Aussies on front foot

Australia's Phil Hughes ducks a bouncer on the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart yesterday.Photo: AFP

Australia took the upper hand against Sri Lanka following half-centuries by Phil Hughes, David Warner and Michael Clarke on the opening day of first Hobart Test on Friday.
The Australians always had the measure of the unthreatening Sri Lankan bowling attack, but Mahela Jayawardene's team kept a lid on the scoring rate to just above three runs an over with alert ground fielding.
Hughes hit 86 on his Test comeback a year after being sacked for a second time, while Warner ran himself out for 57 just before lunch.
At the close, Australia were 299 for four after winning the toss with in-form skipper Clarke unbeaten on 70 and veteran Mike Hussey not out on 37 in an unbroken 101-run stand.
Clarke in the process raised 1,400 runs for the calendar year, averaging over 116.
"Overall at four for 299 the ball's in our court," Hughes said.
"I thought we were outstanding today with Pup [Michael Clarke] and Huss [Mike Hussey] putting on a 100 at the end, so that really gives us momentum going into tomorrow."
The Australians are coming off a crushing 309-run loss to world number one South Africa in Perth and found the sixth-ranked Sri Lankans -- without a win in 10 Tests in Australia -- less menacing opposition.
Hughes, batting at number three, was out shortly after tea when he was bowled by Chanaka Welegedara, ending the comeback batsman's bid for a fourth Test century.
The compact left hander showed more patience and improved shot selection at his latest and third Test recall, batting for 221 minutes and hitting eight fours and an unorthodox slog-sweep six over deep mid-wicket.
On the way, Hughes had a big let-off on 77 when he was caught behind off a Welegedara no-ball.
Shane Watson, batting in Ricky Ponting's number four spot, made a start before he fell to a spectacular flying catch by Sri Lankan skipper Jayawardene.
The Sri Lankans were up against it when the captain latched on to a magnificent one-handed catch to dismiss Watson for 30 nearing tea.
Australia had been sailing along before Jayawardene's screamer off Welegedara, which left the home side at 183 for three in the 51st over.
Watson had shared in an 86-run stand with Hughes as Australia were looking in command.
Warner was run out in the final over before lunch to take some of the gloss off Australia's solid first morning.
Looking set for a big score, a communication breakdown with Hughes saw him sacrifice his wicket four balls before lunch.