Both hit centuries during their 37-over second wicket stand of 205 runs eclipsing the previous record of 198, set by Virender Sehwag and Suraish Raina, also from India, against Pakistan at Karachi in 2008.

Gambhir made 100 from 118 balls while Kohli hit 108 off 120 balls. Both struck seven fours each.

Interestingly, each of them completed his tenth hundred in one-day international cricket.

The 34-year-old off-spinner, who took 24 wickets in the 3-0 Test series whitewash of England, claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has allowed him extra leniency, up to 23.5 degrees.

As per the ICC rules a bowler can only straighten his arm up to 15 degrees, beyond which his action will be deemed illegal.

“I don’t know about my bowling action, but somebody was telling me your action is bad. ICC has allowed me 23.5 because my arm is not good because of an accident, that is why a problem,” Ajmal told BBC television on Monday after being declared man-of-the-series.

“Otherwise no problem, straightaway cleared by ICC.”

Pakistan won the third and final Test here by 71 runs.

His bowling action, reported by match officials during a one-day series against Australia here in 2009 before it was cleared after remedial work by experts, once again came under suspicions following his career-best 7-55 in the first Test, also played in Dubai.

Former England paceman Bob Willis raised suspicions over his ‘doosra’ (second one) — a ball which turns the other way than a normal off-break — while England coach Andy Flower said he has his own opinion and left the matter to the ICC.

But after Ajmal’s claim on relaxation, Flower on Tuesday showed surprise.

“If that’s the degree, then there’s a problem, said Flower when asked about Ajmal’s claim of special dispensation. “That’s ridiculous.”

“That is an ICC issue, though. They are there to police the game, and make sure that it is played within the rules, so they’ve got to scrutinise his action.

“We’ve all got our own views, but our job is to combat whoever is put against us, and part of it is also to play the game in the right spirit.”

Pakistan cricket team management said Ajmal was cleared by the ICC within the permissible limits and they will issue a further clarification shortly.

Even at the start of this decade, the team functioned more like a secret society where any newcomer would struggle to breathe in a dressing room polluted by air thick with suspicion.

Not so long ago, local media would report stories about senior players holding clandestine meetings at a former captain’s residence to take an oath to betray the incumbent.

A former coach would call the players “mentally retarded” and a captain would blame poor fielding on team mates busy ogling girls in the outfield.

Of course, any players named denied the allegations.

Even for such a disjointed side, the 2010 spot-fixing scandal would mark a new low, culminating with the imprisonment of the then captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif for agreeing to bowl deliberate no-balls in the Lord’s test against England.

Less than a year-and-a-half on and Pakistan have not only survived the crisis but emerged stronger under Misbah-ul-Haq’s understated captaincy, reveling in consistency and shrugging off their notorious unpredictability.

Misbah and his men have clearly banished the nightmares of their previous meeting with England to take an unassailable 2-0 lead against the same opponent in a ‘home’ series in the UAE and are eyeing a clean sweep.

The latest success follows their series victories over New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in a highly rewarding 2011 when they won six of the 10 tests, losing just one.

“After the spot-fixing scandal the players discussed things and we unanimously agreed that we need to just do well,” Misbah recently told the Geo News channel.

“I am happy that we have been playing with lot of focus, dedication and discipline. The players have lots of faith in each other and their abilities to perform under pressure.”

Forced to host teams in the Gulf due to security concerns, Pakistan have achieved a great deal under the quiet stewardship of a 37-year-old captain who is unlike any of his predecessors.

Misbah does not warrant comparison with either Inzamam-ul-Haq or Younus Khan as a batsman, lacks Shahid Afridi’s flamboyance and is not as articulate as Butt at presentation ceremonies.

WELL-KNIT UNIT

However, shoehorned into captaincy after Butt’s ignominious exit, Misbah has achieved what most others could not.

He has won eight of the 12 tests he has been in charge of the team and is yet to lose a series as skipper.

