Cricket: Captain's knock from Smith steadies Aussies

Steve Smith, in the form of his career, refused to let India gain the upper hand. Photo / AP

Captain Steve Smith personified leadership as Australia reached 259-5 at stumps on day one of the Boxing Day test in Melbourne against India.

Smith continued his career-best form to finish 72 not out, steadying the hosts on a topsy-turvy day's play watched by a crowd of 69,993 at the MCG.

The 25-year-old is on the cusp of a third century in the series and passed 1000 test runs for the calendar year.

Smith displayed grit, refusing to give India the upper hand as wickets tumbled around him.

The rise and rise of Smith over the past year has been underlined by fluent strokeplay, fancy footwork, fidgeting at the crease and a lot of runs.

But when half-centurions Chris Rogers and Shane Watson fell in consecutive overs during the second session as Australia slipped from 115-1 to 115-3, Smith reined it in.

He started the 50th over on two runs from 31 deliveries.

The right-hander, fresh from man-of-the-match honours in his first test as captain, waited 12 overs before taking his first risk.

It paid off, Smith dancing down the wicket to offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin and lashing a boundary over the head of mid-off.

Shaun Marsh and debutant Joe Burns were dismissed in the final session after making starts, but Smith remained resolute alongside Brad Haddin, who finished 23 not out.

India had eight overs with the second new ball, but Smith and Haddin negotiated them in an unbeaten partnership worth 43 runs.

Smith remarked India were "whingeing and complaining among themselves" in his pre-match press conference.

It may have been the catalyst for a run-in with paceman Mohammed Shami, the pair swapping terse words after tea.

"A few stares and glares, even after this defensive shot. There's definitely something going on," Shane Warne said, calling the game for the Nine Network.

David Warner's hopes of niggling the tourists ended in the second over when he was dismissed for a duck.

It set the tone for a stop-start day as both sides struggled to take control of the contest.

India's fielding let the hosts off the hook far too often as fumbles relieved pressure on the batsmen.