Smith (25*) and Labuschagne (16*) bring up the fifty with a couple of boundaries off the former's bat against Thakur, first an edge and then an off-drive. The hosts are 57/2 in 19 overs.

The Smith-Labuschagne pair is slowly but surely repairing the early damage, as the scoreboard nears fifty, after being 17/2.

Ominous signs

A productive over. Exactly what the doctor ordered for Australia. A whip and a drive from Smith off successive balls from Thakur go for fours. Australia 35/2. Smith has begun sprightly - 15* off 18 balls.

Australia's two in-form batsman, Labuschagne (6*) and Steve Smith (5*) are together now. Much will depend on this pair to decide where Australia end up in their first innings. Natarajan, meanwhile, keeps the leash on them. Just 8 runs off the six overs the debutant has bowled so far. Australia 25/2 in 12 overs.

Moment

GONE! Shardul Thakur has struck gold off his first ball of the match. Sundar takes his first Test catch to get Thakur his first Test wicket, and Marcus Harris (5) walks back. Australia 17/2 in 8.1 overs.

Great camera work, when Rohit dived to pouch a stunner off Warner's bat at second slip