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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Daniel Gallan (later) and Angus Fontaine (earlier)

India v Australia: third Test, day two – as it happened

Ind (Geopolitical Entity) India Australia Aus Indore
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara is bowled by Australia’s Nathan Lyon in a crucial moment on day two.
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara is bowled by Australia’s Nathan Lyon in a crucial moment on day two. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

I’m going to sign off now. Thanks to everyone for sticking around. That was loads of fun. Pujara did what Pujara always does but this was Lyon’s day.

Here’s the report from Indore. Be sure to catch a peak at Geoff Lemon’s colourful feature as well.

Til next time…

Is this the catch that wins Australia the match?

Nathan, the Indian Lyon tamer.

After his brilliant contribution, one that gives India just a sniff, Pujara had this to say:

It’s a tough pitch to bat on. It’s not easy, you need to trust your defence, make sure you need to get to the pitch or if it’s short, play off the back foot.

75 may not be too many, but there’s a chance. You need to attack and defend, a mix, on this pitch. If you keep defending, one ball will bounce and hit your glove.

My aim was to be a bit more positive, try and score as many as possible. If there was a bit more of a partnership with Axar, it couldn’t helped. I’m learning a few more tricks, if there’s demand, I feel rather than playing too many dot balls, if you can take a few chances, you can get runs.

Now I’m confident whenever it’s needed, I can play those shots.

“Underprepared pitch. Bad for test match. [So many] days going to be wasted.”

You’re right, of course, Gut Chat Club [guessing that’s not your real name]. Some pretty ordinary batting around the world at the moment. But yes, this strip has made things very tough for the willow wielders. And as our good pal Krishna says:

“A silent prayer to those who bought tickets for the weekend.”

Hopefully a prayer and their money back.

STUMPS: Australia 0-0 needing 76 to win

I thought there’d be time for a couple of overs but the powers that be have decided that’s enough for the day.

Australia in a commanding position thanks to 8-64 from Nathan Lyon. He was brilliant. Just so, so brilliant. The other Aussies not bad either. Some stunning grabs from Khawaja and Smith – to remove Iyer for 26 an Pujara for 59 respectively – were pivotal moments. Some poor shot selection helped the tourists. I’m looking at you, Virat Kohli.

The track is turning and keeping low at times. So there’s no reason to completely rule out a seismic collapse and an Indian win.

Report to come as I get it.

“Australia all out for 55 (Ashwin 6 Jadja 4) will make sure that Aussies will never tour India again”

If that comes to pass, please be sure to send Krishna Moorthy a line. Of course, if it doesn’t come to pass, then you know you to chastise.

And as a palate cleanser to what’s going on Yorkshire, here’s Andy Bull in conversation with Isa Guha on an initiative that is serving the women’s game:

In perhaps more serious matters, Sean Ingle is covering the Yorkshire racism hearing where Michael Vaughan, Azeem Rafiq and Adil Rashid are among those giving evidence.

Follow it here:

India all out 162. Australia require 76 to win

Siraj loses his head and mindlessly charges down the track like one of the infected in The Last of Us. Poor cricket. I know he’s a No 11 but that was just shoddy.

Lyon has eight. EIGHT! What a player. Australia have kept the target under 100 and will be confident they can knock these off. But you never know. It’s still turning and there’s been variable bounce. Could India do it?

A short break and we’ll be back

A slip, a backward short leg, a forward short leg and a short midwicket for the No 11. Lyon with the ball.

60th over: India 163-9 (Axar 15, Siraj 0) A bit of a messy set from Starc. One is too wide outside the off stump. Another is a full toss that smashes into Axar’s thigh pad (prompting a hopeful appeal for lbw from bowler and captain). A couple of balls are well directed but Axar has his eye in. Crucially for Australia, it’s a maiden so Siraj is on strike for the start of the next over.

59th over: India 163-9 (Axar 15, Siraj 0) Walloped! Axar drops to one knee and swings hard in this slog sweep. I’m not convinced he knew where the ball was. But what do I know because that sailed over the ropes after the cleanest of hits. But the biggest cheer was for Siraj, who blocked his only delivery following a single for Patel. Lyon still feeling his calf.

There’s a break in play as Nathan Lyon is stretching his calf. He’s grimacing too but he’s ploughing on.

58th over: India 156-9 (Axar 8, Siraj 0) With just the one wicket required, Smith has brought Starc back. The plan is simple. He’s going to bowl full and straight and hopefully beat the tailenders for pace. He can’t squeeze one through the defence. Instead Axar squirts a single past point. Thst leaves Siraj with one to face and three slips lurking behind him. He’s neatly behind it with the full face of his bat.

Australia review. Smith is shrugging his shoulders. Probably not confident. It’s for a caught behind down the leg side off the bowling of Starc to the left handed Axar Patel. It’s pad, not bat, so the decision remains not-out. Weird one, that.

57th over: India 155-9 (Axar 7, Siraj 0) A double wicket maiden from Lyon has India on the ropes. Pujara was sent packing with an outrageous catch at leg slip from Smith and Yadav slogged his second ball to cow corner. Australia one away.

WICKET! Yadav c Green b Lyon 0 (India 155-9)

What is going on?! After surviving an lbw review from his first ball, Umesh Yadav has heaved an ugly slog towards cow corner. He gets a fair amount on it but picks out the five metre tall Cam Green who pouches it with bucket hands. Lyon has seven. One wicket to go.

Updated

Not-out! Yadav survives. That was turning too sharply so Yadav won’t be dismissed for a golden duck.

Nathan Lyon is on a hat-trick! But they’re reviewing for this lbw appeal that’s been given. Oh, but is it sliding down leg?

