SATURDAY, DEC 29, 2007, (News Locale) - Dashing all hopes of an Indian revival, a dominant Australia on Saturday marched to a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series crushing Team India by 337 in the Boxing Day Test played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).  

Requiring a mammoth 499 runs to win, thanks to the superb performance of the Aussie bowlers, the Indian side rolled up for just 161 in the fourth innings handing over the hosts their 15th successive Test win on a platter.

While Vangipurappu Laxman top-scored for India with 42 and Saurav Gangly added 40, all the Aussie bowlers exploited the wearing pitch well and contributed towards the team’s impressive win.

Mitchell Johnson was the best taking 3 wickets for just 21 runs in 15 overs. Stuart Clark claimed two wickets conceding just 20 runs off his 15 overs. Now another win at the next Sydney Test will enable Ricky Ponting’s team to equal Steve Wagh’s men’s 16 straight wins in a row.

The morning, however, did not show what was lying ahead. On a relatively hot day in Melbourne, India seemed to be settled well losing one wicket for 55 at lunch. Another two sessions later, the Indians lay in a heap all bowled out for a miserly 161.

Soon after lunch, Andrew Symonds removed reluctant opener Rahul Dravid from the pitch when he has scored a painstakingly 16 and brought the score to two for 56. Four wickets fell quickly after this as the Austrailan bowlers scalped Sachin Tendulkar (15) and VVS Laxman (42) and after tea it was Yuvraj Singh (5) to walk to the pavilion after falling LBW to Brad Hogg.

That cave in comprised the wickets of Harbhajan Singh, who was run out without facing a ball, and Sourav Ganguly (40), who was caught at bat pad off Hogg's bowling two balls later.

The loss means India have a lot of thinking to do before the Sydney Test. The main contention will be the opener’s slot. Sunil Gavaskar has said Rahul Dravid is uncomfortable at that spot. So perhaps Virender Sehwag will come in at the expense of Yuvraj Singh, who failed in both innings.

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