Australia win Boxing Day Test by 337 runs

Australian cricketers posted their 15th consecutive Test win against an opposing side, this time against India, on Saturday.

Melbourne, Dec.29 : Australian cricketers posted their 15th consecutive Test win against an opposing side, this time against India, on Saturday.

The hosts clinically demolished the much vaunted Indian batting line-up by 337 runs a couple of hours before the close of the fourth day's play. Set a near impossible victory target of 499 runs in the fourth innings, it was a virtual parade back to the MCG pavilion by the Indian batsmen throughout the nearly five hours of play. The only batters who put up some resistance were V.V.V.Laxman with 42 and inform south paw Saurav Ganguly, who was the eighth batsman out at 40 with five boundaries.

India put up scores of 196 and 161 in theri two innings, while Australia put up imposing totals of 343 and 351 for seven declared in their two knocks at the crease. For the Australians, all their four bowlers chipped in toiled hard and efficiently through the searing heat in Melbourne.Brett Lee took 2 for 43, Mitchell Johnson 3 for 21, Brad Hogg 2 for 51, Stuart Clark 1 for 20 and Andrew Symonds 1 for 25. Harbhajan Singh was run out by Michael Hussey.

Australia will now head into the Sydney Test that starts on Wednesday aiming to equal their own record of 16 straight Test wins and they will no doubt fancy their chances.

ANI