WICKET! Pujara c Smith b Lyon 59 (India 155-8)

Is that the game? Pujara glances Lyon off his pads but can’t work it past a diving Smith at leg slip who snares an extraordinary catch low to his right with one hand. He wouldn’t have seen that until it was right on him. That is not easy. It needed something special to get rid of the set Pujara and that’s exactly what that was. Special. The wicket will go to Lyon but that was all Smith. India 67 ahead with only two wickets remaining.

Updated

56th over: India 155-7 (Pujara 59, Axar 7) Nice from Murphy. A full ball bites and turns past Axar’s prodding push. But then he drops it short and is cut away for a two thanks to tidy work from the sweeper. A pair of singles to start the over helps the scoreboard tick over. India’s lead up to 67. I said anything below a target of 120 and it’s Australia’s game to lose. What do you reckon?

55th over: India 151-7 (Pujara 58, Axar 5) Just as I say a lull has come over the game Pujara springs from his crease and unfurls his body to launch a might six over wide long on. Terrific strike of the ball. That was BIG. Crucially, it was with the spin so little risk in that stroke. Something to think about for Lyon.

Updated

54th over: India 145-7 (Pujara 52, Axar 4) Another maiden from Murphy. A lull has descended on the game. Both batters are perhaps eying the close of play?

53rd over: India 145-7 (Pujara 52, Axar 4) Axar drives with a flourish down the ground to take a single off the first ball. Pujara remains unflustered and watches out five dot balls from Lyon who is lucky to get away with a half tracker off his final delivery. Pujara was content just to bunt it to square leg.

52nd over: India 144-7 (Pujara 52, Axar 3) Why has that been referred? Pujara was well in! Rather safe than sorry, I suppose. Anyway, it’s a maiden from Murphy whose primary job will be to keep things neat from one end. Any wickets would be a bonus, of course, but if he can keep Pujara away from Lyon, as he’s just done, he’ll consider that mission accomplished.

Hello. There’s a third umpire referral for a stumping down the leg side. It’s Pujara. Could be interesting.

Updated

Farhan has been in touch, heaping praise on the Aussies:

“I think it would be right to say the Australians negotiated this pitch
seemingly better than the Indians did, even though Indians seemingly did
encounter tougher conditions yesterday morning and the fact that the
Australians their last 6 wickets for 11 runs this morning.

”Overall, it would also be safe to say that Australians played better cricket so
far in this test, given how badly Indians used DRS so far in this test match.”

51st over: 144-7 (Pujara 52, Axar 3) Two from this Lyon over. Axar looks alright to Lyon from around the wicket, punching a single off the back off to take a single. But when Lyon switches to over the wicket Axar seems more jittery, poking at the ball as it begins outside his front shoulder. That'll make lbw more difficult but could bring the outside edge into play.

“Nathan Lyon is absolutely a great of the game, closing in on 500 test wickets and could yet play until 40 odd and hit 600/700 wickets, a spin equivalent to Jimmy Anderson.”

You know what, I don’t think that’s an outrageous comparison, Julian Barrell. I suppose Jimmy does more with the ball, as far as their respective disciplines are concerned. Lyon more a McGrath or Pollock type bowler. But as far as longevity and ability to keep producing, you’re bang on.

50th over: India 142-7 (Pujara 51, Axar 2) A misfield at mid-on hands Axar his second single. Pujara is watchful across the rest of the Murphy over.

49th over: India 141-7 (Pujara 51, Axar 1) Another five-for ‘Gazza’. As Mathew Hayden points out on BT comms, he’s not a mystery spinner. He’s just so consistent and it’s that consistency that gets him wickets when one does turn a little or goes on with the arm. The new man Axar picks up a single. He’s got a big job supporting Pujara. He’s a lefty so the Aussie spinners will fancy picking him off quick sticks.

He’s a great of the game. Maybe not an all-time great, but Lyon, for my money, might be the most under rated bowler in cricket. We all know he’s good, but do we know how good?

Lyon and Ashwin, alongside Jadeja, the leading spinners in world cricket over a generation, have now each dismissed each other six times.

WICKET! Ashwin lbw Lyon 16 (India 140-7)

Lyon was convinced and he was right. Three reds and the man they call Gary has his ninth five wicket haul against India. Flighted from around the wicket it pitches near middle and leg and it spins back, only just evading the edge of the bat. Ball tracker shows it would have gone on to clip leg and Australia are back in business. India effectively 52-7 as they take a drinks break.

That is a hawuuuuuge appeal! It’s an lbw shout against Ashwin and Lyon is convinced. Only question is did it pitch outside leg stump? They review.

I’d watch that.

48th over: India 140-6 (Pujara 51, Ashwin 16) Oh! Nearly. Labuschagne can’t cling on to a catch off Pujara in the covers. It’s flighted from Kuhnemann and Pujara goes forward before going back and follows the sharp turn away with his hands. He toe ends it and it loops towards Marnus who puts it down diving to his left as Pujara scampers a single. The next ball Ashwin clobbers a half tracker high and deep towards cow corner and collects four.

47th over: India 133-6 (Pujara 50, Ashwin 10) A maiden from Murphy. Pujara, deep in his crease, is playing on the front foot and in complete control.

46th over: India 133-6 (Pujara 50, Ashwin 10) One run to start the Kuhnemann over brings Pujara his 35th half century in this format to go along with 19 hundreds. Ashwin watches the remaining five balls without any problem but does miss out on a half tracker as he mistimes his pull shot, catching the ball with the toe end of his bat.

Pujara brings up his 50 (India 133-6)

Ordinarily we wouldn’t label a half century as a ‘key event’ but given the context of this low scoring game, I think it’s fair to recognise that this knock from Pujara feels more than a ton. Swift foot movement, intelligent shot selection and a stubbornness needed under pressure. This has been a knock from the toppest of top draws.

45th over: India 132-6 (Pujara 49, Ashwin 10) Murphy returns. He’s around the wicket to the right handers, looking to pitch outside the off stump and turn it back through the gate. One does spin sharply to Aswhin but it catches the glove en route to his pads. Four singles are spread across the over.

