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Australia v India cricket, Boxing Day Test Day 3 from MCG: Tim Paine out amid controversy as bats fail again

A depleted Indian attack ripped through Australia’s top order to leave the world’s number one team with a slender two-run lead and in deep trouble | WATCH

Peter Lalor, Tom Crystal and Agencies
9 min read
7:54PMDecember 28, 2020
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Tim Paine walks off the MCG after being dismissed. Picture: Michael Klein
Tim Paine walks off the MCG after being dismissed. Picture: Michael Klein

Australia vs India; Welcome to coverage of Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Australia reached stumps on 6-133 in their second innings, a lead of two runs.

India close in on stunning revival

A depleted Indian attack ripped through Australia’s top order to leave the world’s number one team with a slender two-run lead and in deep trouble after day three of the second Test, AFP reports.

At stumps in Melbourne, Australia were 6-133 ith Cameron Green on 17 and Pat Cummins 15 in their second innings as the visitors zeroed in on levelling the series after losing the first Test by eight wickets.

India are doing so with a depleted attack after Umesh Yadav pulled up in his fourth over with a calf problem, limping off the field.

It was a setback for India, who were already missing injured regulars Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, but the remaining bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja (2-25) and Jasprit Bumrah (1-34), admirably picked up the slack.

India were all out for 326 in their first innings on the stroke of lunch, adding just 49 to their overnight 277 for five in reply to Australia’s 195.

It gave them a 131-run lead, courtesy of stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s magnificent 112 and Jadeja’s 57. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each.

Australia needed some of their big names to stand tall in the run chase. Opener Matthew Wade did well with a fighting 40 off 137 balls before being trapped lbw by the spin of Jadeja.

But Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns all failed to step up. Burns lasted just 10 balls, caught by Rishabh Pant off Yadav for four to follow his first-innings duck.

Even if David Warner fails to recover from a groin strain for the next Test in Sydney, it will be hard for selectors to again justify picking Burns, with Marcus Harris among those waiting in the wings.

Labuschagne survived an lbw review on 24 but only scored four more before being caught by Rahane off a thick edge from Ravi Ashwin.

At the other end, the usually flamboyant Wade dug in but Smith again feel cheaply, bowled by Bumrah for eight with the ball just grazing his leg stump.

After Wade went, Travis Head was the last recognised batsman but he became a victim of paceman Mohammed Siraj on debut, slashing at a ball that he nicked to Mayank Agarwal.

Captain Tim Paine fell to Jadeja for one, leaving Green and Cummins to fight a rearguard action, knuckling down in a 34-run partnership to take the Test into a fourth day.

— AFP

Live blog — how day three unfolded:

Tom Crystal 6pm: Stumps

Cameron Green (17) and Pat Cummins (15) survive to the end of day three, giving Australia a lead of two runs with just four wickets in hand. It looks like day four will be the final day of this Test.

Tom Crystal 5.45pm: Green faces test of mettle

All-rounder Cameron Green, in his second Test, is being given a stern examination by Jasprit Bumrah, who is operating from around the wicket and cleverly mixing up his deliveries. Some are aimed at the body, others slide across the tall right-hander and the odd yorker is thrown in to keep the 21-year-old on his toes. Australia still trail by five runs.

Tom Crystal 5.10pm: WICKET!

The collapse is on, but not without controversy. Tim Paine is given not out after slashing at a Jadeja delivery that goes through to wicketkeeper Pant. India immediately call for a review and the video umpire judges that snicko is enough to send the skipper on his way. Hotspot showed nothing but there was a spike as the ball passed the bat. Paine doesn’t look impressed at the decision.

Tom Crystal 4.50pm: WICKET!

Tom Crystal 4.40pm: WICKET!

Another big blow, as Matthew Wade’s resistance comes to an end from the bowling of Ravi Jadeja for 40. Wade burns Australia’s final review before leaving the MCG, adding to the home side’s misery.

Tom Crystal 3.47pm: WICKET!

Disbelief from Steve Smith (8) as he loses his wicket to a leg side delivery from Jasprit Bumrah amid a few moments of confusion. It looked initially like wicketkeeper Pant had spilt a fine leg glance, but it was actually the ball grazing the leg stump. The bail on the ground was certainly a bad result for Smith, who had set off for a run, and a quick check by DRS showed he had been bowled. Trouble for Australia.

