India draw first test in Australia
BRISBANE, Australia -- Australia and India drew the rain-hit first test at the Gabba in Brisbane, despite a late bid for victory from the home side.
Starting their second innings shortly before lunch, Australia piled up 284-3 before declaring with 23 overs left in a bid to bowl out the tourists.
But India, dismissed for 409 in their first innings, batted out the match, finishing on 73-2.
Australian captain Steve Waugh said he expected the rest of the series to be just as tight.
"It's hard really to say who has the upper hand at this stage," said Waugh.
"We played reasonably well but we can play much better. There are three test matches left and this is going to be a very competitive series.
"It's not going to be one-sided. Both teams are very evenly matched and it's going to take some exceptional performances from a number of players to win the matches for their side."
Australia's second innings was powered by Matthew Hayden's 99, the opener falling just short of his 17th test century when he was caught on the boundary.
But Hayden's innings was enough to make him the first player to score 1,000 test runs in three consecutive years.
Ricky Ponting also made 50 while Waugh was unbeaten on 56 and Damien Martyn 66 not out.
India survived an early scare as openers Akash Chopra and Virender Sehwag were dismissed in consecutive balls during the second over from Nathan Bracken.
But Rahul Dravid, 43 not out, and Vangipurappu Laxman, 24 not out, steered India to safety.
Indian captain Saurav Ganguly said he expected more from his bowlers in the second test.
"When you play against a good side like Australia you all have to perform," said Ganguly, named man of the match after scoring 144 in India's first innings.
"I think the bowling needs to be a bit better if we want to win test matches and we have to keep on getting 400 runs if we want to beat Australia."
The second test in the four-match series starts in Adelaide on Friday.