More importantly, Pakistan finally look like a well-knit unit of honest triers who have complete faith in their phlegmatic leader and his single-minded pursuit of victory.

“It’s better to win by playing defensively, instead of losing by playing aggressively,” Misbah said before the start of the series against England.

This safety-first approach is hardly a surprise, coming from a man whose fatal scoop shot in the final of the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup allowed arch-rivals India to walk away with the trophy.

Misbah may not have secured his place among Pakistan’s great captains yet but in the first two tests against world number one ranked England, he has shown tactical acumen and flexibility to get the best out of his team mates.

In absence of Asif and Amir, Umar Gul is relishing leading an inexperienced pace attack while spin twins Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman have ruthlessly exposed the technical deficiencies of the English batsmen.

The second test in Abu Dhabi was a proof of the team’s never-say-die attitude and Misbah’s excellent captaincy.

With England chasing a meagre 145-run victory target, Misbah opened with Mohammad Hafeez’s gentle off-breaks and withdrew Gul after just three overs so that he could unleash the Ajmal-Rehman dynamic duo on the tentative batsmen.

Vindicating his decision completely, the spin trio shared all 10 wickets, shooting out England for 72 in just over 36 overs for a memorable series-clinching victory.

For their volatile fans, it was a heart-warming display of the team’s collective grit and many would believe Misbah applied some of the management lessons he learnt as a degree student in Lahore.

It is this steady progress that convinced coach Mohsin Khan that Pakistan, currently ranked fifth, can become the top test playing nation.

“I think this team has the capacity to become the world’s best team,” he said in Abu Dhabi.

“Our target should be to gradually come in the top three in both tests and one-day cricket, and then gradually go to world number one.”

Australia – George Bailey (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade.

Pakistani opener Mohammad Hafeez alone scored the 15 runs in 3.4 overs to hand England their first defeat in 10 Tests, since losing to Australia at Perth in the 2010 Ashes.

Earlier, paceman Umar Gul took four for 63 to help Pakistan bowl out England for 160.

The 27-year-old fast bowler dismissed Andrew Strauss (six) before lunch and then accounted for Alastair Cook (five) and Kevin Pietersen (nought) in his hostile first spell.

Gul was ably supported by spinners Abdul Rehman (3-37) and Saeed Ajmal (3-42), his second 10-wicket haul in Tests.

England’s batsmen, wrecked by Ajmal’s career-best 7-55 in their first innings of 192, were again clueless against the spin and played some rash shots as they sought to score runs on the pace of Gul.

Jonathan Trott top-scored with 49, but fell to an irresponsible shot, trying to force a short delivery from Gul and being caught by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal, who finished the match with seven catches.

Trott, who passed the boundary of 2,000 runs when he reached 18 in his 24th Test, hit six boundaries during his 111-ball knock but became Gul’s 150th wicket in his 41st Test.

England had another disastrous start as Strauss was adjudged caught behind, pushing Gul to the leg side and seeing the ensuing edge well taken by the wicket-keeper.

Soon after the lunch break, Gul produced a sharp rising delivery that caught Cook in two minds as the left-hander gloved it to Adnan, who had no trouble in gathering it.

Kevin Pietersen made it 25-3 when he hooked a Gul bouncer straight into the hands of deep square-leg fielder Abdul Rehman, leaving England in more trouble at 25-3.

Ajmal then got in on the act when he trapped Ian Bell plumb in front of the wicket for four.

Rehman ended a fifth-wicket partnership of 39 by dismissing Eoin Morgan (14) caught behind, while Ajmal trapped Matt Prior to leave England at 87-7.

Stuart Broad (17) and Graeme Swann (39) delayed the inevitable by putting on 48 for the eighth wicket before Rehman dismissed Broad and Chris Tremlett off successive balls. Ajmal took the last wicket by getting Swann caught.

The second Test starts in Abu Dhabi from January 25, while the third will again be played here on February 3-7.

