Australia v India 3rd Test: Usman Khawaja guides Aussies to 46-run lead on first day as hosts crumble
The hosts crumbled with the bat, fell to pieces with the ball and had a nightmare with DRS as Usman Khawaja stood tall. But the Aussies’ work is far from done. Recap the action from day two.
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Australia went to stumps at 4-156 and starts the second day with a 46 run lead thanks again to the application of Usman Khawaja, who defied the chaos of the Indian innings to score a solid 60.
He and Marnus Labuschagne (31) put on 96 from 198 balls for the second wicket, batting with the control and commonsense lacking in the last outing at Delhi.
RECAP ALL THE ACTION FROM BEN HORNE’S BLOG BELOW
It was impressive effort given what had happened in the first session to the home side.
Khawaja, who scored 88 in the first innings at Delhi, put away the sweep shot for much of his innings but finally succumbed to its temptations after a brilliant spell by Ravi Jadeja.
The Queensland captain’s 60 from 147 balls has again set the game up for his side.
Jadeja (4-63) took all four wickets has cast a spell of Labuschagne, dismissing him in all but one innings.
Travis Head (9) and Steve Smith (26) were the Indian’s other victims.
9:43PM JADEJA COMPLETES DRS STINKER BY BURNING LAST REVIEW
Australia is 33 runs in front and have taken another big advantage in the third Test, with India burning its final DRS review.
Ravi Jadeja has taken all three Australian wickets, but has still had a shocker by his lofty standards on day one.
The Indian spinner has burnt all three of his captain’s reviews on top of committing the cardinal sin of bowling a front foot no ball when he should have had Marnus Labuschagne bowled for a duck.
Labuschagne went on to post a near-100-run partnership with Usman Khawaja (60) in a huge turning point in the Test.
But Jadeja has added insult to injury by leaving Rohit Sharma with zero reviews and seven wickets still to get to end the innings.
All three reviews from Jadeja were terrible. Australia is 3-142 after Steve Smith smashed back-to-back boundaries.
9:36PM KHAWAJA FALLS TO RUSH OF BLOOD AS BIG HALF AN HOUR AWAITS
Usman Khawaja was finally fallen for 60 off 147 balls, after playing perhaps the first rash shot of his innings to be caught in the deep off Ravi Jadeja.
Khawaja was superb and more than doubled India’s total (109) on a treacherous pitch for batting.
But his wicket has opened up a challenging last 45 minutes of play on day one for Australia’s batsmen to navigate.
Australia is 17 runs in front at 3-126 but must make sure they don’t lose wickets in clumps.
Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb are at the crease and there is still plenty of work to go for Australia to ram home their ascendancy.
Given they have to bat last on this pitch, they need to secure a strong advantage.
8:55PM KHAWAJA MAKES ‘REMARKABLE’ 50 BUT LABUSCHAGNE FALLS
Usman Khawaja has made one of the finest half centuries of his Test career to guide Australia to a first-innings lead on day one of the third Test ... but Marnus Labuschagne has finally departed.
Australia was just one run from parity when Labuschagne was bowled by Ravi Jadeja for 31 off 91 balls - but that was 31 runs more than he should have made had Jadeja not overstepped for a front-foot no-ball when bowling him for a duck at the start of the innings.
Jadeja’s ill-discipline has cost India dearly, with Labuschagne combining with Khawaja for a near 100-run partnership.
But ultimately he got his man with a brilliant arm-ball.
Still, Australia is in a very strong position on a deck of death.
Left-handed opener Khawaja had a reputation for not being able to play spin early in his career.
But his career renaissance over recent years surely ranks as one of the finest by an Australian batsman.
Veteran commentator Jim Maxwell said it would take a “remarkable” effort for any batsman to make a half century on this rank turner in Indore which saw India bowled out for 109.
But Khawaja gritted his teeth and made 50 off 102 balls to showcase his fearlessness as a cricketer.
Australia passed India’s score for the loss of just two wickets - Travis Head fell early.
Khawaja should be headed for the top five on Australia’s next cricket contract list.
He plays only one format, but along with Labuschagne he has shown himself to be the anchor of Australia’s Test team.
