Botched runouts, dropped catches and misfields added up to an unimpressive performance by Australia on the opening day of the third cricket Test against India at the MCG.

But pace bowler Nathan Bracken said the mistakes - remedied by some lucky late wickets as India finished at 4-329 - were the result of bad luck rather than a product of pressure as Australia stared at a series defeat at home for the first time in 11 years.

"We just had bad luck today, things just didn't fall our way," Bracken said.

"When you're trying 100 per cent you do make mistakes and things do go wrong - you just have to keep going, there's no hard feelings amongst anyone. If someone drops a catch, it's a just a pat on the back ... and understand they're doing the best they can."

However, captain Steve Waugh won't be happy with the errors after saying dropped catches cost the team the second Test in Adelaide.

Critically, Australia blundered two attempts to dismiss Virender Sehwag on his way to 195 and looked bereft of ideas as he carried India to 1-278 at one stage.

Things were so bad, Waugh bowled himself for eight straight overs, only stopping once he'd made the breakthrough with Rahul Dravid caught at mid-wicket by Damien Martyn for 49.

It was a loose shot from an in-form batsman but it gave Waugh his 92nd Test wicket and sparked a mini-collapse as India lost 3-33.

That included the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for a first ball duck, caught by Adam Gilchrist after he flicked a legside delivery from Brett Lee.

"That was a bonus," Bracken said.

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