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Australia v India, First Test Day 3 live coverage from Adelaide Oval: Australia clinch incredible victory

Australia have defeated India by eight wickets in less than three days at Adelaide Oval, after the visitors were dismissed for 36 – their lowest ever Test total.

Peter Lalor and Adrian McMurray
13 min read
2:49PMDecember 19, 2020.
Updated 9:25AMDecember 20, 2020
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Australia celebrate during their eight-wicket win over India at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images
Australia celebrate during their eight-wicket win over India at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Australia have won the first Test by eight wickets on a historic day at Adelaide Oval. Review how it all unfolded and listen to Peter Lalor and Gideon Haigh’s wrap of day two in the latest episode of Cricket, Et Cetera below.

Peter Lalor 7.35pm: Ruthless Australia clinch historic victory

A ruthless effort by Australia’s bowlers reduced India to a historic low and advanced the home side to a 1-nil series lead in the Border-Gavaskar trophy on Saturday.

India has been playing Test cricket for over 100 years and never faced an examination like it or produced a result so low.

Australia has played for even longer and knows from experience how extraordinary day three on a Saturday in Adelaide was.

Perhaps the only other time in recent memory to rival it was when they came from nowhere to beat England on day five of the 2006-07 Ashes.

That loss broke the English, on Saturday night India looked similarly broken.

Joe Burns brought up the win with a towering six half way through the second session that also brought up a desperately needed half century.

Joe Burns is congratulated by Steve Smith after hitting a six to make his 50 and win the match. Picture: Getty Images
Joe Burns is congratulated by Steve Smith after hitting a six to make his 50 and win the match. Picture: Getty Images

The batsman who had scored 70 in his last 10 innings had to be on his last chance when he strode to the wicket earlier in the day.

Steve Smith’s embrace of the troubled opener after the win told you everything you need to know about the side’s love of the gritty Queenslander who pulled with confidence and single-handedly outscored the Indian team’s innings.

The visitors came to the ground with a 62-run lead and nine wickets in hand and every expectation they would post a difficult total for Australia to chase.

Enter Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins who scythed through the batting line up. Hazlewood’s 5-4 and Cummins 4-21 reduced India to 36.

The side’s previous lowest score, 42, was posted at Lord’s in 1974 and its previous lowest score in these parts was 58 in Brisbane in 1947.

It was only the second time in history no batsman has ever made double figures in a Test match innings.

Cummins brought up his 150th Test wicket during on the day and Hazlewood his 200th. Only two bowlers have got there faster than Cummins.

“I thought if we could try and get them out today for around 200 and have a bit of a bat we’d stay in the game but for that to happen in the first hour, that just doesn’t happen,” Cummins told Channel 7.

India lost 9-27 in 92 deliveries on a pitch that made batting difficult, but not that difficult.

Australia added insult to injury by knocking off the 90 for victory with eight wickets in hand.

Burns (51no) put on 70 with Matthew Wade (33) and in doing so relieved the anxiety of selectors as David Warner is not likely to be fit enough to resume his place in the side by Boxing Day.

The visitors could not handle the pace, seam or precision of Cummins and Hazlewood.

To make matters worse Mohammed Shami had to retire hurt with what could be a broken arm after being struck by Cummins.

Nathan Lyon, possibly the best performed bowler in recent day night Tests, did not even get a chance to bowl.

The chaos in the Indian dressing room as wickets fell was matched by scenes off the field as cricket scrambles to navigate the effects of Sydney’s Covid crisis on cricket.

Warner and family caught a private flight to Melbourne and Sean Abbott drove to Melbourne before catching a plane to the same place.

Both were instructed by Cricket Australia to get out of NSW while they could or they could face severe quarantine restrictions and may not have been able to join the squad ahead of the Boxing Day match.

The Sixers v Strikers game due to be played tomorrow morning at Hobart has been shifted to the evening to fill the gap

Tim Paine’s brilliant 73 on the second day won the match for his side and while the skipper was delighted to win he said there was still room for improvement.

Virat Kohli admitted his dressing room was devastated by their batting effort. The Indian skipper flies home now to be at the birth of his first child and may have played his last Test match in Australia.

“Everything went to plan today,” Hazlewood told Fox Cricket. “The way ‘Patty’ started was unbelievable getting the two big wickets and I just followed suit.”