Labuschagne has had huge slices of luck and could have been out three times already - but he is a player who seems to make his own luck with his hustle and positivity and insatiable hunger for runs.
Australia has made short work of India’s total of 109 and are in the box seat to bludgeon the hosts out of the contest.
If Australia does win this Test, they will have booked their place in the World Test Championship Final.
7:44PM AUSTRALIA WAY ON TOP AT TEA
Australia is in command of the third Test at tea, with the visitors 1-71 and closing in on a vital first innings lead.
India made just 109 after winning the toss and batting first, with Matthew Kuhnemann the chief destroyer for Australia, taking a maiden five-wicket haul.
Travis Head was dismissed early and Marnus Labuschagne should also have been out bowled - but an inexplicable front foot no ball gave Labuschagne a life and proved a major turning point in the Test.
Instead of reeling at 2-14, Labuschagne (16 not out) has gone onto build a superb partnership with Usman Khawaja who is 32 not out at tea, with the partnership worth 59.
Jadeja has had a shocker, also burning two reviews and preventing captain Rohit Sharma for reviewing an lbw shout from Ravi Ashwin to Labuschagne that would have been out.
Australia trails by just 38 runs after two of their best sessions for the series.
7:17PM JADEJA HAS HORROR PERIOD FOR INDIA AS AUSTRALIA TAKE CONTROL
Ravindra Jadeja might be the single biggest nemesis for Australia in Test cricket over the past decade, but the Indian spinner has had a nightmare middle session on day one in Indore.
After blowing his dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne with a front foot no ball, Jadeja has also made a meal of two reviews.
Jadeja urged his captain to go upstairs twice for balls that were missing everything, and India has already played a dear price.
Because of Jadeja’s rash use of DRS, captain Rohit Sharma had no confidence to risk burning a third and final review when Ravichandran Ashwin appealed that he’d got Labuschagne lbw for 8.
Unfortunately for India, replays showed Labuschagne would have been out had India reviewed.
“Another terrible review,” Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar said.
Rohit Sharma is visibly filthy.
Australia is 1-49 and well placed to take a first innings lead.
6:44PM MARNUS SAVED BY THE SIREN IN POOR MOMENT FOR JADEJA
Ravi Jadeja might have slayed Australia in the first two Tests, but he has been slaughtered by Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar for a schoolboy error which could prove costly.
Jadeja had Marnus Labuschagne out for a duck, chopping on to leave Australia in massive trouble at 2-14, only for the fire alarm to go off in the Indore stadium to announce he had committed the cardinal sin of a front foot no ball.
“That is unacceptable. He’s picked up two man-of-the-match awards but this could cost India,” Gavaskar said on Fox Cricket.
It’s extraordinary the number of Jadeja no balls there are given he is an off-spinner with a short run-up.
In the first Test he should have had Steve Smith out only for the dismissal to be overturned for the same offence.
6:36PM TRAVIS HEAD GONE EARLY AS PRESSURE BEGINS
Australian star Travis Head has become the first victim in the Australian chase, trapped lbw by Ravi Jadeja to leave the visitors 1-12.
In another example of mystifying umpiring, Joel Wilson gave the plum lbw not out on field, forcing India to review.
Wilson also had a shocker in the Australian innings, missing two Rohit Sharma dismissals in the first over of the Test.
Australia is chasing just 109, but Mark Waugh believes the surface in Indore is so diabolical they may struggle to get a lead.
6:20: INDIA SKITTLED FOR 109 AS TEST LOOMS FOR AUSTRALIA
India has been bowled out for 109, with a calamitous run-out finishing the rout.
Mohammed Siraj was out in embarrassing circumstances to end the innings, but the damage had already been done.
After putting on 27 for the first wicket, India completely disintegrated, although the concern remains how Australia will respond on a wicket described by Mark Waugh as “not up to Test standard.”
It’s a hellish pitch, turning square from day one of the Test - and India’s innings coming to a close less than halfway into session two.
Waugh on Fox Cricket believes 109 might still be enough for India to claim a first-innings lead - so bad is this surface.
“I’ve got a feeling they may still lead on first innings,” Waugh said.
Former Test great Brad Haddin predicted Australia would step up and seize the opportunity presented for them.
