Australia vs India: Remembering the evergreen Adelaide Test of 2003

Day 3: Dravid-Laxman stand - Repeat of Eden

Dravid (Left) and Laxman shared a partnership of 303 runs

At the end of Day 2, though the hosts were still in command, it would be no surprise if they had started getting jitters in their minds because of the unbeaten overnight partnership of 95 runs between Dravid and Laxman. No one seemed to have forgotten the Indian summer of 2001 when the same pair had taken away the game from Kangaroos to script an unrealistic victory for India at Eden Garden, Kolkata.

On Day 3, unfortunately, the worst fears came true for Aussies as Dravid-Laxman duo started batting with ease. They had the task cut-out in their minds and batted sensibly against the Aussie pace attack sans the legendary Glenn McGrath, ruled out of the series due to injury. The Aussies were already devoid of the services of ace leg-spinner Shane Warne who was serving a one year ban during that time.

The Indian pair left the outgoing deliveries for the keeper, punished the bad balls and found the boundaries whenever they needed. Both were in complete control of their game and were scoring at almost the same pace. Their individual scores were moving in parallel.

It was Dravid who reached the three-figure mark first but in an uncharacteristic style. Batting on 99, after being denied a single for few deliveries, he chose to pull the short ball which went high enough to go above the towering Jason Gillespie into the stands. After a few deliveries, Laxman too got into his 100s!

The Indian duo didn't let the century celebrations affect their concentration levels. They continued batting with ease till the Tea break forcing Steve Waugh to bring in part-time bowlers Simon Katich and himself in order to give rest to the tired front-line bowling unit.

Dravid went past 150 but Laxman poked one outside the off stump to keeper Adam Gilchrist falling two short of a well deserved 150. But before parting, the duo had added 303 runs bringing back the memories of Kolkata Test of 2001.

The mission was not over for India as they were still trailing by 168 runs when Laxman departed. Dravid seemed unperturbed by the breaking of their partnership and added 59 runs in the company of Parthiv Patel. After Patel's exit, Ajit Agarkar also followed just a few overs before the end of the day's play. New batsman Kumble stood firm till stumps with his state-mate Dravid who ended the day with an unbeaten 199.