Watson and Katich set strong platform

Cricinfo staff

flat batting surface and poor Pakistani fielding allowed Australia to survive the first session of the Boxing Day Test unscathed as they reached 0 for 73. Shane Watson (45) and Simon Katich (24) further entrenched themselves as Australia's long-term opening combination on the first morning, the sixth time in 11 innings the duo have notched a partnership in excess of 50, although both were the beneficiaries of fundamental fielding errors.

As was the case in Perth, Watson proved the chief aggressor. He punished a series of over-pitched offerings from Mohammad Aamer inside the first hour of play with classical and powerful driving, and later proved adept off his pads and square of the wicket through the off-side. Katich, on the other hand, seldom looked comfortable, and owed much of his survival to the missed opportunities of the Pakistani fieldsmen.

Mohammad Yousuf had the first chance to dismiss the obstinate Australian opener via a run-out, only for his throw from the covers to pass comfortably wide of the stumps. Worse was to follow for the tourists when Umar Akmal spilled Katich to a regulation, chest-high gully chance off the bowling of Aamer. Both opportunities fell before the first drinks break, denying Pakistan the positive start to the tour they had so craved.

The final indignity of the opening session was suffered when Watson stabbed at a Saeed Ajmal doosra in the lead-up to the break. The ball deflected subtly off the glove of Kamran Akmal and was turfed by a lurching Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip, drawing a look of frustration from Ajmal, who had so brilliantly deceived the batsman to that point.

Pakistan's woes detracted from an otherwise disciplined bowling display on an MCG wicket described by Ricky Ponting before play as "tacky", but which proved true in bounce and carry. Mohammad Asif's steady six-over opening spell yielded just ten runs, while Aamer's extra pace, varying angles and hint of swing tested the Australian batsmen.

Earlier, Ponting won the toss and elected to bat on a morning in which medical staff cleared him to play after a week-long battle with an elbow injury. Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle were also deemed fit, while Pakistan omitted Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul. Ajmal and Abdur Rauf were called into the tourists' starting XI.