The team doesn't mention it but the player Australia has badly missed is the ultra-aggressive opener David Warner.Australia were without a top-order batter who could disrupt the opposition with his strokeplay and make opposition bowlers think differently.

Steve Smith stood in firm occupation of the crease, India’s bowling and fielding were sapped of venom, and a Boxing Day crowd of 87,242 sat back comfortably in their seats amid the unmistakable hum of a thousand conversations.