Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting continued their remarkable run of form in 2003, as Australia returned to something like their best form on the second day of the Melbourne Test

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting continued their remarkable run of form in 2003, as Australia returned to something like their best form on the second day of the Melbourne Test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has a greater claim than Lord's to be the home of cricket, having hosted both the first Test and the first one-day international, in addition to being the premier patch of turf in the most successful cricket-playing

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has a greater claim than Lord's to be the home of cricket, having hosted both the first Test and the first one-day international, in addition to being the premier patch of turf in the most successful cricket-playing

Virender Sehwag called it his best innings, even better than the blazing 147 against the West Indies at Mumbai last year

Virender Sehwag called it his best innings, even better than the blazing 147 against the West Indies at Mumbai last year

Glenn McGrath's absence has been the single biggest blow to Australia in this series

Glenn McGrath's absence has been the single biggest blow to Australia in this series

Petrus Staphanus de Villiers - Fanie to most - produced an indefatigable spell of 6 for 43 and was the man of the moment the last time Australia went behind in a home Test series

Petrus Stephanus de Villiers - Fanie to most - produced an indefatigable spell of 6 for 43 and was the man of the moment the last time Australia went behind in a home Test series

It's almost five years since Australia lost a Test match of any consequence on home soil, testament to their dominance and a damning indictment of teams who have come here having thrown in the towel somewhere over the Indian Ocean or Straits of

It's almost five years since Australia lost a Test match of any consequence on home soil, testament to their dominance and a damning indictment of teams who have come here having thrown in the towel somewhere over the Indian Ocean or Straits of

When Ricky Ponting was asked yesterday evening if the sight of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman putting together a partnership brought back uncomfortable memories of Kolkata 2001, he smiled his impish smile and said, 'I didn't want to think of that.' This

When Ricky Ponting was asked yesterday evening if the sight of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman putting together a partnership brought back uncomfortable memories of Kolkata 2001, he smiled his impish smile and said, 'I didn't want to think of that.' This

One word best describes Australia's modern-day cricket tradition: faith

One word best describes Australia's modern-day cricket tradition: faith

Anil Kumble said that a meeting with Terry Jenner, arranged by Shane Warne, had been 'very helpful' after he picked up five wickets on the second day at the Adelaide Oval

Ricky Ponting pronounced himself "pretty happy" with the way in which he played on the opening day at the Adelaide Oval, though he admitted that Sehwag's dropped catch at gully - when he had made just 17 - was "a big let-off"

Steve Waugh said that it would take some exceptional cricket to win this series, and at the Adelaide Oval, his batsmen went a long way towards fulfilling that prediction with a dominant performance that produced 400 runs in a day

Steve Waugh said that it would take some exceptional cricket to win this series, and at the Adelaide Oval, his batsmen went a long way towards fulfilling that prediction with a dominant performance that produced 400 runs in a day