Cowan flays ICC for lacking initiative on DRS

The debutant opener fires with the bat and lip after scoring a solid 68, but Mike Hussey gets dismissed to a wrong decision.

The Indians, who vetoed use of a review system, celebrate the wicket of David Warner, but Michael Hussey's dismissal later soured the proceedings as technology exposed umpiring errors on the first dayShow more

MELBOURNE // The lack of a review system appeared to cost both Australia and India as controversial decisions marked the first day of their first Test.

Australia's Mike Hussey, struggling for runs of late and with his place in the team under threat, appeared angry as he walked from the field after Marias Erasmus, the South African referee, ruled him caught behind for a duck off Zaheer Khan.

Television replays indicated the ball hit Hussey's shoulder.

Australia could not challenge the decision under the Decision Review System (DRS) because it is not being used in this series after the Indian cricket board raised concerns over its accuracy.

India also appeared to be victim of a bad call when an lbw appeal by Zaheer was turned down by Erasmus with Brad Haddin on 19. TV replays showed Haddin could well have been out had the decision been subject to video review.

Umesh Yadav, the India paceman, who returned India's best figures of three for 96, backed the decision not use the review system in the series.

"This is part of the game and I'd rather not talk about it," he said through a translator. "If there's a good decision or a bad decision, that's part of the game."

However, Australia's Ed Cowan, making his Test debut, called for the review system to be mandated in all Test matches.

"I've been a consumer of Test cricket for so long and this is Day 1 on the job for me," he said.

"But as someone who loves their cricket and watches a lot of cricket, I just don't understand why it can't be handed down by the ICC for [the review system] to be uniform in all games."

Hussey's dismissal allowed India to take the initiative from the home side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The hosts restarted at 277 for six on the second day today at 3.30am UAE time.

"It was a massive moment in the game," said Cowan, who marked his Test debut by top-scoring on the first day with 68.

He shared a 113 partnership with Ricky Ponting.

"We had a 100-run partnership, wrestled back momentum, then almost a 50-run partnership.

"We felt we were half an hour away from really nailing them and grinding them into the dust."

Cowan became the third wicket to fall in just 19 deliveries when caught behind off Ravichandran Ashwin, a decision that also appeared to carry a degree of doubt, according to replays.

"It doesn't matter what game of cricket you play in, umpiring decisions always change the momentum of the game," Cowan said.

"It doesn't matter if it's an MCG Test match or me playing club cricket, that's the game. We all accept that.

"Today, momentum went against us because of it. But that's the game, we'll take the good with the bad."