Australia fight back after wrath of Khan

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and paceman Peter Siddle mounted a superb fightback to rescue Australia after Zaheer Khan fired up India with a fierce afternoon spell on the opening day of the first test on Monday.

Paceman Zaheer took two wickets in successive balls before spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made it three for the addition of nine runs as Australia's middle order folded to leave the hosts reeling on 214-6 at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

But Haddin (21) and Siddle (34) rode their luck and survived a raft of appeals to add an unbeaten 63 for the seventh wicket, guiding the hosts to 277-6 at the end of the first day of the four-test series.

Image: Ed Cowen of Australia acknowledges the crowd after scoring 50 runs against India during their first cricket test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbpurne, Australia, on Monday, Dec. 26, 2011.

Text: Reuters

Images: AP/AFP

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