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Australia v India, Third Test Day 3 live coverage from the SCG

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are ominously unbeaten at stumps on Day 3 of the Third Test at the SCG … but for India, it’s a tale of casualty ward woes.

Peter Lalor
Australian batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne walk from the ground at stumps on Day 3 of the Third Test against India at the SCG. Picture: Getty Images
Australian batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne walk from the ground at stumps on Day 3 of the Third Test against India at the SCG. Picture: Getty Images
12 min read
5:48AMJanuary 09, 2021.
Updated 6:49AMJanuary 10, 2021

Welcome to live coverage of Day 3 of the Third Test between Australia and India at the SCG. Australia are 2-103 at stumps, leading India by 197 runs with 8 wickets in hand.

This Test is Australia’s to lose.

India has two in the casualty ward and faces a massive task to get back into this Test.

Rishabh Pant and Ravi Jadeja both failed to take the field for the third innings after a brutal examination from Australia’s quicks.

Australia’s highest scorers in the first innings, Steve Smith (29 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 not out) are in the middle.

A lot happened in the day and while India have injury concerns, Tim Paine could be in hot water for an audible obscenity while discussing DRS with the umpires.

Paine has grown increasingly frustrated with what he sees as the system’s inconsistencies.

India were left with a 94-run deficit on the first innings thanks to three run outs and some precise, hostile work from the seamers.

India were well enough placed in the morning but lost 6-64 when the new ball was taken after lunch.

Pat Cummins was brilliant. He took 4-29 from 21.4 overs, but it was a full-court press (as they say in other fields).

Cheteshwar Pujara is renowned for scoring slowly but his 174-ball 50 on day three is the slowest of his career.

Josh Hazlewood set the tone for the day when he pulled off a diving save then threw down the stumps to run out Hanuma Vihari who’d been bogged down with Pujara and scored 4 from 38 deliveries.

The run of run outs continued after lunch. Hazlewood completed a blinder to end Vihari’s innings, Cummins effort to get rid of Ravichandran Ashwin after it was solid, but Labuschagne’s direct hit to send Jasprit Bumrah on his way was all class.

In between times Cummins hurt keeper Rishabh Pant with a blow to the forearm.

The batsman, who had been progressing at a good rate, lost confidence and looked decidedly uncomfortable after that.

Hazlewood swooped and got the wicket.

Late in the in the session Jadeja sought treatment after Starc struck his thumb.

Starc’s five balls to Navdeep Saini were all fast, short and frightening.

The batsman backed away from the fifth and managed only a feeble bunt to the close fielder.

Starc was after revenge following a short spell from Saini the night before.

His wife Alyssa Healy confirmed as much on Twitter.

Trent Copeland tweeted that it was “always coming” after the spell the evening before, Healy replied “fairly sure it was the Beamer that tipped him over the edge”.

Pant was replaced by Wriddhiman Saha who is a better keeper. Pant was seen leaving the ground with his arm in a sling. Jadeja followed soon after.

Read below to recap how the day played out.

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Daniel Sankey 6.02pm: STUMPS — Australia lead by 197

Marnus Labuschagne (47 not out from 69 deliveries) and Steve Smith (29 not out from 63 deliveries) have done a brilliant job for Australia, taking the hosts to 2-103 at stumps and a lead of 197 runs.

The Aussies will be looking to turn the screws on India on Day 4, with their pacemen in fine form and Nathan Lyon no doubt looking forward to bowling on a wearing pitch late tomorrow.

Daniel Sankey 5.46pm: Labuschagne, Smith fight back

Brought together with less than 10 overs bowled in Australia’s second innings, Marnus Labuschagne (41 not out) and Steve Smith (28 not out) have shared in an unbeaten partnership of 61 to put the hosts right on top.

After 26 overs, Australia are 2-96, leading India by 190 runs late on Day 3. Captain Tim Paine will be praying his star batsmen can guide his team through to stumps without the loss of another wicket, but he’s asked Nathan Lyon to pad up as a nightwatchman just in case.

Daniel Sankey 4.26pm: WICKET! Warner out LBW

David Warner will consider himself unlucky, but he has to depart on 13 (29 deliveries) after being caught LBW by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The returning Australian opener took a long stride down the wicket as he attempted to smash Ashwin through mid-wicket, but couldn’t connect. He was given out by the on-field umpire Paul Reiffel but with height an obvious point of contention — the ball hit him just below the waist as he crouched to hit the ball — Warner immediately reviewed.

