Australia's wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist prepares to catch out India's Harbhajan Singh to equal the world record for Test catches at the Adelaide Oval, Australia, yesterday, on the second day of their fourth Test. - AP

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP):

Australia's Adam Gilchrist set a world record for wicketkeeping dismissals yesterday as India reached 526 in its first innings and the hosts began strongly in reply on day two of the fourth Test.

Gilchrist, in his 96th Test, tied the record held by South Africa's Mark Boucher when he caught Harbhajan Singh off Andrew Symonds and then set a new mark of 414 dismissals when he caught Anil Kumble off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson to end India's innings.

He has taken 377 catches and made 37 stumpings, giving him the outright record ahead of Boucher (413) and fellow Australians Ian Healy (399) and Rod Marsh (355).

The dismissal ended an impressive rearguard action by the India tail on day two, with Kumble (87) leading a fightback that saw the tourists add 167 runs for the last three wickets.

Kumble, in partnerships of 107 for the eighth wicket with Harbhajan (63) and 58 for the 10th with Ishant Sharma (14 not out), helped guide India from 309-5 at the beginning of the day.

Australia began impressively in reply, to be 62-0 at stumps, with Matthew Hayden on 36 and Phil Jaques on 21.

Tiresome days

"They have been two very tiresome days for us but I guess it shows the wicket's a nice wicket,'' Gilchrist said. "Hopefully we can learn from that that we have to make partnerships count, which India did.

"Fortunately we've got through tonight unscathed so we've got a good foundation to work from.''

Gilchrist's record came at a time in which his position as Australia's Test keeper has been questioned. Critics believe his glovework has lost some of its sharpness and there is support for back-up keeper Brad Haddin to take his place.

India lost two wickets in the first hour yesterday including Sachin Tendulkar, who was out for 153 after resuming at 124. Tendulkar was caught in the deep by Brad Hogg off Brett Lee, after stroking 13 fours and three sixes in an innings of 338 minutes.