Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne scored his fifth Test century at the Gabba after the Indians put down two early chances.
Marnus Labuschagne's fifth Test century was the highlight of day one at the Gabba Test, with the match delicately poised at stumps.
The Indians were forced to name an inexperienced bowling attack for the fourth Test after a cluster of injuries hampered their squad.
But the young bowling cartel managed to create early breakthroughs in Brisbane, with Australian openers David Warner (one) and Marcus Harris (five) removed cheaply.
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Steve Smith looked on track to plunder another mammoth total, but was dismissed in bizarre circumstances after the lunch break, spooning a simple catch to mid wicket off the bowling of debutant Washington Sundar.
The hosts were suddenly in dire straits at 3/87, but Labuschagne then combined with Matthew Wade for a critical century stand.
India gifted Labuschagne two extra lives in the afternoon session, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara both putting down chances.
Regardless, the 26-year-old Queenslander reached triple figures after the tea break, bringing up the milestone with a firm back-foot punch through the covers.
Labuschagne now holds the record for most Test runs at the Gabba after three innings, bettering Sir Donald Bradman.
Momentum quickly shifted back in India's favour when Wade and Labuschagne both needlessly threw away their wicket in quick succession.
But Australian captain Tim Paine and young gun Cameron Green survived a difficult spell against the second new ball to guide the team to stumps.
Meanwhile, India's casualty ward unfortunately has a new member, with paceman Navdeep Saini leaving the field with a suspected groin strain in the early afternoon.
Australia will resume day two at 5/274, with Green on 28 and Paine on 38.
India's fielding hasn't been at its best the Gabba today, and the tourists have put down another tough chance.
Cameron Green spooned a caught and bowled chance to Shardul Thakur in the evening session, but the Kookaburra spilled onto the turf.
DROPPED! š³
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 15, 2021
Shardul Thakur snatches at the chance to dismiss Cameron Green #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/cv5iudC43z
Soon after, Indian took the new ball, desperate for a breakthrough before stumps.
Minutes after bringing up his fifth Test century, Marnus Labuschagne is making his way back to the pavilion for 108.
Looking to pull Thangarasu Natarajan through mid wicket, Labuschagne's top edge flew straight up into the air, and was comfortably taken by Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
The 26-year-old's dismissal was oddly similar to that of Matthew Wade.
The Gabba crowd gave Labuschagne a standing ovation as he departs, with Australian skipper Tim Paine the new batsman in the middle.
The standout feature of this series is the inability to seize the advantage. Both teams guilty of it. And often it has nothing to do with the quality of bowling. Just average batting… #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 15, 2021
Trying to look for some doubt to give Marnus the benefit of for that shot…
— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) January 15, 2021
Not pretty at all.. š¤¢#AUSvIND
Matthew Wade has now gone 13 consecutive Test innings with a half-century.
The 33-year-old looked on track to finally break the dry spell, but was removed by Indian debutant Thangarasu Natarajan in the evening session.
Wade looked to swat a short delivery through mid wicket, but could only manage a thick top edge.
Shardul Thakur claimed a simple catch at mid-off, and Australia is now 4/200 after 64 overs.
Matthew Wade can only shake his head as he gives up Australia's fourth wicket š #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6tWLk29shy
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 15, 2021
It's easy to sit here in the peanut gallery and throw stones at players… but still… that was idiotic from Wade.
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) January 15, 2021
Absolutely no game awareness again.#AUSvIND
Marnus Labuschagne has reached triple figures at his home ground, the fifth century of his Test career.
The Australian No. 3 has been consistent throughout the Test series against India, but hasn't converted them into big scores.
But Labuschagne overcame the heat in Brisbane to compile a classy century and save Australia after a poor start on day one.
He brought up the milestone with a firm back-foot cover drive off Mohammed Siraj.
The 26-year-old also now holds the record for most Test runs at the Gabba after three innings.