Ball tracking ruled Umpire’s Call, the ball predicted to be taking the bails.

Australia slump to 2-35 in their second innings, a lead of 2-39 as Steve Smith joins Marnus Labuschagne (12 not out) in the middle.

Daniel Sankey 4.07pm: WICKET! Pucovksi caught behind

It’s an early blow for Australia, with Mohammed Siraj catching debutant Will Pucovski on the crease. The delivery catches the outside edge as Pucovski defends and substitute wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha takes a good catch.

Pucovksi departs for 10 (16 deliveries) and Australia are 1-16 in the sixth over, with David Warner 5 not out (19 deliveries) and Marnus Labuschagne the new batsman.

Peter Lalor 3.15pm: India all out for 244

Three run outs, multiple bruises and an injured Rishabh Pant — courtesy of some seriously hostile fast bowling — have given Australia the upper hand at the SCG.

India lost 6-64 after lunch and trail by 94 on the first innings.

Pat Cummins was brilliant. He took 4-29 from 21.4 overs, but it was a full-court press (as they say in other fields).

The run of run outs continued after lunch. Josh Hazlewood completed a blinder to end Hanuma Vihari’s innings; Cummins’ effort to get rid of Ravichandran Ashwin after it was solid; but Marnus Labuschagne’s direct hit to send Jasprit Bumrah on his way was all class.

In between times Cummins hurt keeper Pant with a blow to the forearm.

The batsman, who had been progressing at a good rate, lost confidence and looked decidedly uncomfortable after that.

Hazlewood swooped and got the wicket.

Wriddhiman Saha is warming up in the break which is an indication he will be brought in as substitute keeper. Pant was injured in that session and rules allow a keeper to replace a keeper. Saha is a better keeper than the one he replaces. Just saying.

Late in the in the session Ravindra Jadeja sought treatment after Mitchell Starc struck his thumb.

Starc’s five balls to Navdeep Saini were all fast, short and frightening.

The batsman backed away from the fifth and managed only a feeble bunt to the close fielder.

Starc was after revenge following a short spell from Saini the night before.

His wife Alyssa Healy confirmed as much on Twitter

Trent Copeland tweeted that it was “always coming” after the spell the evening before, Healy replied “fairly sure it was the Beamer that tipped him over the edge”.

Daniel Sankey 2.48pm: WICKET! Third run out has India on ropes

India’s coaching staff will be tearing their hair out in the dressing room, with a third run out for the day condemning them to 9-216 and a likely hefty first innings deficit.

They still trail Australia by 122 runs after Jasprit Bumrah — with his back to fielder Will Pucovski — turned for an ill-judged second run and was left well short of his ground at the nonstriker’s end.

Daniel Sankey 2.40pm: WICKET! Starc snares Saini

That’s the eighth wicket down for India, with Navdeep Saini fending Mitchell Starc off the back foot and gifting a catch to Matthew Wade at silly mid off.

Saini departs for 4 (13 deliveries) and India are 8-211.

Daniel Sankey 2.27pm: Awful running costs India another wicket

Ravichandran Ashwin will not want to go looking at replays of his run out at the hands of Cameron Green tonight.

Hesitation at the start of the run, and then a half-hearted trot up the wicket, turned what looked like an easy single into a simple dismissal for the Aussies.

Ashwin goes for 10 (15 deliveries) and at the end of the 93rd over, India slump to 7-207, still trailing Australia’s first innings total by 131 runs. Ravi Jadeja (1 not out) has been joined at the crease by Navdeep Saini.

Peter Lalor 2.11pm: India cracks under bowling pressure

Australian bowlers doing what they do so well, building pressure and taking wickets.

Josh Hazlewood gets Rishabh Pant to nick off to David Warner at first slip then Pat Cummins gets one big on Cheteshwar Pujara who gloves it to Tim Paine.

The wickets took India from 4-195 to 6-195 and bring the spinning Ravis to the wicket, Ashwin and Jadeja.

Pujara’s 174 ball 50 was his slowest in Test cricket. Probably too slow, choked the game and put pressure on his partners.

By the way, Simon Taufel said on Channel 7 that India could bring in Wriddhiman Saha as keeper if Pant does not play on.