44th over: India 128-6 (Pujara 47, Ashwin 8) That’ll do from Starc and we once again have spin from both ends. Kuhnemann’s slow left armers return and he’s got one to rag square away from Ashwin who stays composed and safely sees out a maiden.

43rd over: India 128-6 (Pujara 47, Ashwin 8) Lyon continues. Pujara thought he had his half century after glancing one off his pads but a diving Murphy does really well at short fine leg to save three runs. Pujara gets a single to go along with one from Aswhin earlier on.

India getting what they deserve? Krishna Moorthy reckons so":

“You reap what you sow. India did not factor in that Aussies can spin too (They had Shane Warne FFS).”

42nd over: India 126-6 (Pujara 48, Aswhin 7) Ashwin can play, don’t you worry about that. Starc over pitches and Ashwin leans into a cover drive of the highest order. He’ll keep the strike after Carey can’t collect one sprayed down the leg. Australia won’t mind that.

Updated

41st over: India 121-6 (Pujara 46, Ashwin 3) The hosts are in real trouble and only Pujara stands in their way. Well, Pujara and the lower order, Ravichandran Ashwin among them who has scored five Test centuries, so he’s no mug. But this is a tough ask. He goes back to his first ball and almost pays the price. He then presses forward and squirms a couple through point. He’ll be on strike for the next over after chipping towards mid-on for a single.

WICKET! Bharat b Lyon 3 (India 118-6)

Down the wrong line and Bharat’s off stump has been pegged back. He presses forward and plays a meek push at the ball hoping for the turn. But Lyon’s delivery goes on with arm from round the wicket and moves past the outside edge thumps the top of off. It’s good bowling, no doubt about that, but it’s a pretty soft dismissal as far as India are concerned. That’s four for Lyon and India are effectively 30-6.

40th over: India 118-5 (Pujara 46, Bharat 3) Starc is around the wicket into Bharat and is hammering a very full length with two fielders close in the covers. Starc goes searching for the yorker but it’s wide enough for Bharat to squeeze down to deep third and get off strike.

39th over: India 117-5 (Pujara 46, Bharat 2) Two runs from this Lyon over as both batters pick up singles. It’s on a knife’s edge. Pujara the key man but Bharat does well to get off strike immediately. Australia will want to bowl to him as much as possible.

What Geoff said…

Another interesting point from monsieur Naylor. Not sure I entirely agree with this. I think they’ve gone pretty well to be honest. Murphy has had Kohli on toast and Kuhnemann has be alright, hasn’t he? They’ve looked capable enough to me. What do you reckon?

38th over: India 115-5 (Pujara 45, Bharat 1) Starc returns to the action and immediately picks up a wicket. But the credit belongs to Khawaja who reverse cupped a wonder grab at midwicket. Starc welcomes the new man, Srikar Bharat, with a yorker that is dug out. Bharat gets off the mark with a clip off his hips and Pujara keeps the strike with a nudge in the same direction. All eyes on the set batter. If India win this it’ll be down to whatever he can muster with the lower order.

WICKET! Iyer c Khawaja b Starc 26 (India 113-5)

Stunner! That is a sensational grab from a diving Khawaja at midwicket. He’s plucked it low to his left and maintained control as he rolls over. He’s not quite at full stretch, I think he misjudged it as he was in the air, but manages to adjust his hands and get them round the ball under his shoulders and just above the ground. It was a firm flick from Iyer and Khawaja needed to move swiftly. A truly brilliant piece of fielding and Iyer’s fiery counterattack comes to an end. The bowling change has worked.

Updated

37th over: India 113-4 (Pujara 44, Iyer) After the fireworks of the previous three overs this is pretty pedestrian. Just two singles – one for each batter – brings a sense of calm.

Oh, what’s this? Starc is back on. We’re getting some pace. Interesting from Smith and a smart bowling change. Just to mix things up.

36th over: India 111-4 (Pujara 43, Iyer 25) Bang! Kuhnemann has lost his radar. That’s too short again and Iyer leans back and mows it in front of square on the leg side. BANG! Another drag down three balls later is swatted over the ropes in the same direction. Iyer is on a roll. What was in that tea?

35th over: India 101-4 (Pujara 43, Iyer 15) Back to back boundaries has helped the crowd rediscover their voice. They’re both streaky off Iyer’s bat – one off the inside edge down to a very fine leg and the other off a fat outside edge to deep third – but they’re worth eight runs. Two singles means the over counts for 10 after the previous over of 11.

34th over: India 91-4 (Pujara 42, Iyer 6) Top shot. Pujara gets down the pitch and meets the ball on the full. His timing is sweet and it races to the deeo midwicket boundary. Kuhnemann over corrects and drops his next one short and Pujara uses the depth of the crease to caress a single to the sweeper on the off side.

Kuhnemann has lost his length and drags another one down. POW! Iyer jumps on it and crunches a six over cow corner to nudge India ahead by three.

33rd over: India 80-4 (Pujara 37, Iyer 0) A fumble at short midwicket allows Pujara to get a single after a shimmy down the pitch. Iyer goes back to a ball that keeps low but is saved by the monster turn. He recognises the error of his ways and makes an exaggerated press forward. A word on Lyon’s drift thanks to his seam position and the revs he gets on the ball, he’s practically swinging it through the air.

We’re back and it’s Micthell Starc with the ball in his hand. Jokes! Of course it’s not. Lyon will resume with India nine behind and needing a substantial stand. I don’t think Australia will want to chase anything more than 120.

Mr Naylor in fine form:

TEA: India 79-4 (Pujara 36, Iyer 0) India trail by 9 runs.

