TOP WICKET-TAKERS IN TESTS M M'tharan (SL): 532 in 91 SK Warne (Aus): 527 in 112 CA Walsh (WI): 519 in 132 GD McGrath (Aus): 440 in 97 Kapil Dev (Ind): 434 in 131 RJ Hadlee (NZ): 431 in 86 W Akram (Pak): 414 in 104 CEL Ambrose (WI): 405 in 98 A KUMBLE (Ind): 400 in 85 IT Botham (Eng): 383 in 102 Quotes: Kumble keeps it simple

Indian spinner Anil Kumble delighted his home town crowd with his 400th Test wicket as Australia made 316-5 on the opening day in Bangalore.

He became only the second Indian and the ninth player overall to reach the milestone when he bowled Simon Katich (81) in the final session.

Kumble (3-86) had earlier dismissed Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann as Australia struggled to 149-4.

But Michael Clarke helped Katich add 107 and was 76 not out at the close.

It was an impressively mature performance by Clarke, who produced some thoroughbred footwork and strokeplay in his first Test innings.

Let's see how this chap Clarke copes when the pitch really starts turning From Fair Balance Have your say on TMS

Clarke was included in the Australian team because of Ricky Ponting's broken thumb, with Katich moving up the order to fill the number three role.

And his innings, which included two sixes and 11 fours, helped prevent India from establishing a definite advantage on a pitch which although dry and slow, did not provide any prodigious turn.

Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer launched Australia's innings with a stand of 50 before Hayden was caught for 26 as he tried to sweep a ball from Harbhajan.

Langer led a charmed life as he progressed to his 21st Test fifty, surviving a confident lbw shout from Irfan Pathan off the first ball of the game and a dropped catch at short leg in the 15th over.

His luck ran out on 52 when an excellent delivery from Pathan made a mess of his stumps.

First impressions suggest Clarke may be a star in the making

Kumble turned the screw during the afternoon as Martyn was caught at short leg for three and Lehmann (17) edged a catch to slip as he attempted to drive.

One more wicket would have put India in total command but Katich and Clarke responded calmly to the situation as they led the fightback.

Both batsmen were willing to use their feet to the spinners, Clarke twice driving over cover for four and hoisting Kumble for six on the leg-side, and Katich chipping away to the long-on boundary.

Kumble looked below his best, mixing in an occasional full toss and long hop, and Clarke punished him again as he celebrated his fifty with a second six.

There was nothing particularly threatening about the delivery which brought Kumble his 400th wicket, but Katich got himself in a tangle and only succeeded in dragging the ball into his stumps as he attempted to pull.

His dismissal prompted an ovation for Kumble from the crowd, his 400 arriving in his 85th Test appearance.

Katich, who faced 168 balls and struck eight fours, was replaced by Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist.

He began in typical fashion by square cutting for four and had made 35 off only 34 balls at the close.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Nathan Hauritz.

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh. 12th man: Mohammad Kaif.