The 25-year-old left-armer led the way as India staged a sensational comeback after an uninspiring opening day to reduce Australia to 323 for nine from an overnight 262 for two after the rain-ravaged second day of just 16 overs.

The Indians, criticised for not taking full advantage of winning the toss on a green Gabba wicket and paying the price, roared back with Zaheer leading the way.

Zaheer claimed the big wickets of skipper Steve Waugh for a duck, Adam Gilchrist (0) and Simon Katich (16) to go with Thursday's scalps of Matthew Hayden (37) and Ricky Ponting (54) to finish the day with 5-95 off 23 overs.

He has now taken 82 wickets in 27 Tests.

What a difference a day makes as Zaheer troubled the Australian batsmen on a moist, swinging wicket with immaculate line, length and movement to lead the Indians to one of their best day's cricket in Australia for decades.

Zaheer's third five-wicket haul comes after the recent retirement of veteran pace spearhead Javagal Srinath.

"There was a lot more help from the wicket today and the key was that we bowled in the right areas consistently," Zaheer said.

"Fast bowling on any wicket is all about bowling in the right areas, no matter who the batsman is, if you're bowling in the right areas he is going to consistently struggle.

"That's what I've been trying to do here. My emphasis today was hitting the seam."

Zaheer said it was a satisfying performance in frustrating playing conditions of just 16 overs of pulsating cricket.

"Considering the situation we were in yesterday, we did a fantastic job today to restrict them to 323 for nine," he said.

Zaheer said part of the credit was due to the team's Australian fast bowling coach and former Test bowler Bruce Reid, who has been co-opted to help the team on tour.

"He basically told us to concentrate on line and length and to bowl there consistently," he said.

Zaheer said there was a team strategy directed at Australian skipper Steve Waugh, who lasted just four balls before he was out in sensational circumstances.

Waugh, who is retiring from Test cricket after next month's fourth match in Sydney, played back to Zaheer and dislodged the off-bail with his heel to be given out for a duck.

He had set off for a run, but the Indian fieldsmen soon realised their great fortune when they noticed the bail had been dislodged and after the incident was replayed on the ground's giant video screens, Waugh was on his way back to the pavilion with India cock-a-hoop.

It was the first time in 254 Test innings that Waugh had been dismissed 'hit wicket', although he was out to another rare occurrence, handled the ball, against India in the third Chennai Test in March, 2001.

"For this match we definitely planned that (for Waugh) and it's all the team management's strategy and we just want to follow that during the series," Zaheer said.