After two chastening defeats, Australia are on top in this third Test. That’s because their spinners, led by the evergreen Nathan Lyon, have given India a taste of their own medicine. There’s been no substantial batting partnership to speak of – no Indian pair have put on more than 27 in this Test – which is a sign that you’re never quite in on this turning track. Jadeja was beaten on the angle, Kohli played a poor shot and Sharma missed on that skidded on him. At the other end, Pujara has endured, as he so often has throughout his career.

All set up nicely. I’m off to grab a coffee. Catch you in a few.

32nd over: India 79-4 (Pujara 36, Iyer) Just a single for Pujara to start the over, pushed wide of point. Iyer, crucially, as far as India are concerned, a right hander, already looks more assured at the crease than Jadeja. He sees out the rest of the set without much fuss.

31st over: India 78-4 (Pujara 35, Iyer 0) Terrific from Lyon who seems to be getting better as he gets older. He can beat you on either edge, which he did to Jadeja in the space of three balls. The one that got him slid on with the angle and now India are 10 runs behind with only six second innings wickets left in the bank.

WICKET! Jadeja lbw Lyon 7 (India 78-4)

Three reds and Lyon has his man. An eventful over with one drifting into Jadeja’s pads and then another turning past his outside edge after pitching outside his leg stump. Lyon is toying with him. This one’s flatter and skids on with the arm before thudding on the knee roll. It looked plumb and it was.

Updated

Australia review! This one looks out.

This is a good point from Julien Barrell:

“Unless India go back to producing bat-friendly pitches, Kohli is going to finish his test career with an average under 45, which was unthinkable a few years ago.”

Surely not. I mean, how could this all time great not end up with the stats to match? But you’re right. I doubt Sir Don would have averaged more than than 40 on the bunsen burners.

30th over: India 77-3 (Pujara 34, Jadeja 7) A partnership of 23 is slowly building here with both batters settling down. Jadeja and then Pujara comfortably work a single apiece. Pujara uses the crease so well, he’s either all the way forward or all the way back. Great transference of weight. Jadeja is a little more static as he welcomes the ball towards him. Murphy gets one to turn and takes the edge but Jadeja’s soft hands means it trickles to slip.

29th over: India 75-3 (Pujara 33, Jadeja 6) Wow, that’s exploded in a puff of dust and fizzes past Jadeja’s bat. Great bowling from Lyon. But Jadeja is a serious operator and sees out the rest of the over and pinches a single past point to keep the strike.

Nevermind that earlier post on Khawaja. He’s back on the field.

28th over: India 74-3 (Pujara 33, Jadeja 5) Just the one from that Murphy over off the edge of Jadeja’s bat that required a good stop at short third.

Usman Khawaja is off the field with a calf strain. If he can’t brush that off Australia will have to find another opener. Not good news for the tourists.

27th over: India 73-3 (Pujara 33, Jadeja 4) Jadeja has a wry smile as he’s almost chipped a goober straight to cover. Lyon chucks down a half tracker and almost burgles a wicket from it. Almost an exact copy of the way he went out in the first innings. Understandably he’s more watchful for the rest of the set, punching a single to deep cover to close it out. The deficit is down to 15.

26th over: India 72-3 (Pujara 33, Jadeja 3) Big turn from Murphy who has replaced Lyon. Likely due to the left hander Jadeja and one ball takes off and spins past the outside edge and past Carey as it trickles for two byes. And then another one bites the dusty track and turns. Almost unplayable. “Vicious” is how they’ve described the turn on the BT comms. A single to a vacant square leg closes out the over.

How’s this for a stat:

25th over: India 69-3 (Pujara 33, Jadeja 2) That’s a good shot from Pujara as he leans back and hammers a pull in front of square for four. The difference between this one and the one that got Kohli is that Pujara looked to play it much straighter and therefore presented more of the blade. He leans back again to some width outside the off stump but there’s a man sweeping on the cover fence. Jadeja chips a single to long on before Pujara uses his feet and smears a boundary back past Kuhnemann with a swish of his wrists. Quality batting.

Updated

24th over: India 59-3 (Pujara 24, Jadeja 1) Lyon is back after a few overs. Five runs come from this one with Jadeja getting off the mark with a nudge off the inside of his bat towards midwicket and Pujara takes a single and three more with a cut off the back foot. Lyon might need an over or two to find his range again.

23rd over: India 54-3 (Pujara 20, Jadeja 0) A hush descends over the ground as another big wicket falls. Kuhnemann’s flighted ball at the start of the over turned and bounced and caught Kohli on the thumb. He needed the attention of the team physio but dusted himself off to hammer a well timed back foot cover drive for four. Poor shot selection did him in the end. It really was an ugly stroke. It’s as if he hasn’t been paying attention all game.

WICKET! Kohli lbw Kuhnemann 13 (India 54-3)

Oh Virat, what have you done? He’s gone back to a ball that’s kept a touch low and he’s paid the price. How many times has that happened this Test? He was perhaps emboldened to play that shot as he’d just crunched a boundary off the back foot through the covers but this one’s straighter and squeezes past his angled blade in his attempt to work it through midwicket. He doesn’t hang around to review it. He knows that’s stone dead.

22nd over: India 50-2 (Pujara 20, Kohli 9) Kohli press a single into the covers to bring uo the 50 Murphy is quick and flat through the air. More of a holding style than an outright attacker. Pujara is happy to play it late it’s five dots in a row to see out the over.

21st over: India 49-2 (Pujara 20, Kohli 8). Tidy from Kuhnemann. Better line too as he;s around the fourth stump, rather than too straight. Pujara wasn’t entirely comfortable there. Kohli kicked off the over with a single down to long off.

20th over: India 48-2 (Pujara 20, Kohli 7) Muprhy continues after a drinks break. Pujara flicks him behind square and takes a couple before coming out his crease to take a single in front of square. Nice flicky hands through the ball from India’s No. 3. Kohli will keep the strike with a single down to long on. Murphy just a touch to straight to both batters.

