AUS vs IND: 3rd Test – Determined Australia take command on Day 3
The Sydney Test was hanging in balance at the end of Day 2 but the same cannot be said at stumps on Day 3. Australia bowled superbly on a flat pitch and then batted well in the second innings as they are bossing the Test match now. India were bundled out for only 244 in the first innings as they conceded a 94-run lead and then leaked runs with the ball. The visitors also missed Ravindra Jadeja with the ball as he sustained thumb injury while batting. Australia ended Day 3 at 103/2 after 29 overs to extend their lead to 197 runs.
Here are the talking points of the day:
1. Pujara’s slowest 50
At 96/2, things were evenly balanced and one expected to cash in on the flat SCG pitch. But that wasn’t the case. Australia bowled straight into the stumps with packed leg-side fields to keep Pujara quiet. India’s number three kept blocking and blocking and pounced on any scoring opportunities which were very few. Pujara though batted well to hold India’s innings together and notched up the slowest Test fifty of his career. Eventually, he got out on the same score after facing 176 balls. He batted well but many argued if he was a little too slow.
2. India’s collapse
At lunch on Day 3, India were in a decent position. They had lost only four wickets with around 150-odd runs behind Australia in the first innings. They would’ve hoped to make merry of the batting conditions in the second session. Instead, the visitors collapsed from being 195/4 to 244 all-out thanks to a brilliant spell from Cummins and some lacklustre running from India as two of their lower-order batsmen got run-out apart from Hanuma Vihari.
3. Cummins’ exceptional bowling
The SCG pitch was completely different compared to that of MCG where the bowlers had to grind down to pick wickets. Indian pacers and Australia adopted as well. Pat Cummins stood out for them bowling consistently to the plan and most importantly stuck to it for longer periods. The result was his exceptional figures which read 21.4-10-29-4. He sent back the likes of Rahane, Gill, Pujara and Siraj. He will be threatening once again in the second innings.
