India v Australia: Tourists wanting to build 'substantial lead' in Bangalore second Test
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Opener Matt Renshaw says Australia is clearly focused on chasing as little as it can against India on a difficult Bangalore pitch, adding that the tourists were content with having batted for the entire second day in their first innings.
Australia, 1-0 ahead in the series after its 333-run triumph in the first Test in Pune, scored only 197 runs on the second day at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium but took a vital lead of 48 by the close of play with four wickets in hand.
The pitch is providing inconsistent bounce and turn for the bowlers. India was bundled out for 189 in its first innings and a bigger first-innings lead will only boost Australia's confidence.
"Hopefully, not too many (to chase) because we know that the fourth-innings chase is going to be quite hard out there," Renshaw said.
"Hopefully we get a substantial lead out there and the bowlers can do a successful job, like they did in the first."
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon took 8-50 in the first innings for the best figures by an overseas bowler as India suffered its third consecutive batting meltdown in the series after being all out for 105 and 107 in Pune.
The tourists have handled the conditions much better and are 6-237 in their first innings, aided by half-centuries from Renshaw and Shaun Marsh.
Aussies relishing the 'grind' in Bangalore
Renshaw, who also scored a 50 in the first innings in Pune, said the Bangalore pitch was more of a challenge than what the Australians faced in the first Test, where the ball just turned sharply.
"It was really challenging to score off both the quicks and the spinners. It was just a grind," said Renshaw, who was out to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja for 60.
"But as I've said, we just needed to bat the whole day and we've managed to do that.
"I think every run is vital and we sort of felt like we were just about to get on top of the game when I got out so it was quite frustrating from that point of view."
It was an engrossing day of cricket with both teams trying to seize control in front of a big Sunday crowd and a lot of words were exchanged in the first session between India's fielders and Australia's batsmen.
India captain Virat Kohli and his Australia counterpart Steve Smith were constantly talking to each other, forcing the umpires to intervene and calm things down.
"There was a bit of talk but I think that's because they're trying to unnerve each other (Smith and Kohli) and get under the skin," Renshaw said.
"But it's all good fun, a good contest out there. I was just trying to enjoy it and trying to laugh at what he (Kohli) was saying because some of it was quite funny."
Reuters/ABC
