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Peter Siddle and Brad Haddin have dropped the achor down and steadied Australian innings after three quick wickets dented hosts charge.

Australia lost three wickets in the post tea session when they lost Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Ed Cowan to leave Australia reeling at 214-6.

But then Haddin and Siddle put on a unbeaten 63 for the seventh wicket to give the initiative back to the hosts.

Earlier Ed Cowan smashed half-century on debut. Ponting too hit a cruicial 62 for Australia.

For India Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers with figues of 3-96, while Zaheer picked up 2-49.

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Bradd Haddin is the last recognised batsman for Australia and the hosts will be hoping that he does the job for them.

Peter Siddle is giving him good company as just 10 overs are left in the day's play.

Australia at the end of 81 overs are 249-6. Haddin is on 15, while Siddle is on 20.

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It's good time for India as now well-set Ed Cowan is on his way back after he edged one to MS Dhoni for 68.

Cowan had been good with his cut shots, but this one was too close to cut, in the end edged to Dhoni. No doubt this time.

Australia now have two new batsmen at the crease.

Australia were 216-6 after 69 overs. Brad Haddin is on six, while Peter Siddle is on two.

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Zaheer Khan is now back amongst the wickets as he castles Australian skipper Michael Clarke for 31.

The last one went away and wicket ball came in. Clarke came in for a cut, but chopped the ball back onto the stumps.

Next up, he bowls a brilliant bouncer Indians all go up...Umpire Erasmus gives it in India's favour. Hussey is not happy. Replays show Hussey was miles away from the ball.

Zaheer on a hattrick now as Brad Haddin turns on towards fine leg for a single.

Australia 206-5 after 65 overs. Ed Cowan is on 61, while Haddin is on one.

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Ed Cowan is now leading Australia's charge as he is keeping the wickets in tact from one end.

Skipper Michael Clarke too has settled in nicely and the duo is taking the Australia to another important partnership.

At the end of 59 overs Australia were 193-3. Cowan is on 61, while Clarke is on 25. 

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So it's honours even after Australia were 170-3 going into tea break. Australia started off on a positive note after lunch, hitting a flurry of boundries in the initial overs.

Indian bowlers too were guilty of bowling on both sides of the wicket and helped Ponting get back into form.

Ponting and Ed Cowan put on a brilliant partnership to revive Australia from a precarious position.

But then Umesh Yadav in his second spell, struck, when he removed Ponting with a peach of a delivery.

Ponting edged one to a delivery that bounced a bit more caught the edge of the bat and gave a simple catch to VVS Laxman in second slips for well made 62. 

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Umesh Yadav has been the pick of the bowlers and he proved once again why he has been so good as he now has Ricky Ponting walking back to pavillion.

Ponting who looked so good in the middle, knicked one to VVS Laxman at second slips for a well made 62.  

Australia 159-3.

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Ed Cowan smashed a brilliant fifty on debut to put Australia in control. Both Ponting and Cowan have put on a 100-run stand to revive Australia from a precarious position.

Indian bowlers on the other hand have been guilty of bowling short and was punished by Ponting in particular.

Ponting, who was under fire earlier this Test match has comeback into form with a brilliant half-cnetury himself.

At the end of 44 overs Australia were 151-2. Cowan is on 50, while Ponting is on 59.  

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Ricky Ponting struck a brilliant half-century to put Australia in control of the first Test against India.

Ponting who had been under the fire, reached the landmark with a slog over midwicket off Ashwin.

Ponting was tested on early in the inning but fought hard in the middle to reach the landmark in 67 balls with six boundaries.

Australia at the end of 37 overs were 138-2. Ponting is on 52, while Cowan is on 44.

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Umesh continues as Cowan hits on straight to the bowler -- no run.

Next up Cowan cuts for another boundary. Its a different ball game all together after lunch as there has been a flurry of boundaries after lunch.

Both Umesh and Zaheer have been guilty of bowling short balls and Australian batsman have made full use of it.

Ponting and Cowan have put on a 61-run stand so far as Australia were 107-2 after 30 overs. Ponting is on 32, while Cowan is on 35.