Adrian McMurray 6.55pm: Australia win by eight wickets

Burns hits Yadav for four, and on the last ball over, finds the boundary around fine leg, Bumrah’s there but he can’t hold it and takes it over the rope. That’s six, Burns gets to 51, and victory for Australia! The hosts win by eight wickets. What a way to win. What a day of Test cricket.

“It feels bloody nice … I just wanted to keep fighting hard and make people proud,” he tells Fox Cricket.

Adrian McMurray 6.48pm: Labuschagne gone

WICKET! Labuschagne caught at mid-on by Agarwal off the bowling of Ashwin. The Australian No 3 wasn’t keen on digging in, going for the spectacular but he floats this one. He’s gone for six, Smith to the middle. Australia need eight for victory.

Adrian McMurray 6.39pm: Wade departs in bizarre circumstances

WICKET! This is bizarre: Wade flicks it onto Shaw’s pads at short leg, it rolls back to Saha who throws it between his legs for a direct hit with Wade out of his crease. Wade run out on 33, Australia 1-70. They take the drinks break.

Adrian McMurray 6.33pm: Burns in a hurry

Burns is in a hurry! He belts Ashwin down the wicket for four (nice footwork), before dancing down the wicket and sending it back that way two balls later. Eight for the over.

They add another seven the next over. Burns 35* and Wade 33*. Australia 0-70, 20 runs to go.

Adrian McMurray 6.14pm: Time for spin

Time for spin: Ashwin introduced. He begins with a maiden.

Big appeal the next over from Bumrah for lbw on Burns. Not given, but Kohli reviews. Nothing to lose with Australia needing just 40 more runs. Hot spot shows there was bat involved.

One run off the next over. Burns 18*, Wade 31*. Australia 0-51. Just 39 to go.

Adrian McMurray 6.04pm: Burns and Wade go to work

Bumrah with the first over back after the break. Wade starts with a single, and finds the boundary a few balls later.

Burns too gets four the next Yadav over, and he gets another one off Bumrah around deep square leg. Lovely shot.

My word, Wade adds another two boundaries the next Yadav over, and he’s up to 29*. Burns is on 16*. Australia 0-47, needing 43 runs for victory.

Peter Lalor 5.40pm: CA’s COVID contingency plans for SCG

with Robert Craddock

Cricket Australia has sought guarantees from broadcasters they can cover the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne as emergency alternatives for the COVID-challenged Sydney Test entered discussions.

CA met with broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7 in Adelaide on Saturday and discussions will intensify on Sunday if numbers from COVID cluster on Sydney’s northern beaches continue to spiral.

Fox Sports officials confirmed that, as the host broadcaster responsible for the world feed, they were asked for – and gave – a guarantee they could deliver the Boxing Day Test against India.

Read the full story here.

Adrian McMurray 5.06pm: Australia 0-15 at the break

Wade and Burns are in the middle now: both a great chance for them to build some confidence and also the potential for more pain given what this wicket has thrown up.

Yadav up first. Wade begins with four around point, and that will settle the nerves. Bumrah begins with a maiden down the other end. Another four through the covers from Wade off the next Yadav over. Trouble for Bruns: he’s been hit by a Bumrah bouncer. But he continues. He gets checked out by the physio soon after, with some strapping around the elbow now. Yadav finishes the session with a maiden.

Australia 0-15 at the break, the hosts needing 75 runs for victory. Wade 14*, Burns 0*. A much-needed break now for us all to catch our breath!

Peter Lalor 4.50pm: India bowled for their lowest ever total

Unbelievable scenes here at the Adelaide Oval as India are bowled out for their lowest score in history.

Josh Hazlewood took 5-8. Picture: Getty Images
Josh Hazlewood took 5-8. Picture: Getty Images

Not one solitary batsman made it to double figures as the visitors were dismissed for 36.

The incredible effort by the bowlers leaves Australia’s batsmen 90 runs to win the match.

There will be serious questions asked about this pitch which has seen 30 wickets fall in less than seven sessions of cricket.

In the 102 years the side has been playing Test cricket no Indian team has never put in such a modest effort.

Their previous lowest total was 42 in 1974 at Lord’s.

The bowlers had a field day on a wicket whose bounce and deviation makes batting devilishly difficult. Josh Hazlewood’s took a career best 5-8 and Pat Cummin took 4-21.

Hazlewood’s haul rates up there with Ernie Toshak’s 5-2 against India in Brisbane in 1947-48.

