Absurd scenes unfold during opening day of third Test between Australia and India

An Indian star has been dragged across the coals after committing a cardinal sin in the early stages of Australia’s innings.

The opening day from Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore for the third Test was a truly absurd day of cricket.

After winning the toss and electing to bat India found themselves in all sorts of trouble as the pitch broke apart inside the opening 20 minutes.

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As the wicket started to falter, stand-in skipper Steve Smith made the early call to bring spin into the attack after a handful of overs. A move that paid instant dividends.

Matt Kuhnemann was the pick of the bowlers on the opening day for Australia who skittled the home side in only 33.2 overs for a lowly total of 109 runs.

Kuhnemann started the onslaught with the opening two wickets before finishing with a stellar 5/16 from nine overs.

The spin trio of Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy combined to take 9/74 with the final wicket coming through a nightmare runout.

Fears were high the Australian line-up would follow in similar style, after producing a disastrous collapse during the second Test.

But it wasn’t to be as the Aussies dug in following the early loss of opener Travis Head.

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne combined to put on a 96-run stand as the Aussies cruised past the Indian total.

A small flurry of wickets fell late in the day with the top order all back in the sheds with Peter Handscomb and Cameron Green holding out to end the day with the Aussies finishing at 4/156 and a lead of 47 runs.

It was Matt Kuhnemann’s day. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

9.30pm — Khawaja out for 60

Australia are in control at 16 runs ahead with seven wickets left but the first cracks are appearing as the two set batsmen have gone.

Usman Khawaja scored a brilliant 60 but has swept Ravindra Jadeja to Shubman Gill on the mid-wicket boundary.

It was a good catch from the Indian opener as he dived forward to take the grab.

But it leaves Australia in an uncomfortable position with Steve Smith having faced 15 balls, while Peter Handscomb is the new batter.

Australia are 3/125.

8.52pm — India finally strike

It’s been an hour of Australia ticking the runs off and after Ravi Jadeja made the unforgivable mistake of bowling a front-foot no ball as a spinner, he’s finally got his man.

Jadeja bowled Marnus Labuschagne for the second time but this time it’s cost him 31 runs as the Queensland connection of Khawaja and Labuschagne shared a 96-run stand.

The ball kept a bit low but the damage has been done.

Australia are one run behind India with eight wickets remaining.

7.51pm — Australia put India to the sword

Two sessions down, this has been the most extraordinary match of the series so far.

Australia rolled India for 109 in the first innings earlier in the second session.

While there were fears Australia would struggle with the disintegrating pitch, only Travis Head was dismissed for the visitors.

But Marnus Labuschagne was bowled, only for it to be called a no ball after he overstepped — the third time this series he has been cost a wicket by overstepping.

Jadeja was desperate for a wicket and burned two reviews, only for India not to send one up that would have been out.

Australia are 1/71 at tea with Usman Khawaja on 33 and Labuschagne on 16

6.45pm — Indian star slammed over ‘crisis’

Ravindra Jadeja has starred for India this series but he has made another almighty blunder — and this time it might actually matter.

Jadeja looked to have his second wicket when he bowled Marnus Labuschagne for a third ball duck — except that he’d overstepped.

The no ball gave the Aussie No. 3 another life.

Remarkably it’s the third time in this series it’s happened.

Jadeja had bowled plenty of no balls. Photo: Twitter

The reaction was swift as Jadeja was slammed.

How does a spinner bowl so many no-balls? Baffling. Unacceptable. Ridiculous. #INDvAUS#Cricket

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) March 1, 2023

I can’t recall a spinner bowling as many front foot no balls as Jadeja

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) March 1, 2023

Jadeja has already had an all-time series but that's the third wicket he's had overturned because he's bowled a no-ball #INDvAUS

— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) March 1, 2023

A some point one of those Jadeja no-balls is going to be very costly#INDvAUS

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 1, 2023

Jadeja's no-balls are becoming a crisis. #INDvAUS

— Mayank (@kmayank9) March 1, 2023

And because India had burned two reviews on Jadeja appeals, an LBW that would have been out went unchecked.

6.33pm — Head gone for 9

This wicket is going to be trouble.

Australia have already lost a first wicket with Ravindra Jadeja taking the first wicket of the Aussie innings, pushing Travis Head back in his crease.

It has Australia 1/12 and it seems unlikely this Test match will extend into three days at this breakneck speed.

6.10pm — Kuhnemann scoops a bag

Matt Kuhnemann wasn’t even in the squad for the series in India at the start but now has a Test five for.

A ball kept low to end Umesh Yadav’s quick 17 which included two sixes, as the ball kept low and caught the quick plumb.

It was a brilliant performance from Kuhnemann, who finished with the exceptional figures of 5/16.

And Australia wrapped it up for 109 in just 33.2 overs.

The final wicket fell in a bizarre mix up that saw Mohammad Siraj run out.

5.55pm — Aussies strike again

The lunch break has not slowed down the wickets as Matt Kuhnemann has his fourth, catching the edge of Ravi Ashwin’s bat.

It leaves India 8/88.

But every ball now leaves a puff of dust — anything over 100 is going to be tricky.