Updated

Now that we’ve started the (very premature) Cam Green vs Ben Stokes debate, here’s Rob Wolf Petersen offering his views:

“Bit generous to compare Cam Green and Ben Stokes based purely on numbers! When Green’s played match-defining innings in two World Cup finals and reinvented Australian cricket as skipper, there might be a case to make!”

I’m with you Rob. Long way to go for the young Aussie, talented though he may be.

19th over: India 44-2 (Pujara 17, Kohli 6) Bowling change. Kuhnemann replaces Lyon, perhaps to orchestrate a change of ends for the primary spinner. Perhaps now. Two slips and no catchers in front of the wicket for Pujara and he works the first ball of the over to short fine leg for a single. Kuhnemann drops one slightly short to Kohli who looks to cut but ends up looping a strange shot over the slips and it goes for four. That looked odd. Kohli clearly trying to exert himself. Two singles – one for Kohli down the ground and another to Pujara square on the leg side – means that’s seven from that set.

18th over: India 37-2 (Pujara 15, Kohli 1) Good from Murphy. Lovely shape with just enough flight to keep Kohli guessing. A half tracker encourages Kohli to rock back and try and whack it but it keeps low. If that was any straighter he’d have been skittled. He survives but it’s another maiden. Momentum definitely with the Aussies now as India still trail by 51.

17th over: India 37-2 (Pujara 16, Kohli 1) Pujara whips a short (but not that short) ball off his hips behind square for four. That’s what Sharma was trying to do. Australia have a packed leg side for Pujara as they look to keep him on strike and build pressure with Lyon bowling as close to middle and leg as possible. Lyon switches to over the wicket and Pujara whips it again, this time straight to Handscombe at short leg. If he caught they’d have built a statue of him in Melbourne.

16th over: India 33-2 (Pujara 11, Kohli 1) Muprhy continues and is targeting a fifth stump line to Kohli who is looking to whip it past mid-on. Murphy has Kohli out three times in as many Tests. What a remarkable stat to start your career. Maiden over this time.

Damian [no last name given] has been in touch: “Bit harsh of Gervase Greene on Cam Green. Ben Stokes only averages 35 and Cam Green has a better bowling average than him.”

Can’t argue with the numbers, I suppose.

15th over: India 33-2 (Pujara 11, Kohli 1) Nathan Lyon is such a great bowler. I know you all know that but it’s worth repeating. And when you’ve got such a slick operator like that, you’re just as capable as any sub continent team in these conditions. He’s knocked off both openers. That’s the eighth time he’s got Sharma in 10 Tests. Three from that over as Kohli gets off the mark with an on drive from his first ball.

WICKET! Sharma lbw Lyon 12 (India 32-2)

Well, well, well. My first contribution to the OBO this morning is to call a wicket! It’s Lyon’s moment, though as he gets one to skid on from a tricky length. Sharma goes back when perhaps a forward press would have been the better option, but it’s about the length and the skid. Lovely bowling from round the wicket and it crashes into the pads plumb in front. A hopeful review doesn’t save him. Kolhi time.

Updated

14th over: India 30-1 (Sharma 11, Pujara 10) Machine Gun Murphy into the attack to replace Matt Kuhnemann. He starts around the wicket to Pujara and skips in fast and fierce with that rapid right arm whipping it down at 89kph. Pujara dots the first three. The fourth is quicker again (93kph) and zeroed in on Pujara’s leg pad but the wily old Wall digs it out. The last catches an edge but flies wide of backward square. Great first over from the youngster and a good note for me to handover to blog brother Daniel Gallan coming in off the long run-up. Thanks for being with me and enjoy the remains of the day!

13th over: India 30-1 (Sharma 11, Pujara 10) Huge appeal here! Lyon reckons he’s ripped one past Pujara and caught the edge but replays show the movement he saw was the natural variation of spin not the human fallibility of snick. Lyon tosses the fourth ball up but too far and too wide and Pujara pounces, hot-stepping to the pitch and pounding through covers for four. Lovely shot! And he takes a single from the last too.

12th over: India 25-1 (Sharma 11, Pujara 5) Kuhnemann comes again. He’s not finding much term but his action is clean and his accuracy is unerring. He’s testing both batters with every ball. Finally Pujara snaps and steps back to flay him over cover but only for a single. The stroke wasn’t dissimilar to the action that undid Pujara in the first dig so Australia will be encouraged .

11th over: India 24-1 (Sharma 11, Pujara 4) Mitchell Starc has returned to the field after treatment on his finger but Usman Khawaja is in the grandstand for some reason, so perhaps Lance Morris or Scott Boland is out there on his behalf? If Lyon keeops tossing up easy singles like the two he’s gifted to Pujara and Sharma so far we may find either substitute in the outfield before too long. Lyon finds his line late to keep it to two runs from the over. India trail by 64 runs.

10th over: India 22-1 (Sharma 9, Pujara 3) Kuhnemann leaks a run to Rohit Sharma, just his fifth from five overs. Pujara steps back to cut away to third man and pick up two.

9th over: India 19-1 (Sharma 9, Pujara 1) Virat Kohli is padded up and ready as next-man-in. The King is 39 innings without a century but he’s been a smidge unlucky of late and doesn’t look out of form. Is today his day? It’d be a famous century in conditions like this where every run is an ingot of gold extracted with hard toil from this dusty crater of a strip. Rohit takes a single to give us out first run in 11 balls and Pujara dabs back the last. He has one run from 17 deliveries.

8th over: India 18-1 (Sharma 8, Pujara 1) Middle and leg, middle and leg. Kuhnemann is nagging away and Pujara is fretful, pushing left and right and middling nothing. Captain Smith has two slips and a fielder at short leg breathing down the batter’s neck but Pujara survives to see out a maiden.

