Saurav Ganguly tossed up the coin and Steve Waugh called it right, the third time in succession in the series. He elected to bat first on a hard and true track. Australia made one change to their team, off spinner Colin Miller came in for Michael Kasprowicz. India brought in the three players from Mumbai, Sameer Dighe (wicket keeper), Sairaj Bahutule (leg spinner) and Nilesh Kulkarni (left arm orthodox spinner). Matthew Hayden has been a revelation on this tour, though his senior partner Michael Slater was going through the horrors of life. Zaheer Khan drew the first blood for India, Slater (4) caught off the third ball of the day by VVS Laxman. Harbhajan Singh, who tormented the Aussies in Kolkata was brought into the attack in the sixth over of the day. Aussies had a game plan, to smash Singh's line and length. Hayden was the Aussie Warrior who was willing to take the bull by its horns.