Lee checks India progress

Rahul Dravid succumbs to Andrew Symonds for 93 late on the opening day © Getty Images

A flurry of key wickets in the final session handed Australia a narrow advantage on the first day of the third Test against India in Perth.

The tourists were ticking along nicely at 198 for two at the WACA when Brett Lee struck to remove Sachin Tendulkar lbw for 71, breaking a 139-run partnership with Rahul Dravid.

Dravid, dropped on 14 by Michael Clarke, was dismissed for 93 attempting to sweep Andrew Symonds late in the day; his dismissal was sandwiched by the wickets of Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman as India, 2-0 down in the four-Test series, closed on 297 for six.

India captain Anil Kumble won the toss in the first match betwen the sides since the tourists withdrew their threat to pull out of the tour in the wake of the Harbhajan Singh affair.

India made good progress early, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag putting on 57 in quick time before Mitchell Johnson found some extra bounce to account for Sehwag, caught behind for 29 attempting to force off the back foot.

Sachin Tendulkar improvises to good effect in his innings of 71 at the WACA

Jaffer, who made 16, provided Adam Gilchrist with another catch three overs later as he drove at Lee, but Dravid - restored to his more accustomed number three spot following Jaffer’s recall - and Tendulkar survived until lunch.

Dravid was given a life by Michael Clarke off Lee shortly after the resumption - he spilled a regulation chance at first slip - before the pair found their stride.

Tendulkar reached his half-century, off 91 balls, when he cut Shaun Tait for four, and Dravid followed suit by hitting Andrew Symonds for two boundaries in an over. His fifty spanned 94 deliveries.

Although Tendulkar was trapped lbw by a delivery that might have been going over the top, Ganguly’s departure owed much to a poor choice of stroke, the left-hander chasing a wide one from Johnson and Mike Hussey taking a splendid low catch at gully.

Laxman shared a rapid fifth-wicket stand of 64 with Dravid, only for the latter to perish within sight of his century.

In attempting a repeat of the stroke that brought him four in Symonds’ previous over, Dravid’s swipe at a ball pitched well outside off stump resulted in a top edge that was comfortably held by Ricky Ponting at cover.

Dravid made no attempt to hide his disgust as he left the crease, and Australia capped a fine fightback when Laxman was hurried into a pull shot by Lee three overs before the close. Shaun Tait made no mistake at mid-off to give Lee figures of 3-64.