XtraTime Web Desk: The 3rd test match at the historic MCG is showing time and again, why this format of the game is the finest in the game. After two intriguing days of attritional batting, Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins showed that bowlers had a place in this seemingly flat MCG surface, displaying outstanding mastery of skills where Bumrah ended up with a career-best performance of 6 for 33 to send Australia packing for 151 and Cummins with a figure of 4/10 the moment. It was the standout on an incredible third day that dramatically changed so much of what had been said and written about this Test. On the first couple of days, as India went about compiling a seemingly endless first essay, there were incremental cries of a dead surface, a long, meandering draw, and even stripping the MCG of Boxing Day-hosting honours. After a 15-wicket Friday, a draw didn't even seem the most likely result. Just how did it come down to this? Nevermind what indications had given you in the past two days, with its unpredictable bounce, puffs of dust, and gradually widening cracks - this was a twist nobody really saw coming. And there is no one answer. This was a combination of so many factors. Brilliant as Bumrah and India's bowlers were, Australia were plagued by a visible dearth of batsmen to hang in there - for lack of skill or intent. That the gates opened for Australia's procession was down to Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris giving up their wickets. On an unpredictable surface, it was a critical opening for the skillful Bumrah to disarm the batsmen with pace - a skiddy variety of it. It gave India a 292-run first-innings lead - one that wins you Test matches more often than not. But, perhaps swayed by the magnitude of the advantage, India - having rightfully decided against the follow-on to avoid the prospect of batting last on a treacherous surface - came out swinging. Almost hilariously, it resulted in them potentially ruing batting again. By stumps, they had lost five of their top six but with a lead touching 350.

15 wickets on Day 3, India on the driver's seat in a mouth-watering contest