Australia were bundled out for a mere 151 runs in 66.5 overs in their first innings against India on Friday. Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the lot with figures of 6 for just 33 runs. The visitors now have a 292-run first innings lead.
Australia were bundled out for a mere 151 runs in 66.5 overs in their first innings against India on Friday. Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the lot with figures of 6 for just 33 runs. The visitors now have a 292-run first innings lead.
There has been a lot of criticism of Virat Kohli’s captaincy in the ongoing series, especially after the second Test when he went wrong with the team combination and as well as his on-field tactics. In the third Test here at the MCG, however, the Indian skipper has been spot-on with his moves.
He took a big punt with two rookie openers that came off well in a crucial match. His declaration of the innings at 443/7 late on second day’s play was timed perfectly. On the third day of the match, he was brilliant with his field settings and bowling changes. While Kohli was impressive with his captaincy, the bowlers responded brilliantly to leave Australia reeling at 145 for seven in 63 overs by tea.
Having slipped to 53 for three, Australia had recovered well to reach 88 with one ball left for lunch but Jasprit Bumrah came up with a slow full-toss that Shaun Marsh (19 off 61) played too early and missed it completely to be adjudged out lbw. Indian bowlers began from where he had left before lunch, claiming three wickets while conceding 56 runs. Bumrah was at it again, castling Travis Head with another ripper -- the ball swinging in late and crashing into the woodwork off Head’s inside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja added Mitchell Marsh’s wicket to go with Usman Khawaja’s scalp in the first session. Mitchell played all over the one that Jadeja fired into him and only managed an inside nick to Ajinkya Rahane at slip. Skipper Tim Paine and Pat Cummins tried to bring some sanity playing out 104 balls but Mohammad Shami ended their resistance. Cummins was beaten all ends up as the ball clipped the top of the off. Paine and Starc saw off the session without any loss but India are smelling blood here.
Earlier, Australia began well with openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch looking positive. The period, however, didn’t last too long when Ishant Sharma had a flicking Finch caught at silly mid-wicket by Mayank Agarwal. It was an excellent move by Kohli to bring the fielder there from the cover region and Agarwal pulled off a stunner, diving to left and plucking the ball just inches from the ground.
Bumrah soon got into the act, bouncing out a busy Harris whom he had struck on the helmet the previous evening. Having stationed Ishant at fine-leg, Bumrah bowled a short delivery which only rose up to Harris’ hips and the left-hander worked it to fine-leg for four. The paceman followed it up with an even shorter delivery which lifted up suddenly cramping the batman who went with the hook only to be caught by Ishant. On a pitch with unpredictable bounce, it wasn’t an ideal shot to play and Harris paid the price for his wrong shot selection.
With their tails up, India applied more pressure on the Australian batsmen by introducing Ravindra Jadeja early in the day sensing Khawaja’s discomfort against spin. And Jadeja didn’t disappoint his captain, by dismissing Khawaja who was assured against the pace. He pitched one just on the rough, got it to spin and take the inside edge of forward-pushing Khawaja. Agarwal took another good catch at short-leg making his memorable Test debut even more special.
Brief scores: India (I Innings) 443/7 declared vs Australia (I Innings; O/n: 8/0): 151 all out in 66.5 overs (Jasprit Bumrah 6-33, Ravindra Jadeja 2-45).
There has been a lot of criticism of Virat Kohli’s captaincy in the ongoing series, especially after the second Test when he went wrong with the team combination and as well as his on-field tactics. In the third Test here at the MCG, however, the Indian skipper has been spot-on with his moves.
He took a big punt with two rookie openers that came off well in a crucial match. His declaration of the innings at 443/7 late on second day’s play was timed perfectly. On the third day of the match, he was brilliant with his field settings and bowling changes. While Kohli was impressive with his captaincy, the bowlers responded brilliantly to leave Australia reeling at 145 for seven in 63 overs by tea.
Having slipped to 53 for three, Australia had recovered well to reach 88 with one ball left for lunch but Jasprit Bumrah came up with a slow full-toss that Shaun Marsh (19 off 61) played too early and missed it completely to be adjudged out lbw. Indian bowlers began from where he had left before lunch, claiming three wickets while conceding 56 runs. Bumrah was at it again, castling Travis Head with another ripper -- the ball swinging in late and crashing into the woodwork off Head’s inside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja added Mitchell Marsh’s wicket to go with Usman Khawaja’s scalp in the first session. Mitchell played all over the one that Jadeja fired into him and only managed an inside nick to Ajinkya Rahane at slip. Skipper Tim Paine and Pat Cummins tried to bring some sanity playing out 104 balls but Mohammad Shami ended their resistance. Cummins was beaten all ends up as the ball clipped the top of the off. Paine and Starc saw off the session without any loss but India are smelling blood here.
Earlier, Australia began well with openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch looking positive. The period, however, didn’t last too long when Ishant Sharma had a flicking Finch caught at silly mid-wicket by Mayank Agarwal. It was an excellent move by Kohli to bring the fielder there from the cover region and Agarwal pulled off a stunner, diving to left and plucking the ball just inches from the ground.
Bumrah soon got into the act, bouncing out a busy Harris whom he had struck on the helmet the previous evening. Having stationed Ishant at fine-leg, Bumrah bowled a short delivery which only rose up to Harris’ hips and the left-hander worked it to fine-leg for four. The paceman followed it up with an even shorter delivery which lifted up suddenly cramping the batman who went with the hook only to be caught by Ishant. On a pitch with unpredictable bounce, it wasn’t an ideal shot to play and Harris paid the price for his wrong shot selection.
With their tails up, India applied more pressure on the Australian batsmen by introducing Ravindra Jadeja early in the day sensing Khawaja’s discomfort against spin. And Jadeja didn’t disappoint his captain, by dismissing Khawaja who was assured against the pace. He pitched one just on the rough, got it to spin and take the inside edge of forward-pushing Khawaja. Agarwal took another good catch at short-leg making his memorable Test debut even more special.
Brief scores: India (I Innings) 443/7 declared vs Australia (I Innings; O/n: 8/0): 151 all out in 66.5 overs (Jasprit Bumrah 6-33, Ravindra Jadeja 2-45).