Steve Smith reeled off a third consecutive century, lifting Australia to a score of 7-389 at lunch on day two of the Boxing Day Test against India.
Smith’s career-best form reached incredible levels as the 25-year-old threatened to bat the tourists out of the MCG clash.
The stand-in skipper reached Saturday’s meal break unbeaten on 128, adding to the 133 he scored at the Gabba and career-high 163no at Adelaide Oval earlier this month.
The tons in Brisbane and Melbourne came in his first two Tests as captain – no other Australian has ever achieved the feat.
Australia resumed on 5-259 with the game in the balance and Smith on 72.
The right-hander became the 13th Australian to score back-to-back-to-back Test centuries shortly after the morning drinks break.
But it was Brad Haddin who struck the first blows as he made a mockery of India’s bouncer barrage.
Haddin’s overnight score was 23.
He needed five overs to turn that into a half-century, smacking six boundaries along the way.
Ian Chappell was stunned by India’s short-pitched approach and leg-side fields.
“This has been horrible captaincy from MS Dhoni. He’s given his bowlers no chance at all,” Chappell said, while calling the game for the Nine Network.
“His tactics this morning have been designed to help Australia .. it’s senseless captaincy.
“Particularly with Haddin, they might as well have held up a sign (that bouncers were coming).”
Haddin was caught behind by Dhoni on 55 when his late attempt to leave a wide ball from Mohammed Shami went awry.
India failed to kick on after snapping the 110-run partnership between Haddin and Smith.
Mitchell Johnson could have been run out on one with the score at 6-331, but Shami wasn’t able to collect the return at the bowler’s end.
Johnson was stumped by Dhoni on 28 off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin, having lashed five fours.
Smith was in much discomfort after being hit on the box by Umesh Yadav in the 104th over, but composed himself to pass 500 runs in the four-Test series.
India need to win in Melbourne otherwise they will relinquish the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
