Marnus Labuschagne, who top-scored for Australia with 70 off 139 balls, believed his team had always been ahead in the game. They took a first-innings lead of 105 and were able to build on it with crowd favourites Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon putting up a 55-run partnership for the last wicket.

Looking at the pitch, its surface already offers inconsistent bounce, and the deliveries come at the stump height, making them unplayable.

Jasprit Bumrah stood there, head down, hands on his knee at the centre of the MCG pitch when an exhilarating Test-match day ended. His pace partner had just laid down on the ground a couple of balls previously,

Sam Konstas, 19, hits 60 from 65 on Test debut Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne both hit half-centuries Smith unbeaten on 68 but late wickets drag India back into contention Fourth Test, day one,

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) plays host in the customary 'Boxing Day' Test as Australia play India in the penultimate Test of the five-match series.