( CNN ) -- Australia lost three late wickets as they ended the opening day of the first Test against India in Melbourne on 277-6 . Peter Siddle ( 34 ) and Brad Haddin ( 21 ) steered the hosts home after they stumbled from a comfortable position of 205-3 , losing three wickets for just 18 balls in the process . The biggest talking point , in front of a huge Boxing Day crowd at the MCG , was the dismissal of senior batsman Michael Hussey -- who has been under pressure recently following a string of poor scores . 2011 - The sporting year in pictures . Hussey suffered his third first-ball duck in eight innings after being caught behind off a Zaheer Khan delivery . TV replays appeared to show that the ball brushed Hussey 's sleeve rather than his bat , but India opted to reject the Decision Review System ( DRS ) for this four-Test series -- meaning Australia could not appeal against the dismissal . Australia got off to a sticky start , losing their opening two wickets before 50 runs were on the board . However , former captain Ricky Ponting ( 62 ) and debutant opener Ed Cowan ( 68 ) shared a century stand for the third wicket , before Ponting was caught at second slip as he continues his near two-year wait for a Test hundred . India are bidding to win their first series in Australia in 64 years and currently hold the Border-Gavaskar trophy after winning the last two series at home . Meanwhile , Thilan Samaraweera and Dinesh Chandimal shared a century partnership as Sri Lanka ended the first day of the second Test against South Africa in Durban on 289-7 . Samaraweera ( 86 not out ) and Chandimal ( 58 ) made 111 for the sixth wicket after South African pace bowler Marchant de Lange had taken three leading Sri Lankan wickets .
Australia end the opening day of the first Test against India on 277-6 . The hosts lose three wickets in 18 balls after looking solid on 205-3 . Michael Hussey is out for a first ball duck despite not appearing to hit ball .