Melbourne, Dec 26: Young fast bowler Umesh Yadav impressed in his first ever Boxing Day Test picking up three Australian wickets on Day 1. The Aussies finished the day at 277 for six, with Zaheer Khan’s two wickets complementing Yadav’s solid bowling performance.

The day began with Australian captain Michael Clarke winning the toss and making the brave decision of batting first in overcast conditions. India took the field with Virat Kohli edging Rohit Sharma for a place in the playing eleven while Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma allayed fears about their fitness by featuring in the squad.

David Warner, fresh from his Man-of-the-Match performance against New Zealand, smashed his way to 37 in an opening stand of 46 with debutant Ed Cowan. The highlight of Warner’s innings was a pull shot off Yadav that went straight into the stands over the deep mid-wicket boundary in the 12th over. However, Yadav had the last laugh when he dismissed Warner, attempting a similar shot, only to glove the ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni in his very next over.

Yadav followed up Warner’s wicket by forcing Shaun Marsh (0) to play a loose shot that went straight to Virat Kohli at gully. At 46 for two in 15.1 overs, the visitors, led by Yadav, were well and truly on top.

Ricky Ponting, very much under the scanner due to a poor run of form, then steadied the hosts’ innings with Cowan. While Cowan played a solid and steady knock, reaching his half-century of 120 deliveries, Ponting provided the MCG crowd with some exquisite shots that were reminiscent of his glory days. Ponting made 62 off 94 before he edged a short of length delivery outside off stump from Yadav to VVS Laxman at second slip just before tea.

Australia went into a bit of a slump after Ponting’s wicket as Zaheer Khan returned in the post tea session to remove Michael Clarke (31) and Michael Hussey (0) off consecutive deliveries in the 65th over. Offspinner R Ashwin then had Ed Cowan (68 off 177) caught by Dhoni to reduce Australia to 214 for six in the 68th over.

With the Indian bowlers threatening to run through the Australian batting line-up, Brad Haddin (21*) and Peter Siddle (34*) put up a dogged resistance to deny the visitors any further wickets on the day. The two batsmen struck an unbeaten 63-run stand as Australia ended Day 1 on 277 for six in 89 overs.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 1: Australia 1st innings 277/6 in 89.0 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Ricky Ponting 62, Umesh Yadav 3/96, Zaheer Khan 2/49)