Anil Kumble, whose six-wicket haul prevented the Australians from taking a two-hundred run first innings lead, said the Indians could stage a comeback in the third Test at Melbourne if their middle-order batsmen fire on day four.

The ace leg-spinner, who returned figures of 6 for 176 in 51 overs, added that if his side could wipe out the deficit and take a good lead, it could "still be a tricky chase" for Australia in the fourth innings.

Australia ran up a huge total of 558 to take a 192-run first innings lead over India and then reduced the visitors to 27 for two to take firm control of the match.

But Kumble was optimistic of his team, 1-0 up in the four-match series, staging a fight back.

"Four of our middle order batsmen are still intact. Three of them have hit centuries while one is yet to fire. The wicket is still good and there are no great footmarks.

"We are positive. It would have been nice to keep all the 10 wickets intact but if we can have a good start tomorrow, we would be able to put up a decent score."

"If we could get the runs the game could still be open.  It has started to keep a bit low. It might do a bit more on the last day."

Kumble was satisfied with his effort in the field and was relieved that the Aussies did not run away to a much bigger total.

"It has been satisfying to have another good day in the field personally and restrict that lead to 192 which could have been bigger had we not plugged away today.

"We had a hard day yesterday and needed to come back to pick early wickets. If we had not got Steve Waugh at that stage it would have taken longer."

Kumble got Waugh for 19 trapped leg before and Australia, from 502 for five at one stage were bowled out for 558.

"The conditions demanded that I be patient. The wicket is good and so is the opposition with everyone of their top order averaging close to 50 or more. Ricky Ponting was the key for Australia. He did not take many chances. He took calculated risks early on but, unlucky for us, we could not capitalise."

Ponting became only the second batsman in history to score three double centuries in one year since Sir Don Bradman.

"A lead of 200-odd runs is very good. We have got two wickets and hopefully we would create more opportunities tomorrow," Ponting said.

"There is now variable bounce, the wicket will start staying down a lot, the balls would not consistently carry to the wicketkeeper and if we could bowl well, there would be few balls for the leg before shout," he said.

The flamboyant right hander, who now has 1,472 runs in a calendar year, the fourth highest ever, joined an elite list of Walter Hammond (England), Don Bradman (Australia), Vinod Kambli (India) and Graeme Smith (Australia) who have hit back-to-back double hundreds.

The Aussie captain-in-waiting said consistency was the key to his success and that being promoted to number three at the start of the Ashes series in 2001 was the turning point of his career.

"Consistency has been the biggest thing for me. Then, batting at number three has put responsibility on me. Also it affords you more opportunities."

Ponting was all praise for Kumble, saying he bowled very smartly at Australia's batsmen.