Australia won the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by 122 runs within 4 days. Australia scored 333 in their first innings with debutant Ed Cowan top scoring on 68. In reply India collapsed from 3/214 to 282 all out with Ben Hilfenhaus taking 5 wickets on his return to Test Cricket from injury. Australia then recovered from their own collapse to 4/27 with Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey building a partnership of 115 in Australia's 2nd innings total of 240. India was set a target of 292, but regular wickets to the Australian pacemen saw them all out for 169. Man of the Match was awarded to James Pattinson with figures of 18*, 2/55, and 4/53. He also made 37*.