Ponting's rare failure

Stats highlights from the third day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India

HR Gopalakrishna

28-Dec-2007

Stats highlights from the third day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.

Ricky Ponting was Harbhajan Singh's 250th Test wicket © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting's dismissals 4 and 3 in this match was only the fourth time he has been out for single digits in both innings in 113 Tests. The previous occasions were 9 and 4 versus West Indies in Sydney in Nov 1996, a pair versus Pakistan in Hobart in Nov 1999, 6 and 0 against India in Kolkata in Mar 2001.

Michael Clarke scored freely against the spinners during his second innings. He scored 26 off 32 balls against Kumble, and 21 off 27 balls against Harbhajan Singh at a combined strike-rate of nearly 80.

Harbhajan did not take a wicket in the first innings but he picked up three in the second and went past the milestone of 250 Test wickets. Harbhajan became the fourth Indian, after Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Bishan Bedi, to take 250 Test wickets when he had Ponting caught by Rahul Dravid in the second innings. He is also the sixth spinner to take 250 wickets.

Brett Lee became the sixth Australian to take 250 Test wickets. The others are Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Craig McDermott and Jason Gillespie. Anil Kumble was Lee's 250th Test wicket.

Kumble and Muttiah Muralitharan now share the record for most caught and bowled victims in Tests. Phil Jaques was Kumble's 31st caught-and-bowled victim.

Dravid's catch of Ricky Ponting was his 160th in Tests. The three people ahead of him are Mark Waugh (181), Brian Lara (164) and Stephen Fleming (161).

Matthew Hayden has now scored 1072 runs at the MCG making him the seventh batsman to pass 1000 at this venue.

Australia have set India 499 to win which will smash the world record for the highest successful chase should India beat the odds and achieve it. The highest target that a team has successfully chased at the MCG is 332 when England won by three wickets in 1928. West Indies' successful chase of 418 against Australia in Antigua in 2003 is the highest overall in Tests.

Harbhajan Singh Ricky Ponting Australia India Australia vs India India tour of Australia