5.15pm — Aussie legend’s dire Test prediction

That could not have gone much better for Australia after being denied twice in the first over of the match.

Australia took five wickets in the first hour and seven in the first session as the Aussie spinners had a field day.

Matt Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon had three wickets each while Todd Murphy claimed Virat Kohli’s scalp to leave India 7/84 at lunch.

Mark Waugh was scathing about the pitch and said “the pitch is not up to Test standard” after the ball was sending puffs of dust all over the place.

“It doesn’t matter how good a batter you are, you’re going to need luck to get runs on this surface,” he said.

“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 which suit the spinners but the batters can play on it.”

But former Aussie keeper Brad Haddin said it was an attempt to hand the result to India.

Doctoring accusations have rocked the series but poor tactics have been as big an issue as the wickets in the first two Tests.

“They’ve under prepared parts of the wicket to favour India,” Haddin said.

Mark Waugh has burst Australia's bubble. Photo: Getty Images

Waugh said that if you’re a spinner and can land it remotely consistently, it’s a dream pitch.

And with how Australia have played this series, Waugh has a dire prediction if Australia can’t wrap India up quickly.

“I think 120, India will lead on the first innings if they get 120,” Waugh said.

Brendan Julian was shocked by the prediction, saying “what”.

But with how Australia have batted throughout this series and Ravi Ashwin, who has 18 wickets at an average of 12.5 in two Tests at the venue, we’ll just have to see.

4.55pm — Lyon’s got another one

Srikar Bharat has been dismissed after a great review from Australia.

Nathan Lyon is turning the ball around corners and trapped the wicketkeeper in front.

It leaves India 7/82 but you get the feeling like every run will matter here as it’s already a minefield.

4.40pm — Kohli gone for 22

Australia’s first hour dominance was blunted somewhat by Virat Kohli and Srikar Bharat but Todd Murphy has struck, leaving India in deep trouble.

Now 6/70, Kohli was trapped in front from a ball that kept somewhat low and trapped the ex-Indian skipper in front.

The pitch is playing all sorts of tricks and it’ll be equally as hard for Australia to get going on the pitch.

3.59pm — Aussie spinners tear India apart

Australia have bounced back from a first over DRS disaster to have India 5/45.

Matt Kuhnemann had his second wicket in his second over of the day after having Shubman Gill caught at slip for 21.

But then Nathan Lyon joined the party.

A short ball outside off-stump turned an absolute mile and kept low on Cheteshwar Pujara.

It’s a stunning turnaround for the Aussies but also shows how dismal the pitch is.

Earlier, the commentators said it was the equivalent of a day three wicket so this might be another one not to go the distance.

It appeared to look that way as after surviving an LBW review, Ravindra Jadeja was sent back the next ball after clubbing a catch to Kuhmemann of Lyon.

Lyon then had the fifth after Shreyas Iyer was out bowled as he chopped the ball on.

It’s 5/45 off 11.2 overs and it’s been an hour of the Test.

3.26pm — Indian skipper runs out of luck

Thankfully, Australia’s failed reviews have only cost 12 runs.

Rohit Sharma was the first batter dismissed with Matt Kuhnemann getting some big turn in his first over.

The Indian skipper charged down the wicket but missed the ball, allowing Alex Carey to get the stumping.

It leaves India 1/27 off the first six overs with Shubman Gill sitting ominously on 15 off 13 balls.

3.03pm — ‘Horrendous’: Aussie blow it already

Australia have missed a golden opportunity to get a wicket with the first ball of the third Test after a big nick was heard on the coverage.

Starc, with his first ball of the series, bowled a good length ball that swung back on Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.

The mics appeared to pick up a noise as it went past the bat.

The commentators appeared to have heard the nick and Aussie great Matthew Hayden said it would have been a “horrendous start for Australia”.

“Oh my goodness me,” Hayden said when he saw the nick.

“And you have a look at that slip corden turning around and looked at it now, and they’ll be absolutely horrified.”

Sharma should have been out twice in the first over. Photo: Twitter

But it didn’t end there, as the fourth ball from Starc cut Sharma in two, hitting his back pad.

While it negated the Aussies appeal for an edge, the replays showed it would have been out LBW.

It would have been plumb. Photo: Twitter

Cricket fans were in disbelief over the early drama as the Indian side counted their early blessings.

Unblievable scenes in Indore... Australia had Rohit Sharma out twice in the first three balls and they didn't review either!!!! #INDvAUS#Cricket

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) March 1, 2023

OMG and the LBW!! 🙄🫢 #INDvAUS

— Amanda Wellington (@amandajadew) March 1, 2023

And now lbw on replay... Rohit was gone twice in the first over but Australia didn't opt for DRS again.

Given the Aussie luck on this tour, now waiting for Rohit's hundred. #IndvAus

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 1, 2023

2.31pm — Australia lose the toss and will bowl first

India have won the toss and will bat first at Indore.

India have made two changes with KL Rahul out for Shubman Gill and Umesh Yadav in for Mohammad Shami.

Australia have also make two changes with Pat Cummins and David Warner out and Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green in.

It means Travis Head will likely move to the top of the order while Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann will all hang on to their places.