Mohammed Shami had to retire hurt after being struck by Cummins and is unlikely to bowl in this innings which should make the Australian batsman’s job a little easier.

The bowler was hit on the arm and there must be some concern that it was broken.

Adrian McMurray 4.36pm: India all out for 36

Shami cops a short ball from Cummins to the forearm. Ouch. The team doctor is out there, he gets strapped up, but calls them back out … he doesn’t look right. He retires hurt. That’s a shame. India’s innings ends on 36 – their lowest ever Test score. It’s not the lowest in Test history: that honour remains with New Zealand, who scored 26 v England in Auckland in 1955. That innings is equal for the fourth lowest total in Test history though. Incredible. Australia need 90 to win. What a day so far.

4.28pm: History made

Meanwhile, at Shepley Oval …

Adrian McMurray 4.24pm: Hazlewood gets five

WICKET! Hazlewood gets his fifth, it straightens late and Vihari edges to Paine. Hazlewood has 5-3. Incredible. India’s lowest Test score is 42. They’re 9-31. They add five more to end the over 9-36.

Adrian McMurray 4.14pm: Another two for Hazlewood

WICKET! Saha flicks to Labuschagne mid-wicket, Hazlewood strikes again! Saha gone for four. The next ball … WICKET! Big shout for Ashwin caught behind by Paine, and he’s given. He reviews, and snicko shows the slightest of nicks. He’s out of there for a duck. That’s Hazlewood’s 200th Test wicket and he’s on a hat-trick! It’s all happening. Yadav blocks the hat-trick ball, edges into his pads. Hazlewood 4-3 from four overs. India are 8-26. This is insane.

Adrian McMurray 4.06pm: Cummins brings up 150 Test wickets

The Kohli wicket was Cummins’ 150th in Test cricket. He joins some elite company.

“Pretty happy out here,” Cummins tells Fox Cricket at the drinks break.

“I though the first day we bowled really well, we created a lot of half-chances … it’s one of those days, it seems like every edge is carrying, long may it continue.”

On Green holding that catch? “He’s now my favourite, I love him.”

India 6-26 at the drinks break, the lead is 79 runs.

Peter Lalor 3.50pm: Trent Bridge revisited

Game on!

Trent Bridge 2015 all over again. Maybe even the infamous Cape Town 47 revisited.

If you were planning on watching the cricket today do not waste any time, because at this rate the Indian innings will be done by drinks and the game done in the second session.

Truly extraordinary scenes as India lose five wickets in the first 35 minutes.

This pitch is a belter for bowlers and a nightmare for batsmen who are nicking off in fast succession.

This brings back memories of Australia being bowled out for 60 at Trent Bridge, possibly the time they made 47 at Cape Town in 2011.

Young Cameron Green held on to a fumbling effort to remove Virat Kohli, the ball was struck hard and low to gully. Green grasped at it as it bounced form his forearm to chest before clutching it with one hand as he rolled on the ground.

The soft signal was out, Kohli actually called for a review but accepted his fate before it was delivered after seeing replays on the big screen.

Adrian McMurray 3.42pm: Kohli falls

WICKET! Can you believe it?! Kohli is gone for 4, Cummins again. He attempts a drive and it falls to Green at gully who takes the catch. Or does he? Kohli sends it for a review for the catch. The debutant juggled it diving to the ground, the ball seemed to roll down his arm. There’s no evidence that can overturn the soft signal of out, and Kohli is done for the series. WOW. Cummins has 4-12, India are 6-19 with a lead of 72 runs. This is incredible.

Adrian McMurray 3.36pm: Hazlewood’s remarkable over

WICKET! ANOTHER ONE! Hazlewood strikes in the same over, lovely line and length from the quick and the late movement is Rahane’s undoing, another edge to Paine. Rahane gone for a duck. Wow. India 5-15 with a lead of 68 runs. Kohli is fast losing anyone to bat with.

Adrian McMurray 3.31pm: Another one falls

WICKET! Hazlewood joins in on the fun with his very first ball of the innings. Agarwal attempts the block but didn’t adjust in time, another edge to Paine. Agarwal departs for 9. Rahane joins Kohli in the middle with Saha and the bowlers to come after this for India. This partnership must deliver for the visitors. India 4-15 with a lead of 68.

Adrian McMurray 3.27pm: Pujara gone for a duck

WICKET! Oh wow, Pujara is gone for a duck. Cummins gets his man, superb delivery, he tempts Pujara and the edge carries to Paine. Huge moment for the hosts, Pujara can bat all day as we know.

