Kumble Pegs Back Australia

Matthew Hayden recorded his 28th Test century but India captain Anil Kumble took five wickets to leave Australia on 337 for nine at the close of day one of the first Test in Melbourne.

Hayden scored 124 and shared a first wicket partnership of 135 with Phil Jaques as the hosts had the better of the first two sessions after Ricky Ponting won the toss. Australia were 213 for three at tea before the tourists hit back in the final session, picking up six wickets.

Resuming at 111 without loss after lunch, Hayden and Jaques added a further 24 runs to their stand before Kumble finally made the first breakthrough. The veteran leg-spinner enticed Jaques out of his crease with a googly and the Australia opener was well stumped by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Ponting faced only 13 deliveries before falling to Zaheer Khan. Bowling around the wicket, the paceman took out the off-stump with a beautifully-pitched delivery to dismiss the Aussie captain for only four. In the next over Michael Hussey was lbw to another Kumble googly to leave Australia at 165 for three.

Hayden held things together and was unbeaten on 121 at tea but after Michael Clarke was caught at second slip by VVS Laxman for 20 off the bowling of RP Singh, the opener followed for 124 when he popped a Zaheer delivery to Rahul Dravid at mid-on. Andrew Symonds hit a swashbuckling 35 off 42 balls before he also perished, pulling a Kumble delivery to midwicket where substitute Dinesh Karthik took a fine catch.

Kumble picked up two more wickets with Adam Gilchrist taken at point by Sachin Tendulkar for 23 and Brett Lee trapped lbw for a duck. Brad Hogg became Zaheer's third victim when he was caught at gully by Dravid for 17 once the new ball had been taken but Stuart Clark frustrated the tourists, hitting three boundaries in his 21 not out.