Chasing a modest total of 237 runs, South Africa achieved the target losing five wickets with eight balls remaining.

South Africa now lead the five-match series 2-1 as they crushed Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 258 runs after bowling them out for a meager score of 43 runs in the first One-day International.

Duminy remained unbeaten on 66 which he made with the help of only a six and hit not a single four during his 87-ball innings.

He was ably supported by Hashim Amla who made 55 from 58 balls with two sixes and five fours.

Tendulkar’s quest for an elusive 100th international hundred was back on hold after he was dismissed for just 15 as the beleaguered tourists, trailing 2-0 in the four-Test series, again fell apart.

At tea, India were 144 for six with captain M.S. Dhoni unbeaten on four and debutant Vinay Kumar on five.

The Indians went to lunch at 73 for four after being sent in and lost the key wicket of Test cricket’s greatest run-scorer Tendulkar in the opening session.

But Virat Kohli and V.V.S. Laxman fought a determined rearguard action in the middle session, putting on 68 runs for the fifth wicket.

The pair rode their luck on a lively WACA wicket until Kohli miscued an attempted drive and was caught at point by Dave Warner for 44, giving Peter Siddle (3-42) his second wicket.

Laxman followed Kohli seven runs later when he was caught at first slip by Michael Clarke off Siddle for 31.

Tendulkar again looked in good early touch in the morning session, producing two elegant straight drives to the boundary in his first over.

However, he was deceived by a delivery from recalled paceman Ryan Harris that nipped back and was trapped leg before wicket.

Tendulkar has been stranded on 99 Test and one-day international centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March.

Opener Virender Sehwag’s wretched series continued when he was caught in the slips by Ricky Ponting off Ben Hilfenhaus for a four-ball duck, while 39-year-old Rahul Dravid was bowled off his pads by Siddle for nine.

It was the fourth time in five innings in the series that ‘The Wall’ Dravid has been bowled.

Both teams went into the WACA Test with four-man pace attacks on a green-tinged wicket.

The Australians recalled left-armer Mitchell Starc at the expense of spinner Nathan Lyon, while Harris replaced the injured James Pattinson.

India left out spinner Ravi Ashwin for medium-pacer Kumar. (AFP/PFP)

Tendulkar looked on course to reach his elusive 100th ton before he edged spinner Michael Clarke to Mike Hussey at first slip.

The Australian players rejoiced wildly with the capture of Tendulkar’s prized wicket in the middle session as India dug in to save the match after conceding a 468-run first innings lead.

Tendulkar was given a standing ovation by the small fourth day crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground after he was out.

He was dismissed for 73 and 32 in the first Test in Melbourne and 41 in the first innings of the Sydney Test.

Tendulkar has been stranded on 99 Test and one-day international centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March.

His last Test century was 146 against South Africa in Cape Town a year ago.

The prized wicket capped a dream Test for Australian skipper Clarke, who scored an unbeaten 329 in Australia’s massive first innings of 659 for four declared.

Test cricket’s greatest run-getter was sensationally bowled for 73 by paceman Peter Siddle with just three balls left on the second day of the opening Test against Australia.

The wicket sent groans around the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground from the sizeable Indian contingent in the 53,000 crowd, denied the chance of seeing the “Little Master” reach the landmark on Wednesday.

India reached the close in a commanding position at 214 for three, trailing Australia’s first innings 333 by 119 runs with Rahul Dravid, second only to Tendulkar for most Test runs, unbeaten on 68 after getting a reprieve on 65 when he was bowled by a Siddle no-ball.

Tendulkar, who has been on 99 Test and ODI centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March, looked in great touch but lost his stumps in an inspired final over from the stout-hearted Siddle.

He faced just 98 balls and hit eight fours and a six in a 117-run stand with Dravid for the third wicket.

The “Little Master” played some signature cover drives and an audacious upper cut over the slips for six off Siddle’s first ball after tea.