“I don’t agree (with Waugh), I think we’re going to see Hurricane Head at the top of the order,” Haddin said, confident Travis Head will take the bull by the horns.
6:10PM KUHNEMANN CLAIMS MAIDEN FIVE—WICKET HAUL
Matthew Kuhnemann wasn’t even part of the original Test squad and was only flown to India days out from the second Test.
But in his second match for Australia, the young Queenslander has claimed an achievement he will never forget - his first five-wicket haul.
Kuhnemann has miraculous figures of 5-16 after ripping his way through India on a helpful pitch.
The Indians are now 9-108 as Australia hunts for that final wicket.
6:00PM KUHNEMANN HUNTS FIVE—WICKET HAUL AS INDIA CRUMBLES
Unheralded Queenslander Matthew Kuhnemann has four wickets and is hunting a maiden five-wicket haul on day one of the third Test in Indore.
In chaotic scenes, India has collapsed to lose 8-61 and be 8-88 just after lunch.
Kuhnemann’s fourth wicket came courtesy of catching the outside edge of Ravi Ashwin’s bat, and safely into the gloves of Alex Carey who has been superb behind the stumps.
India’s collapse is rivalling Australia’s embarrassing capitulation in Delhi last match, although Test great Mark Waugh has savaged the quality of the Indore wicket as “Not up to Test standard.’
Waugh said on Fox Cricket that if India gets to 120, they will lead on first innings so dire is the pitch.
Australian nemesis Axar Patel - who has made big runs from No.8 in the first two Tests - is still out there and threatening to hurt the visitors again.
5:23PM TEST GREAT SLAUGHTERS INDORE PITCH AS ‘NOT UP TO TEST STANDARD’
Test great Mark Waugh has savaged the Indore pitch as ‘not being up to Test standard’ after seven wickets fell in the first session.
It’s been chaos in the third Test, with Australia’s spinners leaving India reeling at 7-84 at lunch.
However, Waugh predicted on Fox Cricket that if India can somehow make their way to 120 they will end up leading on the first innings - so diabolical is this wicket.
Waugh said the pitch was simply unacceptable.
“That was mayhem. The pitch is not up to Test standard. The ball going through the top within the first 20 minutes of the Test match. That’s not good enough,” Waugh said on Fox.
“If the ball is going through the top in the first 20 minutes of a Test match off the main part of the pitch, that’s going to show the pitch is not up to Test standard.
“That’s the main part of the pitch on middle stump. That’s just not a pitch up to Test standard. That’s not good enough. It doesn’t matter how good a player you are, you’re going to need to get luck.”
Waugh said the farcical thing about the pitch prepared in Indore is that it is so radical it doesn’t help India.
“That surface does not favour India because it’s just luck involved. India are dominant on a pitch like we saw in the first two Tests. Where it suits the spinners, but as a batsman you can play on it.”
5:03PM ‘INDIA NOT IN A GOOD PLACE’
Australia has hit back in superb fashion to start the third Test in Indore, with India 7-84 at lunch on day one.
The pitch has come under fire for turning square in the first session of the match, but Australia’s bowlers have been good enough to capitalise and India has been guilty of some loose shots.
Nathan Lyon (3-23) and Matthew Kuhnemann (3-14) have been superb, with Todd Murphy (1-12) also impressing by claiming the crucial scalp of Virat Kohli.
Australia will be flying with confidence, but at the same time wary that they will have to bat last on this deck which has been ragging.
4:55PM SEVENTH WICKET FALLS AS INDIA COLLAPSE
India is getting a taste of Australia’s pain after collapsing to 7-82 on the cusp of lunch on day one.
Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann both have three wickets each, with the third spinner Todd Murphy claiming the crucial scalp of Virat Kohli.
Steve Smith has made some inspired bowling changes as captain and after the first over DRS review disaster, has also found his rhythm with the reviews.
Smith and Lyon sent an lbw shout upstairs after it was given not out on-field, and Srikar Bharat was shown to be dead.
4.46PM MURPHY MAKES VIRAT HIS BUNNY
NSW-raised sensation Todd Murphy has a bunny ... and his name is Virat Kohli.
