Melbourbe, Dec 28: Day 3 at the MCG was a riot of wickets and runs as both teams lost and found their way in what’s turning out to be a thrilling Boxing Day Test. While the day started with an Indian batting collapse, effected largely by Ben Hilfenhaus’ five-wicket haul, the hosts themselves got into a mess losing four quick wickets in their second innings. Umesh Yadav’s three early wickets set the stage for veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, leaving the match in the balance yet again. Take a look at the numbers that matter from a day of highs and lows for both sides.

• India collapsed from from 214 for two to 282 all out, losing their last eight wickets for just 68 runs. This is one of India’s worst eight-wicket collapses after being in a strong position. Interestingly, India had suffered a similar collapse at the same venue in 2003-‘04 after being 1-0 up in the series.

India’s worst eight-wicket collapses (after being two down for 200 or more)

ao = all out

• Having played nine Test innings in Australia, MS Dhoni is yet to score a fifty. He has aggregated 147 runs at an average of 16.33 with a highest of 38 in Australia, which is his worst performance in any country. Incidentally, Dhoni averages 45.40 in the subcontinent and 29.74 outside it.

• Brad Haddin, playing in his 40th Test, completed 150 wicketkeeping dismissals when he caught nightwatchman Ishant Sharma off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus. He became the fifth Australian to do so after Adam Gilchrist (416), Ian Healy (395), Rod Marsh (355) and Wally Grout (187).

• Haddin became the second Australian wicketkeeper to effect five dismissals in an innings against India after Rod Marsh at Sydney in 1980-‘81.

• With the wicket of R Ashwin, Peter Siddle completed 50 wickets in Australia in his 16th Test, becoming the 39th Australian to reach the mark.

• Ben Hilfenhaus (five for 75) took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket in his 18th Test. His previous best was four for 57 also against India at Mohali in 2010-‘11.

• Mike Hussey, on 26, completed 3,000 runs at home. He became the 12th Australian to accomplish this feat. By taking just 62 innings to reach this landmark, Hussey became the fourth quickest among Australians after Don Bradman (37 innings), Matthew Hayden (51) and Doug Walters (61) to do so.

• Ricky Ponting followed up his first-innings 68 with 60 in the second innings. This was the third instance where Ponting has scored at least a fifty in both innings of a Test against India. The earlier two occasions were at Brisbane in 2003-‘04 (54 & 50) and at Bangalore in 2010-‘11 (77 & 72). Ponting now shares the Australian record for maximum such instances against India, level with Bob Simpson.

Batsmen with most instances of twin fifties against India

• This was the 14th instance where Ponting crossed 50 in both innings of a Test. Ponting has now equalled South Africa’s Jacques Kallis’ world record for most instances of fifties in both innings of a Test. The details:

Fifties in both innings on most occasions

• Ponting has now aggregated 1,477 runs against India on home soil. Only one batsman, West Indies’ S Chanderpaul (1,547), has scored more runs against India at home.

• Umesh Yadav took the first three wickets to fall in Australia’s first innings. He did the same in the second innings as well. By the end of Day 3, Umesh had extended his wicket-tally to seven in the Test. His figures are the second best for an Indian bowler playing his first Test in Australia. The details:

Best figures by Indian bowlers in first Test in Australia