7th over: India 18-1 (Sharma 8, Pujara 1) India trail by 70 runs but they’re under siege from Australia’s spinners on a wicket packing plenty of wallop. Pujara clips Lyon’s last ball to fine leg to get off the mark.

6th over: India 16-1 (Sharma 6, Pujara 0) Kuhnemann is back and after Rohit Sharma scoots a single it’ll be Cheteshwar Pujara to face his first deliveries. The Brisbane-born leggie bowled a beautifully accurate spell before lunch, landing it on a penny and extracting bounce and turn to sow doubt in the batter’s mind. Pujara has 19 Test centuries to his name but he hasn’t been at ease all series.

Updated

WICKET! Gill b. Lyon 5 (India 15-1)

Lyon strikes! Gill marched down to the final ball of the over and had a big heave at it across the line but the ball was shorter and slower and Lyon found some rip and skid from this pitch and so the ball scooted through to rattle the furniture. Great start for Australia!

Updated

5th over: India 13-0 (Sharma 5, Gill 4) And we’re back and it will be Nathan Lyon to Shubman Gill who works his third ball away for a single. Mitchell Starc is OFF the ground. Word is his injured finger was badly bleeding going to Lunch and so he’s receiving attention while the replacement Mitchell (Swepson) does his duties in the field. That’d be a big blow for the baggy greeners. But maybe the spinners are all they need?

Welcome back to the Lunch session of this Third Test in Indore. It’s a crucial couple of hours for both sides. Can Australia protect their lead with tight bowling and extend their advantage with wickets? Or will India patiently whittle down this chase and then build an unsurpassable lead of their own?

The pundits are saying if India get 100 ahead Australia will have bowled poorly and will be facing almost certain doom bating last on this Tina turner of a pitch. We’re minutes away from play here but time enough to ponder this email sent by Gervase Greene from the Peoples’ Republic of Clovelly…

“I know he’s only 23 or 24. I know he has the ‘buy one, get one free’ appeal of all-rounders the world over, and I especially know India is India, and this pitch is exceptionally awkward. (And this dismissal was conventional. He simply missed it). BUT… after 19 or 20 Tests, Cameron Green has not scored a century, despite often appearing set. And he averages just 35-odd, with a strike rate not much better. Obviously his potential looms massive, but at some point he needs to start delivering.”

LUNCH: India 13-0 (Sharma 5, Gill 4). Australia lead by 75 runs.

And that’s Lunch in another frenzied session of Test cricket!

After Peter Handscomb and Cameron Green put together a patient partnership of 40 runs, Ravi Ashwin (3 for 44) and his mesmeric spin took Australia apart again, with exuberant assistance from paceman Umesh Yadav (3 for 12)… and this devilish Indore pitch.

In 34 crazy balls Australia frittered away their last six batters for just 11 runs. Still, they lead by 75 and early signs in the second innings are that batting will not be easy for India. Can Matt Kuhnemann claim another five-for? Will the GOAT get amongst the wickets? Or is it time for Mitchell Starc to give India a shake-up?

The answers are a hot half-hour away. Oil your neck, fill your belly and we’ll be back with the second session very soon.

4th over: India 13-0 (Sharma 5, Gill 4) Big rip from Kuhnemann! It pitched on leg and jagged past the Indian skipper to land in Carey’s gloves way outside off. Promising signs for the left-armer already. He’s a calm character and Australia will need his nerve if they’re to skittle what seems like a more patient India. As Kuhnemann rips another past Sharma’s outside edge there’s weird review for a stumping. But the foot is grounded and Australia go to Lunch on a dud note.

Updated

3rd over: India 11-0 (Rohit 4, Gill 2) India trail by 79 runs as Starc strays to leg again and is worked backward of square for a run by the 23-year-old Punjabi batter Gill. Sharm inside edges Starc for another one to keep things ticking over. Starc keeps looking forlornly at his finger but his dander should be up after seeing the carnage Umesh Yadav unleashed with a good spell of fast bowling. India take another single from the last.

2nd over: India 9-0 (Rohit 3, Gill 2) Matt Kuhnemann takes the new ball (what odds of that sentence two weeks ago?) but the steady leggie with just four Sheffield Shield wickets to his name nabbed a brilliant Test five-for in the first innings and will be Australia’s big hope in this second dig. He’s bang on line from the get-go, holding his line to Gill whose wicket he claimed only yesterday. Gill knows it too, sitting still for five dots before working a single from the last.

1st over: India 8-0 (Rohit 3, Gill 1) Welcome back. It’s India at the crease, Starc thundering in. Can the surly quick with the dodgy digit conjure another miracle ball first up? No. It is down leg side and four leg byes. Not a good start! The second is also down leg but Carey claws it in with a dive. Singles follow to Sharma and then Shubman Gill before the Indian skipper clips a two. One over down, eight runs on the board and the chase is down to 80.

Australia all out 197. India are 88 runs behind.

Another day, another Australian collapse. They were so patient in the first hour, notching singles and turning the screws on India who were quietly panicking. But the introduction of Ravi Ashwin’s spin at one end and Umesh Yadav’s pace at the other was the catalyst for Australia’s cataclysm. They lost their nerve, started to swing big and the wickets tumbled – six down for 11 runs in 29 minutes. Ouch!

WICKET! Lyon b. Ashwin 5 (Australia 197-10)

A swing! A miss! Another wicket for India, their sixth in the last half-hour. Nathan Lyon was utterly undone by his nemesis Ravi Ashwin there. So that’s all she wrote. Australia all out for 197. Great fightback by India to take 6 for 11 but Australia still have a handy lead of 88 runs. Yet another twist in this epic Test!

Updated

WICKET! Murphy b. Yadav 0 (Australia 197-9)

Another one for Yadav who now has 3 for 12 from his four-and-half overs! Maybe Todd Murphy needs to go to Specsavers because he sure didn’t spot that one. Brilliant bowling by the big quick. He thundered in hard, speared the ball onto a length and sent the off picket flying.

