Pune, Feb 23 (IANS): Australia lost three quick wickets in the second session to reach 153/4 at tea on the opening day of their first Test against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.

Opener Matt Renshaw (38) -- who returned to bat after a bout of stomach illness that took him off the field -- and Mitchell Marsh (2) were at the crease when the umpires called for the tea break.

Resuming the post-lunch session at 84/1, the Australian batsmen started on a cautious note by playing the ball on its merit. But soon, things changed as Shaun Marsh (16) was sent packing in the 47th over by spinner Jayant Yadav with the scoreboard reading 119/2.

The fall of wicket brought in Peter Handscomb (22), who along with skipper Steven Smith tried to hold the innings but the former was taken by Ravindra Jadeja. Handscomb was adjudged leg before wicket.

Things got worse when Smith (27), who played 95 balls, was dismissed in the next over by Ravichandran Ashwin which left Australia at 149/4. The off-spinner got the prized wicket of the skipper shortly before the break.

For India, Ashwin, Jadeja and Yadav chipped in with one wicket each in the second session. 

Brief Scores: Australia: 1st innings 153/4 (Matt Renshaw 38 not out, David Warner 38, Steve Smith 27, Umesh Yadav 1/16, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/37) vs India.