Australia lose two wickets on opening morning

India grabbed two wickets to slow Australia's steady advance on the first morning of the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. The Indians removed dangerous opener David Warner and number three Shaun Marsh to have Australia 68 for two at lunch after they had won the toss under cloudy skies. At the interval as showers sent the players from the field with one ball left, debutant opener Ed Cowan was a patient 14 with Ricky Ponting on 15. Cowan, intent on getting unscathed through the morning session, batted patiently for his 61 balls and was content to leave plenty of deliveries outside his offstump. Warner, who scored an unbeaten 123 in his previous Test against New Zealand, pulled Umesh Yadav for six over midwicket in the 12th over before a brief rain delay brought about his downfall on the first ball after the resumption. Warner attempted to hook Yadav only to pop a gentle catch to M.S. Dhoni off his gloves for 37 ending Australia's new opening partnership at 46 in the 14th over. Marsh's Test return only lasted six balls before he edged Yadav to Virat Kohli in the gully for a duck. Yadav took both wickets in his opening five overs and Australia lost their promising start to be two for 46. Yadav had two for 25 at lunch. Ponting had a big moment two balls into his innings when he went to pull a Yadav bouncer only for the ball to roll off his forearm, deflect off his grill and drop close to his stumps. India are bidding to win their first series in Australia in 64 years and hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after winning the last two series at home. India are playing their first away Test series since losing all four matches in England in July-August in a whitewash that cost Dhoni's men their number one ranking.