Australia 259/7 [SPD Smith 72*, CR Rogers 57, SR Watson 52,SR Marsh 32 , Mohammad Sami 2/55 , UT Yadav 2/69 ]

Boxing Day test is festival at iconic MCG. Every year almost capacity cricket admirers make it a special event gathering at MCG in numbers .This year it was no different. This writer after spending a month away in Bangladesh and Africa returned on time for this annual event .This year India is the touring side and Border Gavaskar trophy for the last few occasions drew cricket worldwide attention .My son Shahriar and his newly married wife Rizwana were with me this year as we got special seat beside Australian players enclosure.

India could be in total command at the end of day one of the Boxing Day test at MCG had they held the catches and fielded like a top ranked test side. They were sloppy in the field and let Australia off the hook. The home team at stumps were 259/5 . Honors of they were evenly shared. Aussie captain Steve Smith and Wicket Keeper Brad Haddin were batting on 72 and 23 respectively can still bat India out of the test if India does not smarten their fielding considerably on the second morning .Australia needs only a draw to retain the Border Gavaskar trophy after winning the first two tests quite comfortably.

The day was mostly bright and sunny .But occasional cloud cover and steep bounce kept the Aussie batsmen struggle for survival after Smith opted to bat on winning the toss. Yadav bowling at pace could remove blaster Warner before he could open his account. Ishant and Yadav both bowled at pace and moved be ball both ways. Watson looked uncertain but Rogers was steady. Indian fielding looked pretty ordinary .Watson could be removed early had Dhawan did not drop him in the slip off Sami .Indian ground fielding would have put many school boys team in Melbourne to shame. Several elementary mistakes were committed. Rogers and Watson grew in confidence as they match developed into a tooth and nail battle. The pair went to lunch unconquered. Both scored half centuries .But both failed to kick on. Rogers was removed by Sami held behind the wicket for 57 after the second wicket partnership put on a solid 115 .Warner was beaten by a slow turner by Ashwin plumb in front at 52. At 3/115 things were not looking good for the home side when Shaun Marsh joined his skipper Steve Smith. Indian bowlers were breathing fire at that stage. But with four mainstream front line bowlers at his disposal Dhoni had very little choice to use Ashwin on longer spell. Smith started very carefully but once settled looked very assured. Shaun Marsh played some delightful strokes all around but failed to read the length of a Sami delivery giving Dhoni his second catch of the day. Debutant Joe Burns stay at the wicket was brief. He too nicked one behind from Yadav.

Smith in the meantime kept playing superlative strokes one after another carrying his team on his shoulder. He found a dynamic allay in Brad Haddin. Though Indian pacers kept probing and Ashwin bowling on a tight length yet Smith Haddin kept the score boarding ticking with occasional bright strokes and smartly judged singles. The four bowlers’ handicap forced Dhoni give Ashwin longer spell and use Murali Vijay occasionally. A niggle of Sami in the hip bothered him a bit. The new ball caused few worries by Aussie captain and his mate successfully negotiated. At stumps the home team was 259/5 which could easily be much worse if Indian fielders could better back their bowlers with smart works.

India has to strike early and try and mop up the tail before Smith and Haddin can cause major damage. Australia would like at least reaching 300. On this track Johnson, Harris and Hazelwood would be teasing and tormenting batsmen. Team getting first innings lead may dictate terms. Both the horses are on the course on an even kill.

BDST: 1749 HRS, DEC 26, 2014