Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill bamboozled the world all-stars with their tandem leg-spin attack to put Australia in command on the second day of the Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Warne, introduced after 24 overs, struck three times in the middle session, claiming the wickets of Virender Sehwag (76), Jacques Kallis (44) and Mark Boucher (0) to have 3-12 off eight overs at tea.
Warne removed danger man Sehwag in his fourth over after the free-spirited Indian opener looked primed for his 11th century in his 36th Test.
Simon Katich took a splendid reflex catch at short square leg to send Sehwag on his way after an innings studded with 14 boundaries, off just 82 balls.
MacGill, who has an outstanding Test record at the spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground, had Inzamam-ul-Haq stumped by Adam Gilchrist for one.
The Pakistani Test captain over-balanced when playing forward and could not get his back foot inside the crease before the bails were removed.
Nearing tea, Warne dismissed South Africans Kallis and Boucher in his eighth over to have the world side in desperate trouble.
Kallis fell to great catch by Matthew Hayden at slip off a Warne leg-break for 44 and Boucher edged another leg-break to Gilchrist for a two-ball duck.
At tea, the World XI were 157 for seven in reply to Australia’s first-innings 345. Andrew Flintoff cracked a six off MacGill in his unbeaten 13 and Daniel Vettori had yet to score.
Earlier, Glenn McGrath became the greatest wicket-taking paceman in Tests with the prized wicket of West Indian superstar Brian Lara for five before lunch.
McGrath moved past West Indian fast-bowler Courtney Walsh (519) with the wickets of new Indian skipper Rahul Dravid (0) and Lara to take his Test tally to 520 in his 113th Test.
Warne is the leading Test wicket-taker with 626 ahead of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (560).
Brett Lee started proceedings when he had world skipper Graeme Smith top-edging to Gilchrist for 12.
It was a stinging response after Ashes hero Flintoff had captured three wickets in three overs to terminate Australia’s first innings.
The England all-rounder removed Gilchrist on his overnight score of 94 with the second ball of the day, depriving the Australian vice-captain of his 16th Test century.
Flintoff also claimed the wickets of Warne (5) and Lee (1) to finish with 4-59 off 18 overs.
The World XI claimed four wickets for 14 in five overs to stop Australia in their tracks after Hayden (111) and Gilchrist had the home side in a strong position at 331 for six at stumps Friday. — Sapa-AFP