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Play finally resumes and Umesh Yadav comes in after the break.

Umesh has been the pick of the bowlers for India so far. A half-volley to Cowan and he obliges with a boundary through the covers. He has been impressive so far.

Ponting then pulls one for the second boundary off the over -- he is growing in confidence -- a good start for Australia after lunch.

Australia 87-2 after 26 overs.

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Well it stopped raining in the lunch interval, but it has started again.

The covers are still on. But as we speak the sky is begining to clear up and the covers are coming off.

Should have live action soon. The play is expected to start in another 20 minutes time

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Umesh Yadav's double strike has given India the edge as players head for lunch after a brief showers forced the players off the pitch.

Australia were 68-2 after 23.5 overs with Ed Cowan on 14, while Ponting on 15.

Yadav first removed dangerous David Warner for 37, then removed Shaun Marsh for a duck in the next over to give India the edge.   

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Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan seem to have weathered the storm for now, keeping Indian pacers at bay.

Ponting is still not at his best in the middle but is fighting hard as this could be the make or break series for the right-hander.

Cowan, meanwhile, has been patient so far testing Indian bowlers.

At the end of 22 overs Australia were 66-2 with Cowan on 12, while Ponting on 15.  

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Umesh Yadav strikes again!!!

After removing David Warner in the previous over, Yadav strikes again in the next over -- off the first ball again.

This time round he sends Shaun Marsh for a duck. A widish delivery outside offstump as Marsh hits one straight to Virat Kohli in gully position.

Yadav is now running in hard now...Ponting in now in the middle.

Yadav to Ponting as the ball hits straight on the helmet and drops close to the stumps. Ponting is rattled, but has the presence of mind to kick it away.

Australia 49-2 after 16 overs. Cowan is on seven, while Ponting is on three.   

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Umesh Yadav strikes off the first ball after the rain break as the has dangerous David Warner walking back to the pavilion for 37.

The left-hander who had done the bulk of the scoring so far gloved one to MS Dhoni behind the stumps as he went it for a pull shot.

He smashed four boundaries and one six in his breezy knock.

Australia were 46-1 after 13.1 overs.

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Slight dizzle in the air -- nothing to worry for now. Scattered showers are expected through out the day.

Ed Cowan finally gets out of his shell with a classic straight drive off Umesh Yadav for his first boundary in Test match cricket.

Warner at the other hand, creams one through the off side for the second boundary off the over.

Couple of balls later Umesh Yadav pitches one short Warner rocks back and pulls it towards deep midwicket for the first six of the match.

Aussies are sending a message in here -- Indian bowlers haven't looked threatening at all.

At the end of 12 overs Australia were 45-0. Warner is on 36, while Cowan is on seven.

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Australians are off to a steady start on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne.

David Warner has looked positive puching couple of boundaries and has done the bulk of the scoring, while Ed Cowan is feeling his way in Test matches.

For India, Zaheer Khan has looked impressive -- just coming back after the injury.

At the end of six overs Australia were 25-0. Warner is on 22, while Cowan is on two runs.  

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Ishant Sharma to share the new ball with Zaheer as Warner tucks one neatly to get Aussies going -- a leg bye.

Ed Cowan gets off the mark -- his first runs in Test cricket -- Neatly tucking one on the leg side for a single.

Warner gets off the mark now with a streakish boundary. The ball hit the inside edge and zipped to the boundary.

At the end of second over Australia were 7-0.

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Zaheer Khan has the ball in his hand and it will be Ed Cowan to to take the first strike.

Three slips and a gully pretty standard field. Zaheer has been running pretty steady in the first over as he finishes with a maiden to start with. 

Welcome to the live commentary of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India from Melbourne.  

Well the news is Australia have won the toss and will bat first in Melbourne.

The good news for the Indian team is both Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are fit and are in the side along with Umesh Yadav as the third pacer.

R Ashwin and Virat Kohli too find a place in the side.

For Australia, Ed Cowan is making is debut and he will partner with David Warner at the top.

Teams:

Australia: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (c), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson

India: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.