New Year's Test interrupted by incident involving spectators on day four

The New Year's Test match between Australia and India was interrupted by an "ugly" incident involving six spectators at the SCG.

The cricket came to a disturbing halt.

Impressive knocks from Steve Smith and Cameron Green have put Australia in a commanding position at the SCG, but India has refused to give up on an unlikely victory.

The tourists were well below their best in the field, spilling several catches in the morning session of day four.

Smith compiled 81 before he was trapped LBW by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a DRS review sealing his fate.

Meanwhile, middle-order batsman Matthew Wade’s form slump continued on Sunday, edging behind off debutant Navdeep Saini for just four.

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Australian captain Tim Paine then combined with Green for a 104-run stand, but was marred by an ugly incident involving six spectators in the crowd.

Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj stopped play to call attention to a group of spectators who had allegedly been hurling abuse.

Cricket Australia confirmed the patrons had been removed from the stadium, and NSW Police was investigating the incident. CA has also launched its own inquiry into the matter.

We have launched an investigation in parallel with NSW Police following a crowd incident at the SCG today. Full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/D7Qu3SenHo

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 10, 2021

The 21-year-old Green finished with his highest individual score in Test cricket, an entertaining 84 off 132 balls including four mammoth sixes.

“How selfless was he? I think he deserves a promotion to five,” Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keeffe said after the innings.

“This was an innings that just developed and accelerated in the interests of the team ... this guy is a lock for a decade. What a player Australian has unearthed.”

Cameron Green:

First 51 runs: 116 balls
Final 33 runs: 16 balls#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Oijs6NM8iO

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021

Been distracted by the awful stuff going on the stands, but a selfless end to Cameron Green's innings. He played superbly#AUSvIND

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 10, 2021

The hosts declared just before the tea break, setting an unlikely target of 407 for victory.

The largest successful run chase at the SCG in Test history is 288.

After the Indian openers survived a couple of early DRS reviews, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill combined for an impressive 71-run stand.

But pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins snared late breakthroughs, removing both openers in the evening session.

India is 2/98, and require 308 more runs for the win. Cheteshwar Pujara is nine not out while Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane is four not out.