The Australian rookie now has Kohli three times in as many Test matches in his first series in Test cricket.
It was a crucial wicket because Kohli looked a class above the other collapsing Indian batsmen and had worked hard to get to 22.
Getting Kohli trapped lbw has left India 6-71 after a chaotic first session of the third Test on a questionable pitch.
Australia’s big challenge now is getting Axel Patel out early, given the spinner has been arguably the best batsman of the series so far.
4:00PM INDIA FIVE DOWN BY DRINKS ON DAY ONE ON HELLISH PITCH
Now it’s India’s turn to collapse, with Australia taking five wickets in the first hour of play.
In extraordinary scenes at Indore, Matthew Kuhnemann has three wickets and Nathan Lyon two with India 5-45.
The pitch is already a rank turner and as happy Australia will be with their bowling performance, it will be their turn to bat on it soon.
The five wickets have all fallen in the space of half an hour of play, and for just 17 runs.
Test greats Matthew Hayden and Ravi Shastri have both criticised the approach of the Indian batsmen, comparing their reckless shot-selection to Australia’s chaotic collapse in the second Test.
Hayden and Shastri said as poor as the pitch is, batters need to find a way to get themselves in on the pitch.
But overall, Hayden is scathing on the pitch.
“I’ve got a problem with this pitch. No way in the world a spin bowler should come on in the sixth over,” Hayden said on Fox Cricket.
“That’s massive turn. That’s the kind of turn you’d expect day three. You’ve got to give the batters a chance. “We’re judging players on their performances in Test cricket. Day one, day two should be about batting.
“It shouldn’t be keeping low, turning a mile on day one. Forget about the result, it shouldn’t be that way in Test match cricket.”
3:53PM ALARMING SCENES AS PITCH CREATES DAY ONE HAVOC IN INDORE
The microscope is on curators and the BCCI after alarming signs from the Indore pitch on day one.
Not even halfway through the first session and the ball is already turning sideways and barely bouncing in an ominous sign for how long this Test will last.
Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann both have two wickets each, with India reeling at 4-44.
Danger man Ravi Jadeja is the latest Indian back in the sheds, after Lyon had him caught sharply by Kuhnemann, just one ball after the batsman survived a DRS decision.
It would be party time for Australia except they also have to bat on this deck and they will have to bat last in the match after losing the toss.
Journalists and fans have exploded on Twitter about the quality of the pitch.
It’s been quickly pointed out that this Test was meant to be staged in Dharamsala but was moved at the last moment because that ground allegedly wasn’t Test match ready.
It’s difficult to see how it could have been worse than this.
I’ll be buggered if this game goes 3 days.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 1, 2023
This pitch is ragging and bitchin! Lyon rips one that turned and kept low through Pujara first over.
India 3-39 in 40 minutes of play.
Kuhnemann took first 2. pic.twitter.com/eCEPjsaGIU
Don't judge a pitch until you've seen both top orders collapse on it.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) March 1, 2023
I mean, how bad was Dharamshala that they moved the game to this? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) March 1, 2023
This pitch is going to be an absolute minefield to bat last on. #INDvAUS
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 1, 2023
3:36 KUHNEMANN MAKES IT TWO IN TWO OVERS, LYON STRIKES
Queensland spin rookie Matthew Kuhnemann has made it two wickets in two overs to put Australia on top early in the third Test.
Kuhnemann has dismissed both Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to leave India 2-34.
Then Nathan Lyon came into the attack licking his lips at the mega turn on offer.
Lyon continued his brilliant record over Indian wall, Cheteshwar Pujara, bowling him for 1 to leave India 3-36.
Gill edged Kuhnemann to first slip, with Steve Smith taking a superb catch.
Smith opened up about his degenerative back condition before the Test, after he was criticised for not being able to get low enough to take some key chances in the opening two Tests.
But Smith made no mistake with this one, further credit to him after an inspiring bowling change.
Kuhnemann has 2-2 from two overs.
The wicket looks absolutely dire. Lyon’s delivery had very little bounce, whereas in the previous over keeper Alex Carey wore one on the helmet from a high bouncing ball.