Updated

76th over: Australia 196-8 (Murphy 0, Lyon 4) Australia have lost four wickets for 10 runs in 20 balls. They have their nose in front but it’s been cut off to spite their face. Sorry, this flurry of wickets is mangling my metaphors. Lyon will play his game no matter what, driving Umesh hard down the ground but good fielding by the bowler stops a certain boundary. He takes a single instead.

75th over: Australia 196-8 (Murphy 0, Lyon 4) Four wickets in 24 balls for India. And now it’s spinners to spinners as Ashwin fires in his firecrackers at Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy. No runs off that over, plenty of drama though.

WICKET! Carey LBW Ashwin 3 (Australia 192-8)

Ashwin strikes again and this time it is Alex Carey gone, prodding forward with the pad and being caught inline. It’s been ten minutes of terror for Australia! But that’s what happens when the lead is the Devil’s Number of 87…

WICKET! Starc b. Yadav 1 (India 192-7)

Starc plays forward to Yadav’s straight ball, misses, and the off stump goes cartwheeling back. For once Starc didn’t go down swinging. But he did go. Australia on the slide!

Updated

74th over: Australia 196-7 (Carey 3, Lyon 4) Positive intent by Carey. He’s bustled his way to three from his first six balls. Wonder if a 50 strike rate is “Australian” enough for Matt Hayden? Here’s Mitchell Starc. Will he hit out or get out? Turns out the latter as Australia slump to 192-7. Nathan Lyon gets off the mark with an inside edge to the fine leg boundary, yet another reason they call him the GOAT.

Updated

73rd over: Australia 191-6 (Carey 2, Starc 1) India on the attack! Two newbies in Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc suddenly in the middle, the latter not famous for his patience at the crease. But with the lead heading toward triple-figures, Australia keep the scoreboard ticking over, taking three singles from the Ashwin over.

Updated

WICKET! Green LBW Yadav 21 (Australia 188-6)

Handy ball by the new bowler Umesh Yadav. Green went to work it to mid-on but missed it completely and it hit the back pad and caught him infront. The on field decision was OUT but replays show it might’ve flown over the bails. Enough varnish taken to stick with the on-field decision though.

Updated

72nd over: Australia 186-5 (Handscomb 19, Green 19) On the box, Matthew Hayden is giving Peter Handscomb some stick for scoring only 19 runs with a single boundary from his 98 balls. He’s gone so far as to call it “un-Australian”. Given what we’ve seen these past two Tests, there’d be plenty who’d applaud his patience and calm under pressure, Haydos. Trouble here for Green – he’s been struck on the back pad by Umesh Yadav. It’s OUT onfield but Australia are reviewing…

WICKET! Handscomb c. Shreyas b. Ashwin 19 (Australia 186-5)

Ashwin found his patch of magic dirt early in that over and exploited it beautifully. The final ball leapt again at Handscomb from that rough and he lunged forward and popped a catch to Shreyas at backward square leg. Big breakthrough for India but Handscomb’s 19 from 98 may yet prove crucial.

Updated

71st over: Australia 186-4 (Handscomb 19, Green 19) Aashwin goes POP! Is thi pitch coming alive? Ashwin’s second ball of the session hits the rough and explodes at Handscomb’s head. The boy from Box Hill stays calm though but Ashwin is on the attack here. Danger signs…

70th over: Australia 186-4 (Handscomb 19, Green 19) Green leans on Jadeja to tap a single to mid-on. Handscomb takes on too, taking one off his Dunlop Volleys to extra cover. The fifth ball catches the back strap of Green’s right leg and beats wicketkeeper Bharat running away for four byes. That will embitter the cardamom cordial for the home side at Drinks. Good first hour for Australia – they have added 30 from 16 overs and now lead by 77 runs.

69th over: Australia 180-4 (Handscomb 18, Green 18) Ashwin starts his over with 0-40 from 16 overs. Green adds another from the second delivery, skipping down to drive it to deep mid-on for a single. Field comes in for Handscomb but he’s getting low and stretching long to every ball, eyeing it onto the bat each time. Ravi Shastri is telling TV viewers this Indore pitch has “taken half a sleeping tablet overnight”. It must’ve taken a fistful of Viagra yesterday, Ravi.

68th over: Australia 179-4 (Handscomb 18, Green 17) Just the no-ball from this over as Ravi Ashwin warms up in the deep, desperately trying to get captain Sharma’s attention. He’s got it. Strap yourself in, folks.

67th over: Australia 178-4 (Handscomb 18, Green 17) Australia ever-so slowly turns the screws on India and their lead creeps to 70 runs.

66th over: Australia 178-4 (Handscomb 18, Green 17) Peter Handscomb has been a Rock for Australia all series. He hasn’t scored as many runs as he might’ve liked but his best innings have come at the right time. Jadeja has bowled 134 balls to Handscomb The Hat who has scored 57 runs against him (so far). No Australian batter has survived as many balls.

Updated

66th over: Australia 177-4 (Handscomb 17, Green 17) The Hat hits a four! It was fully-pitched by Jadeja and Handscomb drove at it firmly enough to get a glancing shot away past slip and all the way to the deep third man boundary. He turns the screw another notch with a single.

65th over: Australia 172-4 (Handscomb 12, Green 17) The Man in the White Hat saunters a single from Axar Patel’s first ball. This partnership between he and Green is worth 26 runs from 96 balls. Slow going, sure, but safe scoring too. It’s exactly what Australia need at the moment. Cool heads on a hot day.

Updated

64th over: Australia 171-4 (Handscomb 11, Green 17) He wears big strides and he takes big strides. Cam Green puts both to cunning effect against Jadeja as he hops one huge step down the pitch and takes an almighty swing to send Jadeja off the toe of the bat but safely bouncing it just inside the boundary rope. Four!

