A batsman with a wealth of performances and a legend in search of runs teamed up as Australia enjoyed a perfect Sunday at the Gabba. With the series tied at 1-1, the hosts had a chance to press on despite the continued threat of rain.
Travis Head took three ducks in his first three Tests at this venue and never troubled the scorers. This time, however, he kept the data crunchers busy.
Like great batsmen Zaheer Abbas and Graham Gooch in the past, the Australian left-hander has also shown keen interest in India’s bowling. His 152 was a follow-up to Adelaide’s 140, ensuring the hosts performed well on day two of the third Test.
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Hyde found an ally in Steve Smith, who had failed to score a run in his previous 24 Test innings. Corrections were eventually made and Smith went from being abrasive at the beginning to commanding later on, scoring 101, which proved to be Australia’s fault at the end of the first innings after a combative Alex Carey and Mitch With the help of Er, the key component of an unfinished score of 405 for 7 was achieved. Starc at the crease.
Earlier, Smith and Hyde had combined when Marnus Labuschagne fell. It’s a league of contrasts. Meanwhile, Head moved into fifth gear and Smith survived an LBW appeal and a hit and miss in regulation. The pair found the post-lunch period productive, with Head enjoying some freebies when Ravindra Jadeja came on.
Smith also found his voice, displacing Akash Deep twice, while Hyde chopped and pulled Mohammad Siraj. Nitish Kumar found the batsmen too intimidating and soon Hyde reached his inevitable level. After the tea session, Hyde was at odds with Nitish on 112 but the advantage of diver Rohit Sharma at first slip proved to be tough.
Soon after, Smith hit his hundred, his belated swing at the end of the celebration reflecting his immense relief. He fell under the siege of Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit took a nice catch, but by then the pair’s fourth-wicket partnership of 241 Partnership has put Australia on a strong pedestal. With the new ball, Bumrah (5 for 72) went on the attack and scalped Mitchell Marsh and Head.
In the morning, openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney sought to extend their overnight score of 28 without conceding a single goal. But Bumrah had a contrarian idea and caught the duo’s edge. The home side made 38 for two with Labuschagne and Smith at the crease. The latter has an exaggerated trigger moment, going through the stumps more than usual at the release point.
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There was some trickery as Siraj exchanged bails and Labuschagne reversed the change. Perhaps that distracted the batsman as he reached for Nitish’s delivery and edged it towards Virat Kohli. Australia’s trio stood at 75 and needed a partnership.
The demand was immediately responded to, with Hyde beating Nitish and driving Bumrah away. Australia’s three-person lunch count rose to 104, with the total increasing over time.
Fraction
Australia – Inning 1: Usman Khawaja c Pant b Bumrah 21 (54b, 3×4), Nathan McSweeney c Kohli b Bumrah 9 (49b, 1×4), Marnus Labuschagne c Kohli b Nitish 12 (55b), Steve Smith c Rohit b Bumrah 101 (190b, 12×4), Travis Head c Pant b Bumrah 152 (160b, 18×4), Mitchell Marsh c Kohli b Bumrah 5 (16b), Alex Carey (batting) 45 (47b, 5×4, 1×6 ), Pat Cummins c Pant b Siraj 20 (33b, 1×4), Mitchell Starc (batting) 7 (7b). Extras (lb-17, nb-5, w-11): 33; Totals (seven weeks, 101 rounds): 405.
Wickets fell: 1-31 (Kharwaja, 16.1), 2-38 (McSweeney, 18.3), 3-75 (Labuschagne, 33.2), 4-316 (Smith, 82.6), 5 -326 (Marsh, 86.2), 6-327 (head, 86.5), 7-385 (Cummins, 97.5).
India Bowling: Bumrah 25-7-72-5, Siraj 22.2-4-97-1, Akash 24.4-5-78-0, Nitish 13-1-65-1, Jadeja 16-2-76-0.