Tom Crystal 3.15pm: Home team battling at the tea break

Opener Matthew Wade has fought grimly to reach 27 off 89 balls at the end of the second session. He spent the latter part of that period in a verbal joust with lively wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Steve Smith is at the other end on six from 20 deliveries. India picked up two wickets in the session, Australia eked out 65 runs in 28 overs and trail by 66.

Peter Lalor 2.50pm: Warner offers hope of a return next Test

David Warner spied doing a fitness Test downstairs. Sprinted well. Looked a bit sore. Reckon he could play if it is one all going into third Test.

Meanwhile, Australia are now two wickets down after Marnus Labuschagne was sent packing by Ravi Ashwin for 28.

Peter Lalor 2.15pm: India a bowler short, but with help

Breaking news. Australia might just be back in this Test match. India’s Umesh Yadav has limped off the field leaving them a bowler short.

Joe Burns looked all at sea during the second innings at the MCG. Picture: AFP
Joe Burns looked all at sea during the second innings at the MCG. Picture: AFP

Fortunately they brought the all rounder Ravi Jadeja into this side so they still have four frontline options, but this wicket has got a lot easier to bat on.

It will take a big effort for Australia to haul in the 100-run deficit but if they could had 200 more on top of that you never know.

PS: You have to think Joe Burns is gone. It was sad to see him in so much trouble out there, now it is time for the selectors to do what needs to be done.

Tom Crystal 2pm: Aussie batsmen catch a break

Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne are batting intelligently, looking for quick singles and rotating the strike in the process. Wicket-taker Umesh Yadav is into his fourth over when he pulls up short after a delivery and immediately signals that he’s no good. It looks like he has a hamstring injury. Yadav limps from the field and Mohammed Siraj bowls the three balls to complete his teammate’s over.

Umesh Yadav leaves the field on day three. Picture: Getty Images
Umesh Yadav leaves the field on day three. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Crystal 1.20pm: WICKET!

The Joe Burns horror show continues, as Umesh Yadav squares him and induces a faint nick to wicketkeeper Pant for 4. Burns asks for a review but it only confirms that Yadav has produced a peach that is simply too good for the batsman. Burns survived a close lbw shout and a near run out in his brief, eventful stay at the crease.

India’s fielders go up after an edge from Joe Burns. Picture: Getty Images
India’s fielders go up after an edge from Joe Burns. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Crystal 1.05pm: Pressure on the Aussie openers

Matthew Wade takes strike as Australia’s second innings gets underway. He and Joe Burns have plenty at stake here, with David Warner looking every chance of returning at the top of the order for the third Test – wherever it takes place. Wade or Burns can secure a place alongside Warner with a ton against an attack led by the clever, probing pace of Jasprit Bumrah.

Peter Lalor 12.30pm: India all out

India’s 131-run lead is significant but it was shaping up to be a hell of a lot worse before Ravi Jadeja ran out his skipper Ajinkya Rahane (Marnus played some role too).

The wicket is settling down, Rahane and Jadeja were playing through the line with confidence in the first hour.

Sorry to note that the same Marnus also put down Ashwin during the session. The sixth catch put down by Australia in the innings. Sixth.

Peter Lalor 12.05pm: Starc on the angry pills

Mitchell Starc looked angry last night and is bowling angry this morning.

He is making life uncomfortable for India’s tail.

When he had Ravi Jadeja out caught in the deep for 57 he let the batsman know exactly how he felt. It didn’t appear that ugly but Tim Paine spent a long time with the umpires after the dismissal.

He is bowling short, sharp and brutally at Ravi Ashwin who copped one on the collar bone.

It’s hostile and not pretty, but it’s compelling to watch.

Before Rahane’s run out things were looking terrible for Australia but they’ve corrected things somewhat here.

Tom Crystal 11.45am: WICKET!

