Boxing Day Test evenly poised

Michael Hussey will carry the weight of a nation, whilst the Indian bowling attack will look to take the final two Australian wickets as the Boxing Day Test is evenly poised following an intriguing day three of the game being played in Melbourne.

Hussey (79 not out) along with home town hero James Pattinson (three not out) will resume at the crease on day four with Australia on 8 for 179, an overall lead of 230 runs with two days remaining at the MCG.

Mr Cricket who has struggled for form recently has all but ensured his place in the side with a much needed knock, which saw him score his first half century in his last nine innings following yet another top order batting collapse.

Hussey who also got a lucky break when he dropped in the slips by the usually reliable Rahul Dravid provided the resistance, whilst Indian quick Umesh Yadav (4 for 49) was the star with the ball.

Leading by 51 runs after the first innings the hosts were immediately put on the back-foot after losing four quick wickets to be at one stage on 4 for 27 before Hussey along with former captain Ricky Ponting (60) came to the rescue.

The pair guided the home side to tea and continued their strong partnership in the final session of the day, taking it past the century mark before Ponting was sent packing after being caught in the gully off the bowling of Zaheer Khan.

Ponting played a ball outside the off stump and fell in a similar fashion to his dismissal in the first innings as Australia slumped to 5 for 142.

Six runs later and the hosts had lost their sixth wicket with the out of form Brad Haddin (6) caught in the slips off the bowling off Khan.

That wicket brought in Victorian Peter Siddle (4) but unlike the first innings the hometown hero wasn’t able to provide any resistance as he became Yadav’s fourth victim.

Nathan Lyon (0) was bumped up the order but made little impact as he was sent packing following being trapped in front by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the hosts slumped to 8 for 166 late on Wednesday.

However Hussey and Pattinson survived until stumps as the pair will look to build Australia’s overall lead, whilst the tourists will look to take the final two wickets as quickly as possible before starting their own run chase.

Australia all out 333

Ed Cowan 68 (177)

Ricky Ponting 62 (94)

Peter Siddle 41 (99)

Zaheer Khan 4 for 77 (31 overs)

Ravichandran Ashwin 3 for 81 (29 overs)

Umesh Yadav 3 for 106 (26 overs)

India all out 282

Sachin Tendulkar 73 (98)

Rahul Dravid 68 (187)

Virender Sehwag 67 (83)

Ben Hilfenhaus 5 for 75 (26 overs)

Peter Siddle 3 for 63 (21.1 overs)

James Pattinson 2 for 55 (23 overs)

Australia 8 for 179

Michael Hussey 79 not out

Ricky Ponting 60 (97)

Umesh Yadav 4 for 49 (15 overs)

Zaheer Khan 2 for 32 (13 overs)