Boxing Day Test: Australia defeat India to take 2-1 lead in Border-Gavaskar Trophy epic
Australia will have 92 overs to bowl India out on the final day of the fourth Test after Jasprit Bumrah wrote himself onto the MCG honour boards with a five-wicket haul as he demolished Nathan Lyon’s stumps.
The tourists need 340 to claim a 2-1 series lead and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Lyon and Scott Boland’s 61-run final-wicket partnership was brought to a swift end on Monday.
It comes as Cricket Australia anticipated a monster day five crowd of up to 75,000, with an attendance of at least 51,206 to break the 87-year-old record for a Test match crowd in Australia.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
On the controversy...
Australian Test legend Ricky Ponting has shut down controversy over the DRS dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The young opener was sent back to the pavillion on 84 after the third umpire on review deemed the ball had hit his gloves on the way to Alex Carey.
While Snicko did not spike as the ball passed the gloves or bat, video review showed a clear deviation and it was given out.
Jaiswal tried to argue his case before he left the crease but Ponting was having none of it.
It clearly hit the glove. And I caught it at the time, Jaiswal actually started to walk,” Ponting told Seven.
“As soon as the Aussies went upstairs he started to take a couple of steps away.
Snicko hasn’t proven it to be correct, but the umpire picked up the deflection and froze it where the ball was on the end of the glove.
OUT!
Australia have got the biggest wicket of of all but it’s not without controversy.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been forced to depart for 84 with the third umpire deeming a deflection off the opener’s gloves upon review.
However, Snicko didn’t appear to show any spike as it passed Jaiswal.
Regardless, the third umpire deemed there was a clear deflection on the video review and overturned the on-field decision.
It will be a huge talking point.
Australia need just three wickets to win this Test.
Four wickets, 25 overs remaining
That’s the equation for Australia.
Victory is out of reach for India, they will be playing for a draw with an eye on Sydney.
Australia’s biggest roadblock is young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is unbeaten on 82.
At the other end is Washington Sundar (8*), who notched up a half-century in the first innings.
150 balls to go...
WICKETS FALLING EVERYWHERE!
Nathan Lyon gets in on the action, taking the wicket of first-innings centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy and India are six wickets down.
Out of nowhere, Australia have taken three quick wickets and this game has gone from feeling like a final session formality to fever pitch in a handful of overs.
Lyon gets Reddy to nick it to Steve Smith at first slip after it sneaks past Carey.
This game is well and truly alive at the MCG. Australia need four wickets.
Another one!
India lose another wicket and this final session has been brought back to life!
Scott Boland dismisses Ravindra Jadeja, the edge taken by Alex Carey with a regulation catch behind the stumps, and Australia need five wickets.
Another twist?
Just as we thought things were settling down at the MCG, an unexpected breakthrough for Australia!
Travis Head claims the wicket of Rishabh Pant, who plays an outrangerous and unneccesary shot, thanks to a terrific catch at long-on by Mitch Marsh.
It brings to an end the partnership of Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who together got India out of a real spot of bother at 3-33 before lunch to 4-121 after tea.
A big going on with the celebration from Head too.
India 4-121, Australia need six wickets to win.
Tea time!
India have made it from lunch to tea without loss.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (63*) and Rishabh Pant (28) have put together a healthy partnership of 79 runs off 169 balls.
India are 3-112, chasing 228 runs to win in the final session.
Will they attempt to go for the target? Will Australia be able to take seven wickets required for victory?
Well...
This is certainly a surprise.
Pat Cummins has brought Marnus Labuschagne on to bowl with just one over remaining before tea.
India are 3/112, needing 228 runs to win, while Australia need seven wickets.
While it’s not the first time he’s been thrown into the attack this series, it does cast further doubt over Mitch Marsh, who has only bowled three overs today.
Ouch!
Hostile bowling from Pat Cummins here.
The Australian skipper strikes Rishabh Pant on the arm with a nasty short ball as India approach triple figures.
Digging in
Yashasvi Jaiswal reaches a hard-fought half-century and the Indian fans show their appreciation for the young opener.
After wickets fell around him, Jaiswal has found his rhythm alongside Rishabh Pant as the pair also bring up a 50-run partnership.
The run rate has also jumped from 1.26 to 4 with Pant at the crease. The pair have added 53 runs from 84 deliveries.
Australia still need seven wickets to win. India need more than 250 runs.
