Boxing Day Test: Follow the latest on Day 1 as Australia look to take series lead against India

Akash Deep is bowling a good spell to Smith here drawing another big appeal after getting another to move in and beat the bat.

Smith gets off strike with a toe-end pull for three out to midwicket.

India have packed the leg-side field for this plan but there’s no one deep save for fine leg.

56 runs have come in the last 10 overs with Australia starting to assert their dominance.

A misfield from Bumrah doesn’t help with Smith and Labuschagne being able to work the gaps at will.

There are still 20 overs until the new ball and India will be desperate to get back some control before then.

The last time Australia’s top three made 50 was on a Rawalpindi road back in 2022.

A single to Labuschagne brings up the team 200.

FOUR. Jadeja is just short and Smith swats him wide of mid-on for a boundary.

FOUR MORE. Uses the feet this time and lofts Jadeja down the ground. AUS 2/208

Smith shuffles across and Deep beats the bat to hit the pad as India go up with a huge appeal. Sharma asks for the review but the ball jagged in a fair way and the ball is judged to be missing leg stump.

India down to just one review.

Jadeja continues after the break Smith works a single. Labuschagne dances down and hoiks him over mid-on for four.

It was well struck and perhaps a sign of attacking intent post tea.

At the other end Deep strikes Smith on the pads and there’s a loud appeal but he had come a fair way down the pitch. Umpires call on hitting the stumps.

FOUR. On the hip and he gets enough bat on it to go to the boundary fine.

Deep goes full and Smith drives sweetly through the covers for three.

Labuschagne uses soft hands to guide the final ball down to third man to bring up his 22nd Test 50.

The players are heading out into their positions as Smith and Labuschagne resume.

There’s still 27 overs until the second new ball and this may be the time to go after India.

Just the 64 runs in that middle session but crucially only the one wicket to fall after Khawaja toe edged a pull after bringing up his first 50 of the series.

Labuschagne has moved to 44 as he tries to work his way through while Smith has looked busy though not in total control so far in his breif stint.

Bumrah bowled well though picked up a wicket with his worst ball while the dryness of the pitch is offering something for the spinners.

Attritional cricket but with the warm weather Australia will be happy to tire India’s bowlers out and hopefully cash in before the second new ball.

Washington Sundar comes in for his first over of the day perhaps trying to squeeze another over in before tea.

Smith works him for a single before Labuschagne is beaten by one that drifts and then striaghtens after pitching.

SHOT. Marnus uses his feet to get to the pitch and crucnhes a drive for four.

They won’t get another over in and that’s tea.

FOUR! Smith hacks a pull off Jadeja and it just beats mid-on to go for four.

Bumrah is targeting Labuschagne’s stumps but so far he’s just amount managing to keep him out. There’s about 10mins until tea.

He gets off strike with a pull down to fine leg before Smith works one after he’s trigger movement across his stumps.

Smith gets off the mark with a drive through the covers off Jadeja.

Bumrah has drawn edges from both him and Labuschagne at the other end but they have fallen short of the slips.