ADELAIDE, 16 December 2003 — India, inspired by Rahul Dravid and Ajit Agarkar, were threatening to pull off another historic comeback after seizing control of the second Test against Australia yesterday.

Dravid scored a record-breaking 233 to help India amass a first-innings total of 523 before seamer Agarkar captured career-best Test figures of six for 41 as Australia collapsed to 196 all out.

Set 230 for victory, India were 37 without loss when stumps were drawn after the fourth day at Adelaide Oval.

The Indians, who produced an amazing turnaround to beat the Australians 2-1 in a home series two years ago, need 193 more on the final day to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.

Any hopes of an Indian victory had seemed lost after Australia piled on 400 runs on the first day, then finished with a massive first innings total of 556, but the tourists slowly clawed their way back into the match.

Dravid broke a series of batting records including featuring in a 303-run partnership with Vangipurappu Laxman, who made 148.

The match still seemed destined to end in a draw after India’s innings came to an end before lunch on the fourth day even though the Adelaide Oval pitch, a batsmen’s paradise for three days, began to crack under the searing heat, offering some varying bounce and turn.

Agarkar, who had only taken 39 wickets in his previous 17 Tests and never more than three in an innings, played the leading role as he ripped through the Australian lineup.

He got rid of first Test century maker Justin Langer for 10 with a fine inswinger, then Ricky Ponting, cutting too closely to his body, for a duck after the Australian vice-captain had made a career-best 242 in the first innings.

The Australians briefly steadied themselves as Damien Martyn (38), Steve Waugh (42), Adam Gilchrist (43) and Simon Katich (31) all made starts, before the innings suddenly fell to pieces.

Part-time spinner Sachin Tendulkar claimed the scalps of Martyn and Waugh in the space of seven balls before tea, both driving at wide deliveries and snicking to slip. David’s one-handed catch to remove Martyn was breathtaking.

Then Agarkar returned after the re-start to mop up the tail.

Australia lost their last five wickets for 13 runs with Agarkar claiming an astonishing four for four from his last 19 deliveries.

Australia’s shock collapse partly overshadowed the incredible batting performance of Dravid who had started the day on 199.

The 30-year-old brought up his fourth Test double-hundred by cutting Stuart MacGill for four on the first ball of the day and cleverly rotated the strike to maximize India’s total.