Australia thought they had finally got rid of Dravid on 65 when he was bowled by Siddle late in the day, only for him to get a reprieve for a no-ball.

There were precious few high points for Australia on a back-breaking day in the field other than the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Paceman James Pattinson bowled the adventurous Sehwag in the penultimate over before tea to bring Tendulkar to the crease, greeted by a standing ovation from the 53,000 MCG crowd.

Sehwag was dropped three times on his way to a brisk 67 off 83 balls with seven fours in his 75-run stand with Dravid.

He had his first “life” on 11 when he was dropped by Mike Hussey low in the gully off Pattinson.

Sehwag continued to live dangerously and hit successive fours off spinner Nathan Lyon to reach 51, but attempted a lofted shot next ball that was put down in a difficult diving chance by David Warner at long on.

Seven runs later Haddin hashed a one-gloved diving effort off Pattinson.

Sehwag, who smashed a one-day record score of 219 off 149 balls against the West Indies in Indore earlier this month, has now scored 8,047 runs in 93 Tests.

Gambhir was surprised by Ben Hilfenhaus’s extra pace and bounce and edged to Haddin for three in the eighth over.

Earlier, the Australia tail added 56 runs for the last four wickets in 97 minutes of batting time.

Haddin only lasted 10 minutes before he snicked Zaheer Khan to Sehwag in the gully for 27, ending a partnership of 72 runs with Peter Siddle.

Siddle’s 99-ball resistance ended with a great delivery from Zaheer.

The Indian left-armer got one to leave Siddle off the pitch and prise a catch behind for M.S. Dhoni for 41.

Hilfenhaus hit three fours in his unrestrained 19 before holing out to Virat Kohli in the deep off spinner Ravi Ashwin.

Lyon was last man out bowled attempting to sweep Ashwin for six, leaving Pattinson 18 not out off 54 balls.

Zaheer finished the best of India’s bowlers with four for 77 off 31 overs, while Umesh Yadav and Ashwin claimed three wickets each.

The left-handed opener, who scored 61 in the opening Test in Chittagong, was unbeaten on 44 as Pakistan reached 87-1 in their first innings at stumps after bowling out Bangladesh for 338.

Azhar Ali was 26 not out when play was called off due to bad light.

Pakistan lost in-form Mohammad Hafeez before Umar and Azhar put on 64 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand, with Umar hitting eight fours in his 79-ball knock so far.

Bangladesh paceman Nazmul Hossain, returning to the Test side after seven years, struck with his first delivery when he had Hafeez caught behind for only 14, a stark contrast to the opener’s 143 in the last Test.

Bangladesh, resuming at 234-5, earlier lost well-set Shakib Al Hasan (144) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (40) off successive balls before being bowled out in the afternoon session.

The hosts were strongly placed at 305-5 before losing their last five wickets for 33, with Shakib’s dismissal starting the slide.

Shakib was run out following a mix-up with his skipper as Umar hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end from mid-wicket, while Rahim was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal off paceman Umar Gul.

Left-handed Shakib and Rahim batted comfortably against Pakistan’s pace-spin combination, adding 82 runs for the sixth wicket.

Fast bowlers Gul and Aizaz Cheema each took three wickets, while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 2-64.

Former captain Shakib, 108 overnight, cracked 15 fours in a superb 242-ball knock for his highest score in any form of international cricket, while Rahim hit one six and six fours in his 102-ball innings.

Shahadat Hossain, dropped on five by Abdur Rehman at deep mid-wicket off Ajmal, remained unbeaten on 21 with the help of one six and two fours.

Pakistan went wicketless in the morning session despite taking the second new ball immediately it was available as Shakib and Rahim helped their team add 51 runs to their overnight total after a delayed start due to fog.

Rahim, five not out overnight, played some handsome shots in the morning as he slog-swept Ajmal over mid-wicket for the first six of the match and then cut left-arm spinner Rehman for a four in the next over.

Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the opening Test by an innings and 184 runs.