It was the simple case of so near yest so far as Australia openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich fell agonisingly short of centuries against Pakistan in the first Test at the MCG.

However, Australia ended the day in au00a0strong positionu00a0and were 3-305 at stumps on the first day after Watson and Katich posted a stand of 182 and captain Ricky Ponting proved he had overcome his elbow injury from last week, with 57 from 60 balls, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.u00a0

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Shane Watson