Boxing Day Test: Jasprit Bumrah masterclass puts India on top as Australia’s middle order collapses

Mohammed Siraj gets his first wicket of the Boxing Day Test and Usman Khawaja departs for 21.

A delightful full and straight delivery beats the bat and cannons into off-stump, with Siraj shushing the MCG crowd in celebration.

It’s a huge wicket for the Indian quick, who was stripped of the new ball by captain Rohit Sharma, who instead turned to Akash Deep to partner Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia are 2-43, leading by 148 runs.

It hasn’t been easy out in the middle for Marnus Labuschagne.

The Aussie No.3 has endured a bruising 28-ball stint at the crease for his 10 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah has gone largely unrewarded for a blistering spell, aside from the scalp of debutant Sam Konstas (8).

India reviewed a not-out decision after Bumrah beat the bat and the ball hit Labuschagne’s pads but the review showed it just clipping the stumps.

It was deemed umpire’s call - and Marnus survives.

Mitch Starc has shrugged off injury concerns as he prepares for the “hard work” of trying to bowl out India a second time in the Boxing Day Test.

The Australian paceman needed physio attention during day three, but did not leave the field as Indian allrounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sundar Washington fought back superbly.

Starc bowled 25 overs and went without a wicket as India posted 369 in reply to Australia’s first innings of 474.

The left armer was terse when quizzed before play on day four about his fitness.

“All good ... my pace didn’t drop. I’m ready to go today,” he told SEN.

- AAP

There was a growing feeling here this morning that the two teams taking 10 wickets each across six sessions was going to be difficult.

But the first 90 minutes of play have actually shown there’s a bit of nibble left in it.

Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep could plenty of sideways movement off the seam with the new ball as Channel 7 analyst Trent Copeland explains here:

Scott Boland said in his post-play press conference last night he was hopeful there was still a bit of “nip” in it, and that seams to be the case.

Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja were both beaten on the outside by balls doing heaps off the seam in the early overs.

There is mounting pressure on Mitch Marsh to hold his place in the Australian team ahead of the series-deciding Test match in Sydney next week.

The West Australian fan favourite has not reached double figures with the bat since the first Test of the summer in Perth and looked benign with the ball again on Saturday.

Jackson Barrett looks at how the final two days of the Boxing Day Test could shape the all-rounder’s future in the format.

Jasprit Bumrah strikes with a peach and the exciting Sam Konstas has got to go for just eight runs.

After a show-stopping opening knock of 60 in the first innings, Bumrah beats the bat and the ball bulldozes stumps.

The Indian superstar was pumped, hyping up the crowd after knocking over the 19-year-old.

He played with plenty of flair of his own but what does Test great Mitchell Johnson think of the new Aussie opener?

While he says teen sensation Sam Konstas’ first Test knock was “truly remarkable”, only time will tell whether the freedom he plays with is sustainable at the top level.

Read the full opinion piece here.

Ahead of his second Test innings, of which the first was so impressive, it’s interesting to note that Sam Konstas took the strike.

Usman Khawaja and former long-standing opening partner David Warner famously rotated taking the opening ball, as did Nathan McSweeney in his three Tests.

He knew India superstar Jasprit Bumrah would be steaming in for the first delivery and said, I’ll sign for it, Ussie.

What a treat it was to watch Sam Konstas bat in the first innings - and he’s here to do it again!

The teenager made 60 off 65 balls on the morning of day one and played three mind-boggling reverse scoop shots to take Jasprit Bumrah to the boundary. They’re tough shots to defend, so Bumrah’s approach here will be fascinating.

So to will Konstas’. Instict would surely say to rein it all in a touch, but Australia do need some pretty sharp runs here.

Given they’re at 1-1 and are not going to risk losing this match in the context of the series, they probably need to pile on 350 runs AND have a bowl at India today.

A monster two sessions coming up, and Australia’s new love is right in the thick of it.

Well, it was a bizarre way to finish the innings but Ninish Kumar Reddy lofts the ball with a drive into the hands of Mitchell Starc at long off.

Nathan Lyon gets his third wicket and India are all out for 369, trailing by 105 runs.

Australia, get ready for Sam Konstas.