India 3-15, Cummins has 3-8, and Kohli makes his way to the middle for the last time this series. Things just got interesting.

Adrian McMurray 3.11pm: Cummins strikes early

Day three begins! Starc handed the first over, Agarwal at the striker’s end. He finds four near short leg, and Bumrah will face Cummins. Eek. The nightwatchman makes two on his first ball of the day, he’s off the mark. But he doesn’t last the over … WICKET! Caught and bowled Cummins, a bit of a slower delivery, and that’s Bumrah out of the way early. India 2-15.

Peter Lalor 2.55pm: What will the pitch throw up on day three?

India is effectively 1-62, the sun is out, it should be a good day for batting, but the pitch has made the first two days of this Test anything but that.

Only six wickets fell on day one, but 15 fell yesterday as runs dried up and batsman lost their way.

It’s worth noting that Tim Paine went at twice the strike rate of the senior batsman above him and made 73no from 99 balls.

There always seems to be a ball with your name on it in this game and digging in generally proves unprofitable. Steve Smith scored 1 from 29 balls, the openers set the tone scoring just 16 runs in 14 overs before the first wicket fell.

Australia really have to get India out for a modest total if they are to chase anything down in the last innings.

They have an uphill battle but not an insurmountable one thanks to their skipper.

India’s skipper, Virat Kohli, will almost certainly want to counter punch so we are in for a great day.

Adrian McMurray 2.40pm: Test hangs in the balance

Hello and welcome to day three! What an exciting day’s play we were treated to on Friday: 15 wickets, and a superb knock from Tim Paine which kept Australia in with a fighting chance. India lost a wicket late last night, Shaw’s struggles continuing, and you’d imagine we’ll see Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease fairly early today given Jasprit Bumrah was sent in last night to see things out.

What does Virat Kohli have up his sleeve? The Indian captain will pad up for the last time this series today as well.

It’s all on the line today: we certainly won’t be going five! Play begins in 20 minutes.

Gideon Haigh 2.30pm: Captaincy duel defines Test battle

When India last toured Australia two years ago, one of the narratives was the emerging rivalry of Virat Kohli and Tim Paine, captured visually in their excuse-me in Perth, bellies rubbing, eyes looking this way and that. The sight has been a motif of this tour’s pre-publicity, attempting to reignite the air of confrontation.

Tim Paine in action on day two. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine in action on day two. Picture: Getty Images

In fact, the preliminaries for this instalment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been notable for their courtesy and mutual regard, with Kohli’s truncated tour taking a further edge off the mano e mano duel.

This Adelaide Test, however, has resurrected the rivalry in a different guise. Going run for run, the pair have looked substantially the best batsmen of the first two days: Kohli’s suave 74 run out of the first day was on Friday echoed by Paine’s industrious 73 not out.

While Paine seldom looks other than a stroke player of quality, he can hardly have batted better in a Test match, coming in at five for 79, pushing through the twilight and into a cool evening, studious in defence and decisive in attack.

Australia’s captain started the season with an unbeaten 111 for Tasmania against South Australia, only his third first-class hundred; he was within sight here of a maiden Test century when the Australian innings, otherwise listless throughout, finally expired.

Read the full story here.

Peter Lalor 2.00pm: Day two review: Paine keeps his cool in a crisis

Tim Paine has countered Virat Kohli and played an innings to keep his team in the game as all those around him lost their wickets and their way.

The skipper came to the crease in the afternoon with Australia 5-73 and apparently destined to concede a big first innings lead.

When Josh Hazlewood was out at 9.30pm Adelaide time Paine was 73no and the deficit 53. The home side is still behind the game, but not nearly as far behind as the events of earlier in the day suggested.

India lost Prithvi Shaw in a difficult six overs before stumps.

Paine’s innings was the skipper’s highest score since Boxing Day last summer and his best knock since returning to the side for the 2016-17 Ashes.

Virat Kohli’s 74 on the first day had shaped as the defining innings of the match, but Paine’s efforts must surely rival them.

The Tasmanian’s batting abandoned him in the lost years before his recall, but he now holds a place high in the list of Australian keeper batsman.

His average of 33.4 is now better than Brad Haddin’s 32.98 and second only to Adam Gilchrist’s 47.6.

Given he is the best wicket keeper in the country it seems bizarre that people have quibbled about his recall and questioned his place in the side.

Read more here.

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