That it came from a young Indian attack still finding its feet at the highest level made it even more memorable.

Just to put things in perspective — Rahul Dravid alone batted for 276 minutes on day one of the third Test; on the second day, Australia’s first innings lasted 261 minutes and 50 overs embellished by the guile and craft of Rudra Pratap Singh and Irfan Pathan, the seam and spirit of Ishant Sharma, and the perseverance and determination of Anil Kumble, who kept his tryst with a 600th Test wicket.

India had appeared to have frittered away the initiative by losing four for two in 17 deliveries early in the day, being bowled out for 330 after having put themselves in command at 278 for four late on the first evening. The bowlers, who have always relished bowling overseas, in conditions that assist them even marginally, responded magnificently to cut a swathe through Australia’s top-order. By bowling out the hosts for 212, they opened up a 118-run first-innings advantage, which was extended to 170 by stumps as India raced to 52 for the loss of the totally out of sorts Wasim Jaffer.

Fifteen wickets tumbled on day two, falsely suggestive of a track playing truant. The WACA strip played true to character; if anything, it was livelier than the first day after the steaming sun sucked away any semblance of moisture. That 297 runs came off 75.2 overs at nearly four an over testifies to the quality of the surface; ten wickets in 50 overs is a wonderful tribute to the sustained quality of India’s bowling attack.

Stunning

Rudra Pratap was the leader of the pack, and not necessarily because he was the most successful. His progress over the last seven months has been little short of stunning. A rhythm bowler, he was emboldened by the fluidity of his run-up and the niceness with which the ball came out of his hand to crank up the pace, consistently flirting with the 90 mph-mark.

His strength, much like Pathan’s, lies in getting the ball to swing away from the left-hander late, often forcing the batsman to play at balls he would be better off leaving. Both the left-arm swing bowlers were on song in the short session to lunch, firing out Phil Jaques, debutant Chris Rogers and Mike Hussey in that little eight-over phase to send the hosts to the interval at 22 for three.

Rudra Pratap showed he is as much at ease with the older ball as with the shiny new one by coming back to clean up the tail with three for 16 in his third spell, marked by switching over to bowling from round the stumps, tailing the ball in the air into the right-handers and getting it to straighten upon pitching. What intelligence, what control!

Pathan’s was an equally brilliant display on a day when India’s catching was of the highest order, the only blip — Sachin Tendulkar’s drop off Andrew Symonds when just three. That was a costly lapse as Symonds and Adam Gilchrist hurt India during a wonderfully counter-attacking sixth-wicket stand of 102 (92m, 104b), but India regrouped at tea and came back strongly.

Pathan triggered the initial rot with twin strikes in his second over, enjoying being given the new ball on a still, remarkably windless day. The demons of the past year clearly exorcised, he was brilliant later in the day in a holding job during the Symonds-Gilchrist partnership, showcasing great stamina during extended bowls on an enervating day.

Mean delivery

Seam came in the shape of the 19-year-old Ishant, playing only his fourth Test. The tall, angular right-arm pacer essentially brings the ball in, but he has developed a mean delivery that straightens despite being delivered from wide of the crease. It was that weapon which accounted for both Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, the teenager displaying enough intelligence to not get carried away by the bounce on offer.

Kumble was on the money, as ever. He showed courage in bringing himself on with Symonds and Gilchrist in full cry, and predictably broke through, making Symonds his 600th victim. He led astutely, with a brotherly pat that goaded and inspired his young turks, and led by example, too.

All this after India failed to kick on from 297 for six, and before Virender Sehwag threw the Aussies off gear — again! A great day of cricket, with India shining. Brightly.