India celebrate David Warner’s wicket. The aggressive southpaw didn’t disturb the scorers on Day 1. (Source: AP)

Before the Boxing Day Test match, India had issues to address – seamers leaking runs, spinners struggling and the inability to maintain pressure.

The way the events unfolded on the first day of the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground definitely checked a few concerns, if not all. The seamers were containing the batters, Ashwin – the lone specialist spinner, applied pressure from his end and the energy on the field was heartening.

If one would have asked skipper MS Dhoni what he would have liked at the end of day’s play, 256/5 would have been right at top. Not only did his side put a tap on free-flowing Aussies, but got them out before they could hurt the visitors.

While the scoreline makes it India’s day, Steve Smith – unbeaten on 72 – ensured the honours were evenly shared. Here’s a look at the few talking points:

Shikhar Dhawan took a sharp catch to get rid of Warner. (Source: AP)

Warner’s little lean

After the twin tons in Adelaide, David Warner managed scores of 29 and 6 in the Brisbane Test. There would have been some pressure on the little dynamo to get out of the little stretch of low scores, and what occasion better than Boxing Day.

If a player like Warner gets going, he hurts you. He hurts you where it matters. Not the runs, but the pace at which he scores them is what dents the opposition.

He played five balls before edging an angled delivery to the slips. They say, if Warner gets going the runs flow. Out for a duck, India never allowed him to get going.

Indian bowlers kept things tight in the middle. (Source: AP)

The economies

India were heavily criticised for their erratic show with the ball. Not only did they struggle to pick wickets in the concluded Tests, but conceded runs at over 3.5 every over. Boundaries came thick and fast, and even the wickets couldn’t sway the momentum back in their favour.

At the ‘G today, the Ishant Sharma-led pace battery fired all cylinders. They kept attacking the good areas and gave very little boundary scoring opportunities. The pace trio of Ishant, Shami and Umesh Yadav conceded only 17 boundaries and kept a check on the flow of runs.

Australia did bulk of their scoring in ones and twos as only 92 out of 259 runs came in boundaries. The runs, and the manner in which they were scored, kept the visitors interested throughout the day’s play.

Steve Smith – unbeaten on 72 – is leading the innings from the front. (Source: AP)

Skipper leads from the front

Dream run, purple patch, auto-pilot mode, and…? The kind of form Steve Smith is in at the moment, these adjectives will fall short of doing justice to the quality of batting he is exhibiting at the moment.

Tons in the first two Tests, both at crucial moments, a solid unbeaten fifty in the third and this 25-year-old is making this series his own. While the day belonged to India, Smith’s presence in the middle is enough to add a little dose of pressure.