A dominant fourth day display has seen Australia secure a 122-run victory over India at the MCG.

Over time this win may come to be regarded as a pivotal moment in the development of Australian cricket. The home side's unfancied pace trio, comprising a woodcutter, a bricklayer and the sibling of an Englishman, systematically dismantled India's fabled batting line up with the urgency and intensity of a pack of hungry wolves: exactly like Australian pace attacks should.

In the process they mortalised India's batsmen.

Four days ago the names Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag and Laxman could have been Zeus, Thor, Gandalf or Batman for all the supernatural qualities they were believed to posses. The moment Sachin was caught by Mike Hussey to reduce India to 6/81 reminded of the moment the Wizard of Oz's curtain is drawn back to reveal a diminutive human, not a demigod.

The belief shown by Australia's tireless attack and enterprising captain was matched by India's impotence and cowardice.

Fourth innings do strange things to cricketers. The pitch had not deteriorated, the sun was shining, Australia's bowlers were two-thirds the same neutered by England a year ago but still India could not get close to the line, let alone over it. Set 292 to chase with no time constraints, they never even picked up the scent.

The cumulative average of India's top six batsmen amounts to 276. If they performed to expectation it should have been a routine victory. Australia recently endured a public relations humiliation of a batting camp. India may well benefit from group therapy. Five wins ever in this country is a meagre return for a nation of such immense talent and the mental blockage preventing them from increasing that figure needs addressing before this golden generation goes to seed.

Resuming on 8/179 Mike Hussey and James Pattinson immediately seized the initiative that should have belonged to the tourists. The left-handed pair absorbed India's early pressure and pushed Australia's lead from perilous to par. Hussey eventually departed for 89, the top score and most important innings for the match. Australia would not be let down by his replacement though. Ben Hilfenhaus racked up 14 in a 43-run last-wicket partnership with James Pattinson (37 n/o) to push par to powerful.

The 25,000 inside the MCG could sense how perfectly poised the Test had become and with Virender Sehwag striding out to face the new ball there was a buzz of anticipation. That buzz was soon drowned out by Australian cheers as India's rapid run maker slapped a Hilfenhaus long hop straight to Hussey at point for just seven. Soon afterwards Gautam Gambhir (13), a doppelganger for Philip Hughes in current form, poked a Siddle delivery to Ricky Ponting.

As Gambhir departed, Tendulkar's distinctive profile emerged from the Members Stand and with it a regal reception from both sets of fans. He then set about carving Australia's seamers at will, partnered by his long-time bookend, Rahul Dravid.

Momentum would not rest long in India's favour though, not with Pattinson displaying such exhilarating élan. The local hero tore an in-cutter through a gate in The Wall, castling Dravid for 10.

Thereafter it was a procession, with Sachin even unable to hold back the tide.

VVS Laxman was the next to not fancy the fight. He made one - which was one more than Virat Kohli, guilty of lazily failing to manoeuvre his bat around his pad first ball.

The denouement arrived with Tendulkar's departure. On 32, The Little Master mistimed a drive to Hussey in the gully to hand Siddle the most prized of wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin (30), Zaheer Khan (13), MS Dhoni (23) and Umesh Yadav (21) all heaved some lusty blows to varying degrees of success but Australia's seamers always had an appropriate response. Nathan Lyon even managed to join in the fun, the fortieth wicket of the match, the spinner's first.

As an indication of how evenly Australia's seamers performed, Hilfenhaus finished with match figures of 7/114, Siddle 6/105 and man of the match Pattinson 6/108.

After the trauma of Hobart and the compound humiliation of recent months, Australia can take plenty of heart from the first Test of this series. Selectors have adopted a sensible approach, combining form, youth and experience. Michael Clarke is emerging as the kind of leader who makes things happen and he is making full use of a bowling attack containing a genuine strike weapon in James Pattinson.

The batting remains a work in progress but both looks and feels stronger with Hussey and Ponting in second-innings form.

The success of the series from hereon relies on India's response. In England recently they shamefully threw in the towel after a first Test defeat. They owe their collective reputations better than to do so again. They clearly have the tools at their disposal, they just need applying more effectively to the tasks in hand.

The second of the four Tests begins in Sydney on Tuesday.