We're still fighting and still in the contest, insists Harris

Australia are "still fighting, still in the contest", debutant Marcus Harris insisted Friday, after India nosed ahead by snaring seven wickets and leaving the hosts with some rallying to do in the first Test.

The opener though said that they are still in the game on account of being just 59 runs behind India's first innings' score of 250.

At the same time he praised the Indian attack for keeping things tight and restricting them to 191 for seven at stumps.

"I thought they bowled really well - the run rate's only two and a bit, so I thought they bowled really well. We stuck at it pretty well. It was a tough day. It wasn't easy to score, so I thought we fought well.

"Travis Head batted well, Peter Handscomb looked good and Mitchell Starc batted well at the end. I think we're in a decent position," Harris said.

He said that Australia did want to get on the front foot and attack but the Indian bowlers kept relentless pressure to force them into fending off overs.

"You can only put bowlers under pressure if they give you opportunity to put them under pressure. The wicket doesn't let you play like that.

"You want to come out and blast them everywhere and be going great guns, but sometimes it's not that way. That's why it's called Test cricket. We're still fighting, still in the contest."
"It was just one of those old school, hard days of Test cricket and I think it's pretty even and both teams have bowled pretty well so far like you've seen."
"(Ashwin) was hard to score off and Virat set some really good fields. It wasn't easy but hopefully we can keep finding a way."