Smith, Konstas help Australia take honours on Boxing Day in Melbourne

Australia v India, fourth Test, Scorecard

By Jonathan Healy at the MCG

A dashing display from teenage debutant Sam Konstas and a return to form from veteran batter Steve Smith has helped Australia take the honours over India on an enthralling opening day to the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Thursday.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah tried to inspire his team with three valuable wickets - including the prized scalp of Travis Head for a duck - but Australia's top-order were in good touch as the hosts reached 311/6 at stumps with Smith unbeaten on 68 and skipper Pat Cummins at the crease on eight.

The efforts of Konstas highlighted the exciting opening day to the fourth Test, with the 19-year-old one of four Australian batters to score a half-century on Boxing Day as Smith, Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Usman Khawaja (57) all found scoring easy to come by after Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and humid day in Melbourne.

Konstas overcame a nervy start to give the home side the perfect base, with his mid-pitch exchange with Virat Kohli in between overs drawing murmurs from a massive MCG crowd in excess of 87,000, with the Australian debutant displaying all his teenage flair to blast India's potent fast bowlers to all parts of the ground.

There were ramp shots, scoops, audacious pulls and plenty off edges and plays and misses from Konstas early in his innings, but the 19-year-old grew in confidence with every passing minute at the crease.

He brought up his 50 in just 52 deliveries, before finishing his 65-ball innings - that included six fours and two massive sixes - when trapped LBW by India spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1/54) as Australia went to lunch at 112/1 and in control.

Bumrah continued to be a threat and had Khawaja mis-time a pull shot during the middle session and was caught at mid-wicket by KL Rahul, as both sides fought hard for the momentum as they try and edge towards a place at next year's ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's.

World Test Championship Standings

Labuschagne and Smith went to tea at 176/2 and looked set to build a big partnership, but Bumrah's timely intervention saw three wickets fall in quick succession as Australia were quickly reduced to 246/5 and the Indian crowd finally found their voice.

Akash Deep (1/59) was rewarded for his persistancy and got in on the act to dismiss Alex Carey (31) courtesy of the second new-ball just as the cool change swept into Melbourne, giving India some hope heading into the second day on Friday.

India made one change to their side, with Shubman Gill left out of the XI in a massive surprise and skipper Rohit Sharma named to bat at No.3 in his place. The captain did indicate prior to the toss that he will most likely open the batting.

All-rounder Washington Sundar was the player to come into the XI and slated to bat at No.7.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep