Steve Smith's rock solid unbeaten '72' guides Oz to 259/5 at end of day 1 of Melbourne Test

Australia have managed to put up a decent score on the board as they amassed 259 for the loss of five wickets at the draw of stumps on the first day of the third Test in Melbourne against India, thanks to the skipper Steve Smith's rock solid 72 runs.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, hosts lost the wicket of swashbuckling opener David Warner, who was dismissed for a duck, early in the second over by a delivery from India's Umesh Yadav. Subsequently, all rounder Shane Watson and Chris Rodgers steadied the ship with scoring a solid 52 and 57 runs respectively.

However, Australians lost Watson and Rodgers in quick succession soon after the lunch break as they fell prey to deliveries from Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami respectively.

Afterwards, skipper Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh put up a vital 69 runs partnership before Marsh fell prey to Shami's delivery. Joe Burns could only manage 13 runs on debut.

Smith remained unbeaten on 72 while Brad Haddin hung around 23 as Australia would continue from there on the second day.

Indian bowlers Yadav and Shami claimed two wickets each, whereas Ashwin took one wicket.