BRISBANE, Dec 16: The Indian batting lineup struggled to withstand the relentless Australian pace attack under difficult conditions, leaving them in a precarious position at 51 for four after a rain-affected day three of the third Test on Monday.
On a disrupted day, India managed to dismiss Australia for 445 in their first innings, with the hosts adding 40 runs to their overnight score. Jasprit Bumrah was once again in top form, finishing with impressive figures of 6/76.
Alex Carey contributed an entertaining 70 runs off 88 balls, while the foundation was laid by contrasting centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head on the previous day, establishing a total that seemed significantly beyond India’s reach just 14 overs into their first innings.
Aside from the determined KL Rahul (33 not out), who was prepared to hold his ground, the Indian top order seemed lacking in resolve.
Since the change in the red Kookaburra ball in 2020, which involved adding extra lacquer to a reinforced seam, facing it has become increasingly difficult due to its firmness and tendency to move off the pitch.
Given the situation, the Indian batsmen needed to adopt a patient approach, aiming to survive the first 25-30 overs when facing bowlers of the caliber of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
However, the visitors’ top-order batters fell short of meeting these expectations. Players like Virat Kohli again succumbed to deliveries in the channel just outside off-stump.
Although the conditions were undeniably tough, Indian batsmen could have taken a page from Smith’s book, who skillfully weathered challenging spells of fast bowling from Akash Deep and Bumrah en route to his long-awaited hundred.
After Australia accumulated nearly 450 runs, Starc grabbed two wickets and Hazlewood secured another, leading to an early lunch with India struggling at 22 for three.
Pat Cummins then claimed the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant in the second session, further complicating matters for the Indian team.
Upon returning to the field after lunch, Rahul and Pant faced a barrage of hostile bowling from Starc and Hazlewood until heavy rain interrupted play—one of many such breaks throughout the day.
Cummins positioned three slips and a gully for Pant, as opposed to the four slips and a gully set for Rahul when Hazlewood was bowling.
Starc had three slips and two gullies at his disposal, indicating the Australian bowlers’ dominance during that phase.
The only fielder stationed in front of the wicket at that moment was mid-off, highlighting the tight grip the Australian bowlers had on the game.
Starc’s dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal came as early as the second ball of India’s innings, followed by Shubman Gill’s wicket, while Hazlewood dismissed Kohli, leaving the visitors again staring down the barrel after their struggles in Adelaide.
Jaiswal was caught at short mid-wicket by Mitchell Marsh while attempting to clip a Starc half-volley off his pads.
Gill was sent back after Marsh took a stunning catch in the slips off Starc when the Indian number three played away from his body.
Kohli fell victim to a familiar theme, chasing a length delivery outside off and nicking it to Alex Carey. Starc played a role in Kohli’s dismissal, as after Rahul pulled a short ball from Hazlewood to long leg, Starc dived to prevent what seemed a certain boundary, inadvertently bringing Kohli back to the crease, where he was out the very next ball.
This occurred after Hazlewood bowled a full-length delivery to Kohli, who, rather than letting it go, chose to drive, resulting in an outside edge.
This marks the fourth time Kohli has fallen in this manner. Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar has already advised him to consider exploring different strategies to address his vulnerabilities against deliveries pitched on the fourth and fifth stump.
Earlier, with two slips and a gully in place, Bumrah commenced the action with a 21-over-old ball.
Carey, batting on 45 overnight, swept Ravindra Jadeja for a boundary towards fine-leg, reaching his half-century in just 53 balls.
Bumrah returned to bowl a maiden over, after which Mitchell Starc opted for a slog sweep off Jadeja for a six over square leg.
Keen known for his accurate bowling, Jadeja struggled to contain the runs, conceding five per over, which added pressure on the already tested pace attack.
The surface at the Gabba offered some turn and bounce, though Jadeja was often guilty of delivering the ball too straight to the left-handers. (PTI)
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