Chris Rogers and Shane Watson steadied the Australian innings after the early dismissal of David Warner on the opening day of the third Test against India on Friday.
Rogers, who scored 55 in both innings of the second Gabba Test, was heading towards a third straight half-century in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
At lunch Australia were 92 for one after winning the toss with Rogers unbeaten on 46 with Watson on his highest score of the series, not out 41.
The pair had put on an unbroken 92 runs for the second wicket after Warner was out in the second over of the innings.
Warner only lasted six balls before he played across Umesh Yadav and edged to Shikhar Dhawan at third slip for a duck.
The Australians took 19 balls to get off the mark and it was a bye after a fumble by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
But left-hander Rogers, playing on his home pitch, was looking comfortable at the crease and working his way into the series after concerns over a run of low scores.
Watson was given a life on 37 nearing lunch when Dhawan fumbled him at second slip at the third attempt off Mohammed Shami.
India made two changes from the team that lost the second Brisbane Test, with debutant Lokesh Rahul and Shami coming into the side.
Rahul, who replaced Rohit Sharma, was selected to bat at number six, while speedster Varun Aaron made way for Shami.
Paceman Ryan Harris returned to Australia's pace attack at the expense of Mitchell Starc, while debutant Joe Burns was chosen to bat at number six for hamstring-victim Mitchell Marsh.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tourists trail 2-0 in the four-match series after defeats in Adelaide and Brisbane, and have not won at the MCG for 33 years.
Source: AFP