Kumble's first-day heroics, and home bully Hayden

Stats highlights from the first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India

Dec 26, 2007, 12:04 PM

Stats highlights from the first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.

Matthew Hayden has scored 19 of his 25 centuries at home © Getty Images

Anil Kumble brought India back into the contest after a poor first session, and his five-wicket haul was the second time in successive Boxing Day Tests that a spinner took five on the first day. Last year Shane Warne destroyed England, taking 5 for 39 to bundle them out for 159. These are the only two instances in the last 70 years of spinners taking five-fors on the first day of a Melbourne Test.

Much has been said about Kumble's reliance on a wearing pitch for his success, but he has now taken ten five-wicket hauls in the first innings of a Test. His first-innings average is 32.92, which isn't a lot more than his career average of 28.56.

This was also Kumble's tenth five-for against Australia. Only Richard Hadlee (14), Sydney Barnes (12) and Tom Richardson (11) have more five-wicket hauls against them.

When Kumble had Phil Jaques stumped, it was his 21st such dismissal, which is a record by an Indian bowler. Subhash Gupte held the earlier record with 20.

Matthew Hayden's 124 is his sixth century in nine Tests at the MCG, and his third in successive games. He averages 78.84 at this ground, well above his career average of 53.04.

The innings also confirmed his penchant for the Indian bowling attack. In 12 Tests against them, Hayden averages 65.14, with four centuries - the most by any Australian batsman against India - and six half-centuries.

Hayden has scored 19 Test hundreds in Australia, which is a record for any batsman at home. Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting have 18 each, while Brian Lara has 17. Hayden averages 62.01 at home; overseas, the number drops to 43.57.

Rahul Dravid's two catches in the Australian innings takes his Test tally to 159, which puts him fourth in the all-time list, after Mark Waugh (181), Brian Lara (164) and Stephen Fleming (161).

Matthew Hayden Anil Kumble Australia India Australia vs India India tour of Australia