India vs Australia, 3rd Test Day 1: Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell lead Aussie fightback
Ranchi: Steve Smith (117*) and Glenn Maxwell (82*) led Australia’s charge as the visitors ended Day 1 of the third Test at 299 for 4 against India here on Thursday.
Maxwell, who was brought into the team after Australia lost Mitchell Marsh to injury, notched up his first Test fifty and Smith went onto score his 19th Test ton as Australia denied India a chance to run through their batting line-up after being reduced to 140/4.
Umesh Yadav was the most successful for India on Day 1 as he scalped two wickets (2/63) while R Ashwin (1/78) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/80) got a wicket each.
Australia 299/4 from 90 overs:
STUMPS! Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have successfully negotiated the final session on the opening day of the Test as Australia have given themselves a solid foundation to go past 400-run mark after electing to bat.
Australia 272/4 from 83 overs:
HUNDRED! Steve Smith continues his menacing form against India as he brings up his 19th Test ton. Fantastic knock from the Australian skipper as he and Glenn Maxwell have rebuilt the Australian innings.
Australia 194/4 from 60 overs:
Tea break! Steve Smith has stayed put as Australia have made a comeback of sorts losing just a wicket in the second session. The visitors have scored 85 runs in the second session losing just a wicket.
India had a moment to worry after Virat Kohli walked off the field following a tumble near the boundary rope. Indian fans will be hoping that Kohli has not sustained a serious injury.
Australia 172/4 from 54 overs:
Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith are taking no undue risks as they make sure India don't get another wicket before the tea break.
Video: Virat Kohli hurts shoulder, walks off the field
Australia 140/4 from 42.2 overs
WICKET! Absolute beaut from Umesh Yadav! Pace, swing and right in the block hole and Peter Handscomb is trapped before the wickets. Plumb. Top class pace bowling from Umesh. Australia 2 down, second wicket for Umesh.
Australia 125/3 from 38 overs:
Ishant Sharma has kept things really tight for India in the second session. Handscomb and Smith are not taking any unnecessary risks against him.
Australia 109/3 from 30 overs:
Lunch break! Australia have gone past 100 in the first session on Day one of the third Test but India will be a happy unit having scalped three wickets after losing the toss. While Steve Smith is still in the middle, India have managed to send the left brigade of David Warner (19), Matt Renshaw (44) and Shaun Marsh (2) back to the dressing room.
Australia 89/3 from 25.1 overs:
WICKET! Excellent work from Cheteshwar Pujara at forward short-leg. R Ashwin gets his first wicket of this match. Shaun Marsh edges one onto the pads as the ball lobs in the air towards Pujara's left. India start celebrating straightway even though Ian Gould has ruled Marsh not out. India take review. Clear edge. Clean catch. Australia 3 down.
Australia 80/2 from 22.3 overs:
WICKET! Umesh Yadav strikes as Virat Kohli takes a good catch in the first slip as Matt Renshaw edges one to give India their second breakthrough of the morning.
Australia 78/1 from 22 overs:
Renshaw continues to look solid and Steve Smith is looking in a fine form. India, to their credit, have made sure Australia's run-rate drops below four.
Australia 50/1 from 9.4 overs:
WICKET! Out of nowhere. Ravindra Jadeja strikes in his first over as David Warner gets out on a fulltoss as he hits one straight back to Jadeja. India will not mind this.
Australia 31/0 from 6 overs:
Australia have made a bright start as Matt Renshaw and David Warner keep the scoreboard moving with some quick runs. While Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have bowled well, the Australian duo has not been in a spot of bother.
Ranchi: Australia have won the toss and elected to bat in the third Test against India as Ranchi becomes country's 26th Test venue on Thursday.
Australia have made two changes to their side which took field in the Bengaluru Test as Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins replace injured Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc in the playing XI. India, on the other hand, have brought back Murali Vijay as Abhinav Mukund fails to make the cut.
While MS Dhoni won’t be in Ranchi to witness his home ground Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium hosts its first ever Test as Virat Kohli-led India take on Steve Smith’s Australia on Day one of the third Test on Thursday.
While India were hammered in Pune Test as Steve O’Keefe powered Australia to 333-run victory, India made a stunning comeback to beat Australia by 75 runs in the Bengaluru Test. Although cricket drew a lot of attention, things erupted on the field and later in the press conferences, after Smith contemplated using DRS seeking dressing room’s help.
While BCCI and Cricket Australia tried their best to start the peace talks, going by the comments, during the media interaction on the eve of the Ranchi Test, from rival skippers clearly indicated India and Australia have not moved on from the DRS controversy.
Coming back to on-field action, Australia are hampered as Mitchell Starc, their pace-bowling spearhead, left the tour midway following a foot fracture while India are bolstered by the likely comeback on Murali Vijay. While Steve Smith and Co have brought in Pat Cummins and Marcus Stoinis (in place of Mitchell Marsh), it will be interesting to see, who amongst Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Usman Khawaja and Stoinis, will grab the number six slot in Australia’s playing XI.
Considering Ranchi pitch is expected to be slow and low, India, who, in recent times, have opted for horses for courses approach, will like to bring back Jayant Yadav in the team in place of Karun Nair.