Daniel Sankey 2.03pm: WICKET! Cummins dismisses Pujara

We have a second wicket inside two overs, with Pat Cummins removing India’s rock Cheteshwar Pujara just moments after he’d brought up his slowest-ever Test half century.

Cummins got one to rear off a length, catching the glove for a simple catch for wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

It leaves India in big trouble at 6-195, still trailing Australia’s first innings total by 143 runs. Both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are yet to get off the mark.

Daniel Sankey 1.57pm: WICKET! Hazlewood removes Pant

Man of the moment Josh Hazlewood has done it again, catching Rishabh Pant’s outside edge with a textbook off cutter for a simple catch to David Warner at first slip. It reduces India to 5-195 in the 88th over.

The wicket comes just two deliveries after Cheteshwar Pujara brought up the slowest Test 50 of his career, taking a whopping 174 deliveries to bring up the milestone.

Ravindra Jadeja is the new man at the crease and will face a fired up Hazlewood, who has 2-36 in his 20th over.

Daniel Sankey 1.20pm: New ball taken after lunch

As expected, Australia has taken the new ball at the first opportunity after the lunch break. Pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood get the first crack at India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant.

Peter Lalor 12.33pm: LUNCH — India 4-180

Hope you have time to make some sandwiches and grab a chai because this afternoon session could be critical.

The new ball is due one over after the lunch break and things might get likely.

India are 4-180 with Cheteshwar Pujara on 42no (144 deliveries) and Rishabh Pant on 29no (45 deliveries).

Indian batsman Rishabh Pant (left) and Australia’s Matthew Wade get reacquainted on Day 3 of the Third Test at the SCG. Picture: Getty Images
Indian batsman Rishabh Pant (left) and Australia’s Matthew Wade get reacquainted on Day 3 of the Third Test at the SCG. Picture: Getty Images

Australia was 4-254 having lost Matthew Wade 13 deliveries before Jasprit Bumrah got his hands on the new one.

India moved slowly in the first session having begun at 2-96.

At times it felt like Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were being strangled to death as the Australian seamers built up pressure.

Pat Cummins set the tone and has taken 2-24 from 17 overs. If you knocked on his door trick or treating you’d be lucky to walk away with a half-sucked sweet.

Pant helped move things along once Rahane and Hanuma Vihari were gone.

If Australia can get through these two India and at the tail with shine on the ball they should take a nice first innings lead.

Peter Lalor 11.45am: Hazlewood run out rivals Jadeja

Ravi Jadeja’s run out yesterday was world class and Josh Hazlewood’s today was pretty damn good too.

Jadeja is one of the best fielders in the game, but even he rates his run out of Steve Smith as his “best ever”.

It would run close if not outpoint some of Ricky Ponting’s best work.

Hazlewood’s removal of Hanuma Vihari was outstanding. He dived to his right, intercepted a ball he should not have and threw while prone to run out the Indian batsman who was on 4 from 38 balls.

He can now have an argument with Pat Cummins — who got Pujara in Adelaide two years ago on the last ball of a stinking hot day — over who owns the best run out in the quick cartel.

Daniel Sankey 11.40am: Hazlewood brilliance runs out Vihari

He took a brilliant caught and bowled on Day 2 and now Josh Hazlewood has removed Hanuma Vihari with another sensational bit of fielding, throwing down the stumps with the batsman well short of his ground.

Vihari drove Nathan Lyon to mid off and ran confidently — only to see Hazlewood dive to his right, snatch the ball in one hand and throw in the same motion, hitting the stumps directly.

“That’s freakish work from the big fella,” former Test star Mark Waugh said in commentary for Fox Cricket.

“First of all to get down to it and pick it up cleanly, then throw the ball in the one motion when you’re six inches off the ground and hit the stumps.

“That’s amazingly good work. You don’t expect a fast bowler to do that.”

India are now 4-142 in the 67th over, with Cheteshwar Pujara 34 not out and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant the new man at the crease.

Josh Hazlewood (right) celebrates after running out Hanuma Vihari as Nathan Lyon (left) runs in to congratulate him. Picture: Getty Images
Josh Hazlewood (right) celebrates after running out Hanuma Vihari as Nathan Lyon (left) runs in to congratulate him. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Sankey 10.45am: Cummins gets the breakthrough

Australian paceman Pat Cummins has the crucial early breakthrough for the hosts, bowling Ajinkya Rahane for 22 (70 deliveries).

