Another day, another centurion at the SCG. Today it was Matthew Hayden's turn to take centre stage, a stylish 123 leaving Australia clinging on to the hope of a joint-world record 16th win on the bounce. Hayden's second century of the series, plus an unbeaten and hard-earned 87 from Mike Hussey, left Australia 282-4 at the close, a lead of 213 runs going into the last day.
Australia started the day looking to score quick runs in the hope of pushing for victory, but three rain breaks and wickets at key moments slowed them down and a draw seems likely with more showers forecast for Sunday. Hayden and Phil Jacques put on 85 for the the first wicket before Jacques departed for 42, throwing his wicket away when he holed out to Yuvraj Singh in the deep off Anil Kumble, the Indian captain's 100th test wicket against Australia. The key wicket soon followed, Ricky Ponting getting a leading edge to VVS Laxman at silly point for just one off Harbhajan Singh. The feisty spinner celebrated the wicket wildly, perhaps in response to facing a misconduct charge after Ponting reported him to match referee Mike Procter for racist remarks to Andrew Symonds.
Hayden batted with a runner for most of his innings after injuring his right thigh but this did not affect his hitting power. The Queenslander raced to his hundred off 160 balls, cracking a dozen boundaries in his innings, which lasted over four and a half hours. It was the burly opener's 29th test hundred, bringing him level with Sir Donald Bradman's career tally. Hayden was finally caught off Kumble, a mis-timed reverse sweep lobbing up to Wasim Jaffer. Michael Clarke followed next ball with Rahul Dravid holding a sharp catch at slip. And Kumble wasn't finished, with a good shout for a hat-trick as first innings hero Symonds was struck on the pad failing to offer a shot.
Hayden's main support came from Hussey as they shared a 160-partnership for the third wicket. Hussey was dropped by Yuvraj Singh on 41 on the last ball of the morning session and made India pay for their mistake by cruising to 13 short of his eighth century in just 20 tests when bad light ended play with four overs remaining.
Australia return to bat on the fifth morning, and it falls to Ponting to decide on a suitable target for India. The series stands at 1-0, and he will be wary of giving India an over-generous declaration by focusing on a 16th consecutive win. With the spinners looking most threatening on a increasingly rough wicket, Australia would in the past have thrown the ball to Shane Warne to magic a victory. Shawn of that option, the responsibility could fall to Brad Hogg to produce a result. When India ended Australia's 16-win streak in Calcutta in 2001, it took one of the great comebacks in test cricket. It may not be as spectacular this time around, but India might well do it again.
