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MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and his opening batsmen took full advantage in the first cricket test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.
Australia were 111/0 at lunch with Phil Jacques on 57 and Matt Hayden on 49.
The home side stuck with tradition and selected three fast bowlers and a spinner, which means wrist spinner Brad Hogg got a callup for his fifth test and his first since 2003.
Hogg's inclusion meant speedster Shaun Tait is 12th man, as he could not edge out incumbent left-armer Mitchell Johnson, who could share the new ball with Brett Lee.
India selected an attack comprising two fast bowlers and two spinners, which meant offspinner Harbhajan Singh retained his place and will bowl in tandem with Kumble's legspin.
Left-armers Zaheer Khan and RP Singh are India's senior quicks, while tall 19-year-old Ishant Sharma is the right-arm pace option.
Khan, star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni all returned to the side after missing the recent third test against Pakistan through injury.
India also picked middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh, which means veteran Rahul Dravid should open the innings.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait (12th man).
India: Anil Kumble (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Wasim Jaffer, Zaheer Khan, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Ishant Sharma (12th man).
- AAP
