Second Test, Adelaide, day three (stumps)
India 477-7 v Australia 556 India batsmen VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid notched up centuries to stubbornly defy Australia on day three of the second Test in Adelaide. The fifth-wicket stand was worth 303, and Dravid was 199 not out as India went to stumps 477-7 - 79 behind.
Andy Bichel tempted Laxman to edge behind for 148 on the stroke of tea.
Parthiv Patel (31) and Agit Agarkar (11) both fell to wrist-spinner Simon Katich but Anil Kumble lasted the 23 minutes to stumps.
Laxman rode his luck after he was dropped twice by Ricky Ponting at second slip on 65 and 139.
The performance in Adelaide showed signs of being a repeat of Laxman and Dravid's heroics in Calcutta two years ago.
The pair shared a record stand of 376 runs to turn the 2001 Test series against Australia on its head.
This time they set a new Indian record partnership for any wicket in a Test in Australia
They eclipsed the 224 between Mohinder Amarnath and Sunil Gavaskar for the second wicket in Sydney in January 1986.
There was more gloom for Australia as fast bowler Brad Williams injured his left shoulder in the field.
He was taken to hospital for a scan and is unlikely to bowl again in this Test.
Dravid reached his century with the first audacious shot he played in five hours, a top-edged hook off fast bowler Jason Gillespie sailing over long leg for a six.
He was on the verge of his fourth career double-century - and his second in two months - at stumps.
Australia: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh (captain), Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), Jason Gillespie, Andy Bichel, Brad Williams and Stuart MacGill.
12th man: Nathan Bracken.
India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Venkatsai Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Parthiv Patel (wicketkeeper), Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra.
12th man: Lakshmipathi Balaji
Umpires: David Shepherd ( England) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).
Television umpire: Steve Davis, Australia.
Match referee: Mike Proctor, South Africa.
MMIX
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A Dravid innings is a work of art, sculptured from the hardest granite and finished with the brightest diamond