Ravi Jadeja has had his problems with the short ball over the years and Mitchell Starc profits from just that sort of delivery. He digs one into the batsman, who is backing away as he pulls it out to deep mid-wicket, where Pat Cummins takes a diving catch, complete with a juggle of the ball as he hits the turf. Jadeja is out for a crucial 57 off 159 balls. Starc has his third wicket.

Tom Crystal 11.15am: Rahane’s touch of class

A nice moment from the stand-in skipper after his dismissal, which came as batting partner Ravi Jadeja looked for the run to take him to a 15th Test half-century. Rahane seeks out Jadeja to tell him no hard feelings before leaving the MCG to a rousing, deserved ovation from an appreciative crowd.

Ajinkya Rahane salutes the crowd after being dismissed on day three. Picture: Getty Images
Ajinkya Rahane salutes the crowd after being dismissed on day three. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Crystal 11.07am: WICKET!

Out of nowhere, Australia have the breakthrough. Jadeja, on 49, pushes Nathan Lyon short on the off side and the batsmen scamper through for a quick single. Marnus Labuschagne pounces on the ball at short cover and whips a great throw to Tim Paine, who removes the bails in a flash. The square leg umpire asks for some DRS help and the Indian skipper is caught fractionally short — his bat is on the crease. Rahane’s out for a brilliant 112, from 223 balls with 12 boundaries.

Tom Crystal 10.55am: Advantage India early on day three

An interesting opening to crucial as Mitchell Starc completes the 92nd over the innings after it was interrupted by rain late on day two.

Tim Paine opts for a defensive field, with just one slip and a spread field. The ball is still relatively new, so it immediately releases the pressure valve on the Indian batsmen. Pat Cummins is bowling from the Members End.

The first few overs produce little in the way of fireworks as Rahane and Jadeja dig themselves in again.

The weather is cool but no forecast of rain, and we are looking at a top temperature of 17C.

Peter Lalor 10.30am: Reality check grips Paine’s men

Strange air at the MCG today. A sense of “what the hell happened yesterday”. The motto coming into this match was “winning after winning”.

It’s a theme that harks back from the failure to seal the deal at The Oval and win the Ashes.

Great teams string together victories. Steve Waugh’s side and Ricky Ponting’s did.

This side is not there yet.

India on the other hand was magnificent. Ajinkya Rahane with his undefeated hundred and captaincy has become a cult figure in the space of two days.

That said. Australia was in trouble in Adelaide at this point and bounced back. The lead is only 82. A few quick wickets, stranger things have happened, but this match seems to have – like five dropped catches – slipped from their grasp.

Peter Lalor 10am: Australia look to bounce back

It was a dark and stormy second day for the Australians at the MCG — the weather wasn’t great either. Nothing summed up the home side’s efforts and the change in fortunes since the first Test in Adelaide better than two dropped catches in the last session.

The first happened just before drinks. Mitchell Starc had just taken the new ball and Rahane was taking the game away from Australia when he slashed at a wide, full delivery.

It flew to the normally reliable Steve Smith, who could only manage to push it over the bar like a goalkeeper.

India's Ajinkya Rahane celebrates his century at the MCG on day two. Picture: AFP
India's Ajinkya Rahane celebrates his century at the MCG on day two. Picture: AFP

It was the fourth catch put down in the innings, but they weren’t done yet.

The fifth went down as a fierce wind picked up and blew rubbish across the ground. Starc was the unlucky bowler, again. Rahane the fortunate batsman.

The Indian popped a short ball up on the off side drawing Travis Head and Cameron Green towards the drop point. Head dived forward and clutched the ball and Green leapt over him as the same ball jarred from the fielder’s grip.

As the Australians absorbed what had happened, rain began to pelt down and the umpires led the side from the field. Paine’s men looked to have run out of ideas and to be running out of patience some time before the second new ball was taken and looked even more frustrated after that.

Gideon Haigh 9.30am: Rahane rises to the captaincy

Where Virat Kohli projects the potency and athleticism of a Novak Djokovic, Ajinkya Rahane is round-shouldered, slightly stooped, with the air of a middling bureaucrat, who would not look out of place in a railway ticket box or stamping passports. He looks much the same as when he first came to Australia nine years ago without forcing himself into the Test XI: unassuming, self-contained, quietly determined. Read more here

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