India rolls Australia for 195 in Boxing Day Test to take the honours on day one at MCG

Steve Smith was dismissed by Ravi Ashwin for a duck.(AP: Asanka Brendon)

India has claimed the honours after day one of the Boxing Day Test, bowling Australia out for 195 before closing play at 1-36.

India’s Shubman Gill (28) and Cheteshwar Pujara (7) were unbeaten at stumps, backing up the strong work of bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Ashwin and Mohammed Shami.

Australia struck early through Mitchell Starc, who bowled beautifully with the new ball, but remains in some trouble after a disappointing opening day.

Tim Paine won the toss on a sunny Melbourne morning, and though the pitch offered some life for the bowlers, it was their own skill that quickly put the Australian batsmen under pressure.

Joe Burns continued his lean run by edging behind off the bowling of Bumrah for a duck, while partner Matt Wade’s promising start came to a premature end when he went a little too hard at an Ashwin delivery, skying it to midwicket. Ravi Jadeja eventually held the catch despite colliding with the onrushing Shubman Gill.

A solid first session soon turned into an excellent one for India when Steve Smith departed without scoring, the victim of a clever piece of Ashwin bowling that coerced him into an inside edge to leg slip.

With lunch still some way away, Australia desperately needed a partnership and despite some early jitters, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head provided it. Solid batting made turned into more expansive strokeplay, and Australia reached the first break having consolidated somewhat.

Batting looked easier for a while after lunch, with both Head and Labuschagne approaching half-centuries with relative comfort. But that comfort did not last for long.

Bumrah claimed Head in familiar fashion, with the left-hander nibbling outside his off stump and edging to gully for 38. Debutant Mohammed Siraj took care of Labuschagne, who was caught at leg slip for 48.

From there, Australia had little fight left. Cam Green and Tim Paine were combative at the crease but brought undone by Siraj and Ashwin respectively, before the bowlers came out for one last dip.

Starc slogged a couple but was caught at fine leg, Nathan Lyon did likewise before being trapped LBW and Cummins was caught at midwicket, ending Australia’s innings well before the close of play on Boxing Day.

With ball in hand Starc was far more effective though, trapping Mayank Agarwal in front at the end of a sensational first over.

But Gill and Pujara remained resolute, the former scoring confidently while safely navigating their team to a commanding position at stumps.

ABC