India's ‘chinaman’ debutant Kuldeep used Warne’s advice to torment Australia

DHARAMSALA: Steve Smith and his men have compatriot Shane Warne to blame for the trouble they endured against India´s tricky left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav on the opening day of the fourth and final test on Saturday.

A left-field selection for the most important match of the series currently level at 1-1, Kuldeep made a memorable test debut claiming 4-68 as Australia could not capitalise on a strong start and were all out for 300 in their first innings.

Smith and David Warner were past their individual fifties and the century-plus partnership was looking ominous for India when Kuldeep employed the trick he had learnt from Warne to lead India´s second session fightback.

The 22-year-old sent down a delivery which pitched around the off-stump, kicked off and kissed the shoulder of Warner´s bat before reaching Ajinkya Rahane in the slip.

"My first wicket was not a Chinaman delivery but a flipper which I learnt from him (Warne)," a beaming Kuldeep told reporters at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

"It´s obviously good to learn from them and use against them," quipped the Uttar Pradesh spinner who met Australian spin great Warne in Pune last month.

"Warne is my idol. I still watch his videos. It was a dream to meet him and discuss my bowling. I followed his advice. We´d meet soon for another session."

With regular skipper Virat Kohli missing the match with a shoulder injury, the Rahane-led team took a bold decision to go with five bowlers.

Kuldeep was told about his much-awaited test debut early in the morning and the spinner showed no nerves - though looked emotional after getting his first test wicket - in a brilliant display of wrist-spin bowling.

His craft was in full display as he outfoxed Glenn Maxwell with a googly after being hit for a four two balls previously.

"From childhood, I´ve been taught that a true spinner would concede runs but will also take wickets. That remains my theory," he said.

Talking about his craft, Kuldeep said left-arm wrist spin came naturally to him.

"I was not even aware that this is called Chinaman bowling. I was initially not happy but then focused on getting better at it.

"Today, I was backing my skills and the variations I have."

Matthew Wade, who made a fighting half-century for Australia, was impressed with Kuldeep´s bag of tricks.

"He bowled a lot of different deliveries," the stumper-batsman said. “He bowled a lot of leg-spinners with scrambled seam, his wrong´un with the scramble seam as well.

“It took a few balls to get used to it," Wade added.