India vs Australia - First Boxing Day Cricket Test Match

India has restricted Australians to 337/9 in the first inning on day 1 of Boxing Day test match of the four match test series.

Skipper Anil Kumble inspired a dramatic Indian fightback to almost bowl Australia out on the opening day of the first cricket Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Australia started well, when openers Matthew Hayden and Phil Jaques propelled Australia to a 135-run opening stand. Hayden (124) shared in a century opening partnership with Jaques (66) and departed at the fifth wicket down to massive acclaim from the 68,465 Boxing Day crowd.

But Kumble claimed five wickets and paceman Zaheer Khan 3-93 as the world No.1 side slumped to 337 for nine by stumps to hand India the early momentum.

Stuart Clark was not out 21 with Mitchell Johnson on 10 at stumps.


India's Playing Eleven:

Anil Kumble (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh.

Australia's Playing Eleven:

Ricky Ponting (Captain), Adam Gilchrist (WK), Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark.


Australia were 337/9 at the stumps of day 1.

Team india for Australian Tour

The Indian team for the tour of down under has announced. In a surprise move, Delhi batsman Virender Sehwag was on Wednesday named in the 16-member Indian squad announced for the four-Test series against Australia beginning later this month.

Another surprise inclusion in the squad was rookie Rajasthan seamer Pankaj Singh. The 22-year-old has done well in the last two seasons and has India 'A' experience.

The Indian team will leave for Australia on Monday, December 17. They will play a two-day tour match starting December 20. The first Test starts on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Test Team

Anil Kumble (captain)
M S Dhoni (vice captain)
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Yuvraj Singh
Sourav Ganguly
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
R P Singh
Ishant Sharma
Irfan Pathan
Wasim Jaffer
Virender Sehwag
Dinesh Karthik
Pankaj Singh.

India won the Seies 1-0 as Bangalore Match ended in a Draw

Third and final test match between arch rivals India and Pakistan ended in a draw. India came close to making it 2-0 in the series, but will have to be content with a draw. It is India's first Test series triumph against Pakistan at home in more than two decades, the last success coming in 1980 under Sunil Gavaskar.

When India left Pakistan just 47 overs to score an improbable 374 for victory, the Bangalore Test appeared to be meandering to a draw. As the opening pair added 44, thoughts turned to how soon the match could be called off but dramatic interventions from Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh pushed Pakistan to the precipice before bad light saved them from acute embarrassment with 11 overs still to be bowled. The playing conditions didn't allow the use of floodlights, leaving India to rue a declaration that probably came half an hour too late.

India needed the last three wickets when bad light thwarted their incredible victory bid. Mohammad Yousuf (10) and tailender Mohammad Sami (four) were the unbeaten batsmen with 11 overs remaining.

Its a memorable match for India's Saurav Ganguly as he is declared Man of the Match for his double hundred in first inning an 91 in 2nd inning. He also grabbed Man of the Series award.


Man of the Match - SC Ganguly (India)


Man of the Series - SC Ganguly (India)