Boxing Day Test: Australia look to set up advantage on day two against India in Melbourne
After a superb Steve Smith ton, Australia are looking to press home their advantage on day two against India.
Follow the latest Boxing Day Test action here!
India 0-7
Starc very nearly has a wicket in his first over - again - after slicing Jaiswal in half!
Rohit gets off the mark with a lovely push down the ground against Cummins. It’s a big afternoon for the skipper, who needs some runs to get back in form and must also lead from the front to help get his team out of a jam here.
We’re back!
It’s Rohit back opening to face a stern test from Starc and Cummins. Jaiswal is with him and would desperately love a repeat of his Perth heroics.
AUSTRALIA ALL OUT 474
The stand finally ends, and India at last are out of the field!
Bumrah gets Lyon, with the LBW review unsuccessful and Lyon’s stint ending on 13.
Bumrah finishes with 4-99, but was put to the sword in ways we haven’t seen before this series. He conceded 4 sixes and 7 fours as Australia got well on top, with Sam Konstas setting the tone and Steve Smith driving it home with his superb century.
We’ll resume in a few minutes with Starc and Cummins to take the new ball and see if they can make some early inroads, with Rohit Sharma set to return to the top of the order!
Australia 9-472
How frustrating is this now for the tourists? The partnership is now spanning 7 overs and 17 runs...
Justin Langer on Seven describes Boland as ‘one of the great block artists’ as Bay 13 goes ballistic for their hometown hero!
ANOTHER ONE OVERTURNED!
Boland survives ANOTHER LBW shout after being triggered!
This time it’s off Siraj. The Victorian continues to hang... it’s 9-465.
WICKET OVERTURNED!
Boland reviews... and he’s successful!
He’s struck on the pad by Jadeja, and the umpire puts his finger up for LBW - but the replay clearly shows an inside edge onto the pad.
He survives and then moves to 5 with an offside nudge, and the home crowd is loving every bit of this innings! It’s 9-464.
Australia 9-461
There’s no thought of an early declaration here as the Aussies make India continue to sweat.
Lyon and Boland are working the singles as the total creeps toward 500.
AND NOW SMITH GOES!
It’s an unlucky dismissal but Smith has to depart!
He charges down to Akash Deep, but only gets an edge onto his lower body. The ball trickles onto his stumps and dislodges a single bail.
It’s the end of his knock on 140, from 197 balls with 13 fours and three sixes. A massive ovation from this crowd and rightly so!
Scott Boland comes out to a nice reception from his home fans and it’s 9-455.
STARC GOES!
Jadeja strikes with the third ball of the session!
He gets one to skid on a little past the bat and it clatters into the top of off.
Starc’s gone for 15 and it’s 8-455 as Nathan Lyon comes out.
Second session starts
We’re about to get back underway, with the Aussies likely eyeing a declaration somewhere toward the end of this session - if not bowled out before.
Can Smith turn a big one into a HUGE one? He’s 52 runs away from 10,000 in Test cricket, and perhaps dreaming of what would be a fifth double-century.
Jadeja has the ball to get us underway after lunch.
