Light the cigars, get Justin Langer to clear his throat. Order some of those really big champagne bottles.

A 35-year drought is about to be broken.

Simon Katich suffered the heartbreak of becoming the 19th Australian to be dismissed for 99 but his innings helped his all-conquering side put its foot on India's throat on day three of the third Test at the VCA Ground.

Katich was trapped LBW by Murali Kartik just one run short of what would have been his second Test century. He deserved to get there - his 157-ball knock was all class.

Instead, he joined the likes of Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Michael Slater, Greg Blewett (twice), Ian Chappell and the late Keith Miller to have been denied a ton by the barest of margins.

At stumps on day three, Australia was 3-202 for an overall lead of 415 runs.

In a sure sign India could feel the match, series and a winning streak against Australia on the sub-continent spanning back to 1969 slipping away, captain Rahul Dravid lost his cool during an angry exchange of words with Langer and umpire Aleem Dar.

The normally unflappable Dravid stormed from first slip to the umpire's end after a full-throated LBW appeal from the bowling of Ajit Agarkar against Katich was rejected.

Dravid spoke tersely to Langer until Dar stepped in and pushed the Indian skipper away. The players continued their chat at the end of the over and Dravid remained completely stony-faced throughout Langer's three-hour innings of 30.

Langer is the player who leads the Australian team's chant of 'Beneath The Southern Cross' after each Test win and his next rendition, likely to be in the next two days, will be delivered with extra gusto. The place Steve Waugh called 'The Final Frontier' is about to be conquered.

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