New Delhi, March 22 : After losing eight wickets for 231 runs on the first day of the fourth Test against India Friday, Australia all-rounder Steven Smith said that another 50 runs would be a good enough first innings total here at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

New Delhi, March 22 : The Australian batting collapsed yet again, this time on a crumbling Ferozeshah Kotla wicket here, and the visitors ended the opening day Friday of the fourth and last cricket Test at a scratchy 231 for eight.

Australia had to rely, as they did more than once in the series, on their tail-enders to bail them out.  From a precarious 153 for seven, they carried their first innings to a respectable score.

Steven Smith (46) and No. 9 Peter Siddle (47 batting) batted grittily on a pitch on which their top-order batsmen looked clueless against India's spinners.

New Delhi, March 22 : Left-arm orthodox bowler Ravindra Jadeja seems to have taken more than a liking for Australia captains, having clinched their wickets six out of seven times in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

Jadeja Friday took the wicket of stand-in skipper Shane Watson here at the Ferozeshah Kotla on the first day of the fourth and final Test.

New Delhi, March 22 : A 16-month-long wait finally came to an end for Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane who was handed his India Test cap by Harbhajan Singh ahead of the team's fourth cricket Test against Australia here Friday.

In the process, Rahane, who became the 278th Test player for India, also brought an end to a lean patch for the 40-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, who did not produce even a single Test player for the country in the last six years.

New Delhi, March 22 : Thousands of cricket fans flocked to the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here Friday to see Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar play in what could be his last match in the national capital.

Tendulkar, who retired from One-Day Internationals (ODI) in December 2012, has of late been less than a shadow of himself.  However, that did not stop his fans from coming to see their hero on the first day of the fourth Test here of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

New Delhi, March 22 - Australia were 94 for two at lunch on day one of the fourth Test against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla here Friday.

Ed Cowan and stand-in captain Shane Watson were batting on 27 and 16.

Indian pacer Ishant Sharma took the two wickets to fall. (IANS)

New Delhi, March 22 - Two weeks after he angrily stormed out of the team, Shane Watson finally achieved his dream of becoming Australia's Test captain as he stepped out to lead the team in place of injured skipper Michael Clarke in the fourth Test against India here Friday.

Watson, who became the 44th Australian Test captain, said it was an honour to be appointed. Clarke stood down after he failed to recover from chronic back pain. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will be Watson's deputy.

New Delhi, March 21 : Australia captain Michael Clarke Thursday said his chronic back injury will in no way cut short his international cricket career.

"No, I don't think so, it won't have any impact," he said. "It hasn't had any impact in regards to my Test cricket at this stage. I don't think it will play any role at all," Clarke told reporters ahead of the fourth and final Test here.

Clarke suffered his latest bout of back pain in Mohali -- during the third Test that Australia lost by six wickets -- but played on after taking pain-killers.

Gurgaon, March 21 : Setting all rumours to the contrary to rest, India opener Gautam Gambhir Thursday confirmed his participation in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gambhir, who is suffering from mild jaundice, captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year.

"I am available for the IPL. It's a mild jaundice, hoping to be good in 4-5 days time," Gambhir tweeted.

New Delhi, March 20 : Australia's Test opener Ed Cowan was all praise for India's Shikhar Dhawan and said the debutant batted like legendary Don Bradman in the Mohali Test.

Dhawan struck a whirlwind record 187 runs on debut. It was not only the all-time fastest by a debutant but also the highest by an Indian on debut.

Cowan was happy that Dhawan will be missing the fourth Test starting here Friday as Dhawan fractured his left hand while fielding in Mohali and has been advised six weeks' rest.

Gurgaon, March 20 : Virender Sehwag's poor run of form continued Wednesday as he was back to pavilion for four runs, but his Delhi team beat Jammu and Kashmir by 17 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament here.

Delhi won the toss and chose to bat. Cricket lovers expected some fireworks from Sehwag but that wasn't to be. He faced three balls and was caught at point off Asif Rasool. Unmukt Chand made 23 in 25 balls, with four boundaries.

Milind Kumar scored 40 runs off 31 balls, smashing three fours and a six.

Chasing the 134-run target, J&K scored 116 runs losing nine wickets in 20 overs.

Hobart (Australia), March 20 : Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting Wednesday collected the Sheffield Shield player of the year award and ruled out an international comeback for the Ashes cricket series in England.

Ponting, 38, who will be in England playing for Surrey at the same time when the Australian teams attempt to regain the Ashes, said an international comeback was out of question for him.

New Delhi, March 20 : Australia's Test opener Ed Cowan Wednesday backed Shane Watson to lead the team in the fourth and the final match against India if skipper Michael Clarke if unfit.

An out-of-form Watson has been in the centre of controversy after he was sidelined from the third Test in Mohali along with three others over a breach of discipline last week.

Watson was angry and left for home to be with his wife Lee, who delivered baby boy Will last Thursday.

Watson, who left India contemplating retirement, however returned in time to be with the team for the fourth Test starting here Friday.

Mumbai, March 20 : Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Gautam Gambhir is likely to miss the first few matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to jaundice.

The opening batsman was in contention to replace the injured Shikhar Dhawan for the fourth and the final Test in Delhi but was ruled out after he was detected with jaundice Tuesday.

New Delhi, March 19 : Australia coach Mickey Arthur said skipper Michael Clarke was trying to get fit for the fourth and the final Test against India starting here Friday.

Clarke is suffering from a recurrence of back pain and batted with great discomfort in the Mohali Test.

"He is in a bit of pain, but with Michael Clarke you never say never.  He will give himself every opportunity to get himself ready for the Test, no doubt about that.  That will pan out closer to the time and will give him every opportunity to get up for it because he is such a vital cog in our team," Arthur told the Australian media.

New Delhi, March 19 : Australia are contemplating bringing Mike Hussey back from retirement if he wants to stage a middle-order return for the Ashes.

The 37-year-old retired in January after the Sydney Test but since then his absence from the Australian team has been sorely felt.

Coach Mickey Arthur indicated that he was interested in Hussey if the veteran shows interest.

"We'd certainly listen to Mike Hussey if Mike Hussey came knocking at our door," Arthur was quoted as saying by Australian daily The Age.

Mohali, March 19 : Cricket Australia (CA) said Tuesday that fast bowler Mitchell Starc will return home and will undergo surgery to remove the bone spurs on his right ankle.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said Starc will undergo surgery this week and his recovery will be assessed as he returns to bowling.  Starc will miss the fourth Test against India.

Mohali, March 18 : India's 3-0 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is the first against Australia in their Test history. The victory here Sunday is India's eighth in ten Tests against the visitors at home since their last defeat in Nagpur in 2004, the other two being draws.

It is also the first time in 25 years that Australia have lost the first three matches of a series. Allan Border's side lost 3-1 at home to the West Indies in 1988-89.

Mohali, March 18 : Australia skipper Michael Clarke was happy with the way his boys showed some character in the third Test but gave the credit to India for winning the third Test at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Monday.

"I think we showed character. But we have to give credit to India," said Clarke, after Australia surrendered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Clarke said the start provided by Shikhar Dhawan (187) and Murali Vijay (153) was the key. The duo added 289 runs for the first wicket.

Mohali, March 18 : India's debutant opener Shikhar Dhawan said it was important for him to play his natural game as his 187 runs in the first innings helped India beat Australia by six wickets and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match Border-Gavaskar series.

Dhawan and Murali Vijay (153) strung together a 289-run partnership for the first wicket in the first innings which proved to be decisive.

"I would like to thank god and my family," Dhawan, the man of the match, said during the post-match presentation.