Most Test runs at the Gabba after 3 innings
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 15, 2021
339 – MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE (and counting)
326 – Don Bradman
310 – Doug Walters
300 – Brian Booth
286 – Norm O'Neill
@cricketcomau #AUSvIND
It's a fifth Test century for Marnus Labuschagne! š
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 15, 2021
The home town boy with what could be a series defining innings #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/fn1R4l582W
Labuschagne has deserved a ton this series. He's been so consistent but just couldn't get over the hump. Brilliant ton on in tough conditions out there #AUSvIND
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) January 15, 2021
Labuschagne and Matthew Wade haver combined for an unbeaten century stand, and Australia is 3/198 after 63 overs.
Marnus Labuschagne will be eyeing a fifth Test century in the evening session at the Gabba.
The Australia No. 3 and Matthew Wade have combined for an unbeaten 67-run partnership to put the Test match back in the balance.
Labuschgane is cruising at 73 not out, while Wade is on 27.
India's fielders have given Marnus Labuschagne plenty of extra chances this series, and the Australian No. 3 has once again been put down.
Left-armer Thangarasu Natarajan bowled a peach to Labuschagne from around the wicket, which caught the outside edge.
But standing at first slip, Cheteshwar Pujara spilled a tough chance low to his left, which would have been a regulation chance if he was standing half a metre forward.
Soon after, Labuschagne brought up his third half-century of the series. It was the slowest 50 of his Test career to date.
As revealed by CricViz, Labuschagne has been dropped nine times in Test cricket. Since the start of the 2019 Ashes, only Ben Stokes has been dropped more often in the game's longest format.
When that statistic was shared on Fox Cricket, format Australian batsman Mark Waugh with tongue in cheek called Stokes a "lucky bugger".
One of the ingredients of the vaccine should be Marnus Labuschagne's edge – percentage of people catching from that is less than 1%.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) January 15, 2021
Marnus Labuschagne more like Marnus Luckychagne.#AUSvIND
— Nikhil š (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 15, 2021
The Indians were cruising at the Gabba before one delivery completely shifted the game's momentum in Australia's favour.
Pace bowler Navdeep Saini fired in a short delivery at Marnus Labuschagne, who edged the ball towards the gully fielder.
But unfortunately, Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane spilled the regulation chance, gifting Labuschagne an extra life.
However, Saini was then spotted in considerable discomfort, and eventually taken off the field with a potential groin injury.
Considering the ludicrous number on injuries the Indian squad has sustained this series, Saini's exit just rubbed salt into the wounds.
The only silver lining for India is they have five bowlers in their starting XI.
Australia is 3/97 in the 38th over, with Labuschagne on 40 not out.
Labuschagne dropped! Yet another this series, will this chance come back to haunt India? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JF0LfN3YnC
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 15, 2021
In terms if action and context, more happened in that one Saini delivery to Labuschagne than in some whole Big Bash games #AUSvIND
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) January 15, 2021
Indian debutant Washington Sundar has claimed the priceless scalp of Steve Smith for his maiden Test wicket.
Sundar found himself in India's starting XI for the Gabba Test after Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin both sustained injuries in Sydney.
And after starting day one with three maidens, the 21-year-old has snared a critical breakthrough.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne had combined for a 70-run partnership before Sundar broke through.
The Australian No. 4 chipped a delivery straight to the mid wicket fielder, leaving the hosts in dire straits at 3/87.
Matthew Wade is the new batsman at the crease.
Can you believe it, Smith chips it straight to Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar has his first Test wicket! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1XEEBpLrRB
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 15, 2021
Smart field placing by Rahane, another excellent catch by Rohit and Sundar has Smith as his first Test victim. Big blow for the Aussies losing their mainstay. Trend of play has swung Indiaās way again. Pressure piling up on the batsmen
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 15, 2021
Usual suspects Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have combined for a 50-run partnership to resurrect Australia's innings, achieving the feat in 116 deliveries.
50 partnership up between Smith and Labuschagne, their 8th 50+ effort in 13 innings together š¤ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OFRKxhw0ZR
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 15, 2021
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have survived until the lunch break with Australia 2/65 at the Gabba.
Labuschagne has been watchful and patient, while Smith looks impenetrable at the other end.
Australia's run rate so far is 2.5rpo. Only three times in the last 10 years have they scored slower in the first session of a home Test. #AUSvIND
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 15, 2021
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