Cricket:Australia secured
their 15th consecutive Test victory as India crashed to a 337-run
defeat on the fourth day of the first Test in Melbourne.
The tourists had started the day needing a record-breaking 493 runs for an unlikely triumph but they never looked like coming close to that total as they were 161 all out.
Australia will now head into the Sydney Test looking to equal their own record of 16 straight Test wins set by Steve Waugh's side in 1999-2001.
India struggled in the heat and by tea they had lost five wickets before managing to survive less than an hour after the break.
They had frustrated Australia in the morning session as they laboured to 56 for two at lunch.
Adam Gilchrist had taken a catch off Brett Lee to dismiss Wasim Jaffer for 15 before Andrew Symonds took the crucial wicket of Rahul Dravid shortly before the break.
Sachin Tendulkar was out for 15 in the 41st over when he edged a ball from Lee through to Gilchrist with India struggling at 77 for three.
VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly appeared to have steadied the ship somewhat after the break with the former having amassed 42 runs before a lapse in concentration saw him drive a ball from Stuart Clark straight to Michael Clarke at cover. And just before tea Yuvraj Singh, who was cleared of showing dissent at an umpire's decision in the first innings, was out lbw for five.
In the final session the wickets fell quickly as MS Dhoni edged behind to Gilchrist from Mitchell Johnson before Anil Kumble was dismissed for eight.
Harbhajan Singh was run out without facing a ball before Ganguly (40) was caught at bat pad off Brad Hogg's bowling soon after. Finally, the victory was confirmed when RP Singh was bowled out by Johnson for two.