Crash’s Day 4 moments: Steve Smith’s wild day, Indian No.11’s freak moment Gabba fightback

Australia had one avenue to victory in the third Test at the Gabba – until it was slammed shut by a freak innings by the least likely saviour. Robert Craddock’s 5 big moments from Day 4 inside.

It was a day of dollies spilt, screamers snared and calves twinged – and, finally, a massive get-out-of-jail Gabba moment for the tourists.

Robert Craddock goes through the five key moments from Day 4 at the Gabba.

Steve Smith drops Rahul

HOT AND COLD

Mother cricket tossed up the ultimate sweet and sour dish for Steve Smith in the first session.

Smith, who rarely drops simple catches, shocked the small crowd when he fumbled and dropped an edge from KL Rahul he would normally have taken with his eyes closed first ball of the day. But then, in a moment of pure brilliance, he later snared the same batsman with by thrusting out his right hand as if snatching at a fly. It was his 34th catch off the off-spinner in Tests.

Jadeja pulls out his trademark celebration

THE SWORDSMAN

Shane Warne didn’t call him the Rockstar for nothing. Ravi Jadeja’s flashing wrist-work when he twirls his bat as if it is a sword is always a captivating watch. He practices it at home with a real sword and has got it down to a fine art as his signature celebration when he makes 50 or 100. This vastly underrated cricketer, who mysteriously missed the first two Tests, celebrated his half century by flashing his sword. We sense it won’t be the only time he does so this summer.

Josh Hazlewood leaves the field with a calf injury

HOFF’S OFF

The departure of Josh Hazlewood in the first session to a calf injury was a serious blow to Australia on all fronts. It meant the other bowlers had to work harder for two days in a row and faced the prospect of being severely taxed by the end of the game. If, as seems likely, Scott Boland steps up for the Boxing Day Test, Australia will have no depth issues. But one more injury to another bowler could become a genuine head-scratcher for Australia’s selectors.

Jasprit Bumrah hits Pat Cummins for six

COP THAT

Facing Pat Cummins in fading light is a daunting proposition – but someone forgot to tell Jasprit Bumrah. The two champions squared off near dusk and Bumrah had one great moment when he smacked a pivoting hook shot into the stands. The echo of the stroke reverberated around the near empty Gabba stands as if it had been shot out of a cannon.

Akash Deep hits a six after avoiding the follow on

OUT OF JAIL

Akash Deep, formerly not one to be thought of as a batting game-shaper, slashes Pat Cummins over Nathan McSweeney at gully to enable India to avoid the follow on.

Scores of Indian fans erupted and Deep punched his heart with his chest, smacking Cummins for a mighty six soon after to seal and celebrate the deal.

Originally published as Crash’s Day 4 moments: Steve Smith’s wild day, Indian No.11’s freak moment Gabba fightback