Boxing Day Test: Australia toil as Indian all-rounders put on mammoth partnership
India are five wickets down and trail by more than 300 runs ahead of what looms as a defining day in this Test series at the MCG.
Day two did not disappoint with a disastrous mix-up between Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) ending a 102-run partnership for the third wicket.
It kicked off a quick collapse as Scott Boland then dismissed Kohli and Akash Deep. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja got the visitors to stumps with India 5-164 in response to Australia’s 474.
Follow all the action live.
Proactive Pant
Rishabh Pant is moving the game along as he reaches 21 from 25 balls.
India are below the 300-mark, now trailing by 295 runs but there is still plenty of work to do for Pant and Ravi Jadeja (4*).
A few things to keep an eye on
India has left things to Rishabh Pant far too often already in this series and their hopes in this match are in the hands of him, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar largely. He won’t be shy and this Test could move at a decent clip this morning. It’s a series-shaping session if they get it wrong.
Will we see Mitch Marsh this morning? The West Aussie bowled three overs for 15 in the evening yesterday, only when the quicks really needed a chop-out during the partnership between Kohli and Jaiswal. He had Alex Carey standing up to the stumps and struggled to hit 120km/h. That’s all while he continues to struggle with the bat.
And there was still a bit in the deck last night. Steve Smith said he was pretty happy with how it played, but there was heaps of sideways movement for Cummins and Boland in the dramatic final hour yesterday. If the Aussies get the best of the batting conditions later today they could run away with the Test.
Did you love Konstas’ debut knock?
Craig O’Donoghue believes the 19-year-old’s amazing Test debut is the perfect reminder about how much sport needs fresh-faced teenagers to inspire and bring smiles to the faces of fans all around the world.
Weather check
There’s beautiful sunshine beating down on the MCG this morning, but it might not stay that way all day.
The weather has been typically fickle here this week and forecasts indicate it is “highly likely” to rain in the afternoon.
If it’s just this afternoon that’s affected, we should still be tracking towards a result.
Hello
And welcome to day three at the MCG!
India are 5-164, still trailing Australia by more than 300 runs after a mini collapse in the final half hour yesterday.
Scott Boland led the charge for the home side, snaring the wickets of Virat Kohli and Akash Deep after a disasterous run-out sent Yashasvi Jaiswal packing for 82.
Follow all the action in our live blog, with play scheduled to resume at 7.30am.