Rahane attempted to cut a delivery that was far too close to his body and only succeeded in getting an inside edge that cannoned onto his stumps.

India are 3-118, with Cheteshwar Pujara (14 not out) joined at the crease by Hanuma Vihari.

Peter Lalor 10.30am: Brisbane set on hosting Fourth Test

Greater Brisbane might be in total lockdown, but it appears nothing will stop Friday’s Test at the Gabba.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not guarantee the Test would proceed but dismissed any chance the match would move to Sydney.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at a press conference in Brisbane this morning. Picture: Getty Images
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at a press conference in Brisbane this morning. Picture: Getty Images

“No, as I said yesterday and the day before discussions are still happening and they are still positive,” she said.

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley and team have been in contact with Queensland health since news of the latest outbreak from the highly infectious UK variant.

Concerns India would refuse to travel to Brisbane have also abated with Cricket Australia telling partners the team’s concerns have been eased.

The squad was upset about new restrictions in Brisbane and Sydney and was refusing to go north for the fourth Test on the January 15 unless reassured conditions would not be any stricter.

Players are now confined to their hotels.

Daniel Sankey 10.03am: Play back underway at the SCG

India are 2-100, having negotiated the first over of Day 3, taking four runs from Nathan Lyon. Cheteshwar Pujara is 12 not out (56 deliveries), while captain Ajinkya Rahane is 6 not out (43 deliveries).

World no.1-ranked paceman Pat Cummins will take the pill from the other end.

Daniel Sankey 9.45am: First look at the Day 3 pitch

Ben Horne 9.25am: Hard-nosed traits won’t save Wade

There’s a fine line between fearlessness and recklessness and Matthew Wade needs to find it in a hurry.

Wade has reinvented himself over the past two years as a heavy duty tough man, sacrificing himself to solve Australia’s opening crisis in the first two Tests.

Those hard-nosed traits were on display again on Friday as the Tasmanian used short-leg fieldsman Hanuma Vihari as a human dart board.

But Vihari did not move. Ravindra Jadeja also held firm. And in the end it was Wade who blinked first.

Charging down the wicket and getting nowhere near the pitch of the ball as he squirted one skywards to mid-on, Wade threw his wicket away for 13, just three overs before the new ball was due.

The brain fade exposed 21-year-old rookie Cameron Green and wicketkeeper Tim Paine to Jasprit Bumrah in full flight, and suddenly out of nowhere, Steve Smith was left to do it all with the tail.

Test great Ricky Ponting was highly critical of a “lack of game awareness” from Wade.

Read the full story here.

Gideon Haigh 9.15am: Smith gave us a little of everything

Steve Smith played many delectable and idiosyncratic strokes at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. None had greater authority than a shot that brought no runs.

Smith had just returned from the three to fine leg with which he had reached his 27th Test century, and first in Australia for three years.

As with every shot in his locker, his celebrations are unique. Here the helmet was torn off, his hair stood on end, his mouth formed a mix of beam and grimace, and his upward whoosh of the bat almost whirled him off his feet. Arms aloft, he had eyes momentarily only for the dressing room balcony: this hundred was for them all.

Read the full story here.

Robert Craddock 9am: Why Paine must stay on as skipper

Tim Paine was made Test captain to stop Australia becoming too nasty only having to guard against them becoming too nice.

Paine noted the day before the SCG Test how “unusually tame’’ the on field vibe had been between Australia and India — but there was no suggestion he was doing cartwheels about it.

Australian captain Tim Paine celebrates the wicket of India’s Shubman Gill yesterday. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Australian captain Tim Paine celebrates the wicket of India’s Shubman Gill yesterday. Picture. Phil Hillyard

It was if he sensed there was a thin line between being subdued and submissive, which the team was in Melbourne.

Australian players this week ran a mile from engaging in talk about India refusing to play in Brisbane.

That was until Paine deliberately went the other way and introduced the narrative at his pre-Sydney press conference by claiming “I think this Test is going to be fascinating … there’s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface.’’

This Australian team has its soft spots but Paine does well to add the right subtle sauce at the right time in a half-playful sort of way.

Read the full story here.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-india-third-test-day-3-live-coverage-from-the-scg/news-story/1613601a951b67b9f8b6e15fe21d83ee