The alarm bells were sounding for Saurav Ganguly's tourists in the opening skirmishes of the four-Test series after the Australians saw off the early dangers of the pitch to work their way to 262 for two when bad light stopped play with Justin Langer hitting an unbeaten century.

Ganguly's plight was reminiscent of that of former England captain Nasser Hussain, who at the Gabba 12 months ago won the toss and sent Australia into bat, only for the home side to plunder 364 runs by stumps on the first day for the loss of just two wickets.

The Indian skipper put Australia in even though he included just four specialist bowlers in his starting eleven, preferring to stack his side with seven batsmen.

India have a major mental hurdle to overcome in this series, having last won in Australia in 1981 and having gained a reputation as world cricket's poorest travellers.

When umpires ended play for the day under floodlights, Langer was not out 115 with Damien Martyn on 36 and the home side breezing along at more than four runs an over.

The pair's century partnership came up in just 94 minutes off 122 balls.

Langer raised his 16th Test hundred and second against India when he hoicked finger-spinner Harbhajan Singh over mid-wicket for four in the 57th over. His century came in 273 minutes off 155 balls.

The doughty left-hander had a lucky break in the morning session when he pulled Ashish Nehra straight to Akash Chopra only for West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor to signal a no-ball for over-stepping.

Television replays showed the decision was desperately close to a legal delivery.

India were looking to strike a psychological blow from the outset but they would have been bitterly disappointed at their lack of success, with the playing conditions in their favour.

The Test started inauspiciously for India, with pace bowler Zaheer Khan's first delivery going for four byes.

There was only 40 minutes' play before lunch with two showers sending the players from the field, forcing the opening day to go well into overtime, exacerbated by India's snail-paced over-rate. The tourists completed just 62 overs in 307 minutes' playing time.

The Indians had a few successes along the way, claiming the wickets of Matthew Hayden and vice-captain Ricky Ponting.

Hayden went to drive Zaheer Khan on the up and edged to Venkatsai Laxman at second slip, leaving the home side on 73 for one.

Ponting, who takes over as Test captain when Steve Waugh retires after the fourth Test in Sydney early next month, was also caught at one point by a spectator after he had crashed spinner Harbhajan Singh for a straight six into the top deck of the grandstand.

He cruised to his 20th Test half-century shortly before tea but was out skying Zaheer to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel for 54 with Australia at 162 for two in the 42nd over.

Nathan Bracken became the 387th Test player for Australia when he was named to start ahead of fellow pace bowler Brad Williams. India nominated Sadagoppan Ramesh as their 12th man, with spinner Anil Kumble left out.