Boxing Day Test: Australia look to set up advantage on day two against India in Melbourne

It’s all happening!

Moments after a pitch invader temporarily stops play after trying to get close to Virat Kohil, Smith goes BANG with a pull shot that makes it all the way over the rope against Bumrah!

It’s the third maximum conceded by Bumrah this innings.

Smith’s worked his way to 92...

India need to mix it up from the member’s end of the MCG. Akash Deep has bowled poorly.

He first went too full to Cummins, who creamed one for four on the off side and then too short, with the Aussie skipper guiding one over gully for four. Doesn’t seem to be a real plan here from him, he ‘s got a fine leg and a deep square back but isn’t nailing these bouncers.

Cummins has got himself along to 34 and Smith is on 86, nearing another ton.

Bumrah is giving Pat Cummins a taste of his own medicine, turning to the short ball agains the tail.

There is a short-leg under the lid for Cummins and Bumrah has really troubled him in this little period.

Smith was beaten by Akash Deep in the last over and was clearly upset at himself. Gesturing fiercely down the wicket again. He looks switched on though.

Australia have got to 6-343.

Bumrah beat the bat of Smith three times in a row during that over, which shows the disparity between his efforts and those at the opposite end. Both Smith and Cummins are comfortable against Akash Deep.

Smith is in full flight too, with all the intricacies he brings to the game. He just said “good ball” to Bumrah after he beat him and has brought out all his twitches and movements, including the extravagant leave with bat pointed back towards the bowler.

He is in right in this battle. Australia are 6-334 and Smith is on 78.

Steve Smith laces Akash Deep through cover-point for a boundary and Australia are moving now.

That’s the story of the series for India, they just can’t plug the other end while Bumrah gets to work.

There really is back-to-back centuries up for grabs for Smith now, who has an excellent record at the MCG.

Steve Smith has survived Jasprit Bumrah’s first over of the day and moved on to 74 with an outside edge through the slips.

He has also already taken issue with someone moving above the sightscreen at the Shane Warne Stand end of the ground.

Australia are 6-327

It was an unusual move for India to not be starting the day with Jasprit Bumrah. He took three wickets yesterday, but they have gone with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep to start day two.

Bumrah has been called in to bowl the third over of the day.

The ball is still only seven overs old and Smith and Cummins have been let off the hook in the first two of the day.

They have got to 6-320, with Cummins on 16 and Smith 70.

It’s Mohammed Siraj to start us off, bowling to Steve Smith, who is on 68. Intriguingly, he will start with a deep backward-point.

Australia fell in love with teenager Sam Konstas yesterday.

Former Test quick Trent Copeland, from the same club as Konstas in Sydney, compared his hunger for runs to that of the late Phil Hughes.

And this is what it might mean for the next generation of Australia’s Test team.

They say four seasons in one day in Melbourne ...

Yesterday temperatures soared towards 40 degrees, but there has been a dramatic shift overnight, with a forecast high of around 22 today and overcast skies.

The covers were on when I arrived at the ground this morning after some post-play rain on Boxing Day.

Test players don’t tend to factor the heat into their decision-making at the toss, but with such a massive cool change, it will be a significant advantage for Australia, who are poised to bowl for most of the day.