MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Skipper Michael Clarke saluted his three pacemen for twice knocking over India’s strong batting lineup to earn Australia an emphatic winning start to the four-Test series in Melbourne yesterday.

The Australian pace trio of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus shared 19 wickets to restrict India to a two-innings total of 451 as the home side romped to a 122-run victory in four days.

The pace attack reduced India’s regal top order to 81-6 as the tourists failed to come close to the challenging target of 292 runs needed for victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Clarke, whose team rebounded spectacularly from their shattering seven-run defeat to lowly New Zealand in Hobart earlier this month, praised his bowlers for their stout-hearted efforts.

Pattinson, 21, picked up his second man-of-the-match award in only his third Test match after taking match figures of 6-108 and hitting a vital unbeaten 37 in the second innings.