Updated

63rd over: Australia 167-4 (Handscomb 11, Green 13) Green sees out a maiden from Patel, the first scoreless over of his four so far in this innings. With his big white hat, bow-legged gait and (so far) holstered pistols Pete Handscomb reminds me of someone

62nd over: Australia 167-4 (Handscomb 11, Green 13) The arm wrestle continues as Jadeja wheels in to Handscomb who looks solid and calm but isn’t scoring much. How long will this natural-born stroke-player keep his powder dry? He’s got plenty of time to bat and Australia have plenty of batting to come so he coolly scampers a single from the last to retain strike to Patel.

61st over: Australia 166-4 (Handscomb 10, Green 13) Here comes Axar Patel, India’s third spinner but arguably its most promising. He’s been severely overshadowed by Ashwin and Jadeja so far this series though and this is just his 35th over. Green stabs a single from the third as Handscomb seeks to further infuriate India by donning a white floppy hat for this over. Lovely touch, Pete. He complements the look with an elegant clip to third man for a single.

Updated

60th over: Australia 164-4 (Handscomb 9, Green 12) Handscomb pummels a loose first ball from Jadeja but it can’t break the circle and yields only a single. Still, it brings his strike rate to 100 from the last two deliveries but 15 overall. It’s a frustrating stat for Jadeja who appeals madly for caught behind on the fourth. But he’s alone in the shout and India have no reviews left.

59th over: Australia 162-4 (Handscomb 8, Green 11) Another bouncer from Siraj! But you’ve got to hit the deck hard to steeple it to Cam Green’s two metre chin. This one he keeps his eye on and parries away easily to fine leg for a single. Handscomb is watchful again to Siraj, middling everything, scoring nothing… until he helps a wide one down leg side to the fine leg fielder. He has faced 52 balls for his eight runs and Australia’s lead is now 53.

58th over: Australia 160-4 (Handscomb 7, Green 10) Good duel here between Ravi Jadeja and Peter Handscomb. The latter has been wonderful on this tour, batting smart and batting long. Unlike most of his teammates, the 31-year-old Victorian has been to India before. He’s playing for an Ashes berth in this Test, happy to stay scoreless this morning and see out another maiden.

57th over: Australia 160-4 (Handscomb 7, Green 10) Supreme from Green! That’s his trademark shot – a big man leaning softly into a full-pitched delivery straying to off and sending it skidding across the turf to the boundary. That’s his first four and it’s a sweet one. Siraj shows his appreciation by bouncing him. Great bit of chin music too. Green ducked his head but kept his hands high and gets hit hard. Not sure it hit the injured finger of Green but it sowed a bad seed in his brain.

Updated

56th over: Australia 156-4 (Handscomb 7, Green 6) Here comes Ravi Jadeja who finally found his radar to yesterday to snare four wickets from his 24 overs (albeit for 63 runs). Handscomb is happy to meet the first four on the half volley, crouching low, seeing out a maiden.

55th over: Australia 156-4 (Handscomb 7, Green 6) Here we go, folks. Cameron Green standing tall (198cm to be precise) to the Hyderabad Express Mohammed Siraj. Green confidently comes forward to the first few, driving through the line with a straight bat and firm eye. But Siraj fields well off his bowling and the next shot to extra cover can’t pierce the inner-circle of fielders. Bit of a kerfuffle on the fifth as Green backs away very late, waving at something behind Siraj’s arm. Fast bowlers love that, Cam, just don’t ask him to remove his sweat bands!

But all the chuntering in the chat rooms of the cricketing netherworld is about this Six Demon Bag of a pitch served up at Indore. Darryl from South Africa emailed overnight with these sage words…

“The ICC must stop the prepping of both dustbowls and greentops. The only way to minimise the lopsidedness of home-ground preparation and the importance of winning the toss is to abolish the latter by allowing the visiting team to choose whether to bat or bowl. That would certainly stop this devious pitch-preparation nonsense. I am shocked by what India has done with pitches for this series but ... Live by the dustbowl, die by it too.”

Updated

After the world was thrilled to its marrow by New Zealand blowing up “Bazball” in their one-run win over England, the love for Test cricket is at an all-time high

For those who came in late… here’s how our own Geoff Lemon saw Day 1

Preamble

Howdy cricket fans and welcome back to Indore for day two of the third Test between India and Australia in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I’m Angus Fontaine and I’ll be your benevolent Blogfather for the next few hours.

We’ve had some crazy days in this series but none crazier than yesterday – a wicket with the very first ball of the day, two in the first over – yet neither given out and neither reviewed. India flayed six boundaries from the next four overs and looked to be flying when the worm turned, then transformed into a cobra. From 27-0, India quickly slumped to 34-2, then 45-5 and finally 88-8. Ultimately, inside 150 minutes of mayhem, the home side were decimated for 109. The visitors then coolly carved out an unbeaten 156-4 – a 47 run lead worth its weight in gold, with six wickets still up their sleeve.

On a dirty, dusty pitch tailor-made for India’s spin kings, it was Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy who were the day one destroyers. India’s batters collapsed just as abjectly as Australia’s had in Nagpur and Delhi. The difference was, this time the green caps batted smartly and patiently, banishing the sweep stakes that cost them in the last match, to take the upper hand.

Can they keep it? At Nagpur Australia fought their way back to get even, only to implode again. In Delhi, they got themselves in front before one of the most brainless and spineless collapses in history. Here, their top-order of Usman Khawaja (60), Marnus Labuschagne (31) and Steve Smith (26) have shown what it takes to survive and prosper. Can last established batter Peter Handscomb and returned allrounder Cameron Green ram home the advantage today?

Batten down hatches and buckle up britches. We’ll be underway shortly…

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