3:27PM KUHNEMANN GETS ‘HUGE TURN’ TO SAVE AUSTRALIA’S BLUSHES
Australian captain Steve Smith has redeemed himself after his team butchered two reviews in the first over of the Test, with an inspired bowling change bringing about a key Indian wicket.
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was brought into the attack after a morning of agony for Australia.
Mitchell Starc should have had Indian captain Rohit Sharma out twice in the very first over - including the first ball of the Test.
But it hasn’t hurt Australia as much as it could, with Kuhnemann coming into the attack and getting Rohit for 12.
India is 1-32 after Kuhnemann came on and started turning it square.
In ominous signs for the length of this Test match, Kuhnemann was extracting huge turn and got Rohit out stumped.
In his 36-ball stay at the crease, Rohit was out three times and then ultimately tried to charge Kuhnemann only to come up with thin air.
Bizarre innings from the Indian champion who has been so good this series.
“Good move by the Australian captain Steve Smith,” Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said of Smith’s decision to bring on Kuhnemann.
3:14PM AUSSIES IN HORROR START AFTER FAILING TO REVIEW FIRST BALL NICK
First-ball specialist Mitchell Starc should have struck again ... only Australia didn’t take the review.
In a horror moment to start the third Test, Australia declined to go upstairs for a big sound off the outside of Rohit Sharma’s bat on the very first delivery of the Test match, before also failing to review another shout that should have been out lbw.
As bad as Australia’s reviewing was, it was shocking umpiring.
Particularly the nick should have been an obvious decision.
Replays confirmed Steve Smith and Starc’s worst nightmare, that there was a thick edge and Rohit should have been on his way.
“Oh my goodness me. They’ll be horrified. Absolutely horrified,” Matthew Hayden said in Fox Cricket commentary.
“It was all over our ears up here. The woes continue.”
It is a massive blow for Australia after losing the toss. Rohit has been India’s best batsman this series.
Rohit immediately shot a look back to the slips cordon after nicking the ball, which should have been another indication to the umpire along with the loud noise.
Starc also trapped Rohit lbw but Smith declined not to go upstairs.
On a day when wickets could be hard to come by, it was a crushing double blow.
Starc famously got a wicket on the first ball of the last Ashes series.
2:30PM SELECTORS TO BRUSH BOLAND DESPITE CHAPPELL PLEAS
Steve Smith has lost the toss and Australia will be forced to bowl first in the third Test in Indore.
It is theoretically a massive blow to Australia’s chances, with India winning the first two Tests inside three days after losing the toss. Now they get the chance to dictate by batting first and getting the best of the conditions.
Australian cricket great and former selector Greg Chappell had pleaded for Scott Boland to play the third Test, but selectors have stuck with three spinners for the third Test in Indore.
Chappell’s argument was Australia should play to its strengths and favour fast bowling over going spin heavy, like India. But it would appear that argument has been ignored by selectors who believe in the spin triple threat of Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy.
Mitchell Starc returns for the first time in the series in place of captain Pat Cummins, who has returned to Australia for family reasons.
Cameron Green is in for David Warner and his concussion sub Matthew Renshaw, pushing Travis Head to open the batting.
Smith is the Australian captain.
India has made two changes with Shubman Gill coming in to open the batting instead of KL Rahul, and Umesh Yadav coming in as a pace replacement for Mohammad Shami.
Australia has stuck with three spinners and one specialist paceman for the third Test at Indore.
Mitchell Starc replaces Pat Cummins and Cameron Green comes in for Matthew Renshaw, who was a concussion sub for David Warner.
Steve Smith is captain.
Cummins has returned home to be with his mother who is terminally ill. Warner fractured his elbow in the second Test.
The Indore square has red and black clay wicker’s but this is being played on the latter.
Indore is hot even at this time of the year and the black clay is laid over the red soil to help it keep together for longer.
Australia is expecting the same conditions that saw India’s spinners tie them in knots in the first two Tests.
The side has been desperate to get Green in as the all rounder frees up selection.
“It certainly helps with Greeny available giving us two genuinely quick options,” Smith said. “It gives us the ability to play three if we want to, the surface looks pretty similar to the last couple of Tests. I dare say we are going to see a lot of spin bowled in the Test match. It’s certainly an option for us.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann
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