Shubman Gill his maiden test fifty on Day 2 of third Test. Photo: @cricketcomau
India was 96 for two at stumps on day two, trailing Australia by 242 runs in the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Ajinkya Rahane were batting 9 and 5 respectively at close of play.
India made a solid start with Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill (50) stitching a 70-run opening stand. Gill went on to score his maiden half-century. Australia rode on Steve Smith's gritty 131-run knock and half centuries by debutant Will Pucovski (62) and Marnus Labuschagne (91) to come up with their strongest batting performance of the ongoing series. Australia scored 338 runs in its first innings as Ravindra Jadeja picked 4 wickets while Bumrah and Saini took two wickets each
Gill defends the first two balls while punches the third ball on backfoot towards cover for FOUR.
Gill defends the 4th ball on backfoot and pulls the next, which is called NO Ball, along the ground towards deep square leg for FOUR.
Gill pushes the last ball down the ground for a single.
IND vs AUS live score after 4 Overs: 11-0
Over Summary: 4 0 2 0 0 0 ; India 1st innings: 11-0 ; Rohit Sharma (7), Shubman Gill (4)
Hazlewood continues...
Rohit Sharma punches the first ball on backfoot towards point boundary for FOUR while works the 3rd ball towards backward square leg for a couple of runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 3 Overs: 5-0
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; India 1st innings: 5-0 ; Rohit Sharma (1), Shubman Gill (4)
Starc continues and bowls a MAIDEN over to Shubman Gill.
IND vs AUS live score after 2 Overs: 5-0
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; India 1st innings: 5-0 ; Rohit Sharma (1), Shubman Gill (4)
Josh Hazlewood, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack and bowls a MAIDEN over Rohit Sharma, who looked solid on front foot.
IND vs AUS live score after 1 Over: 5-0
Over Summary: 1 0 0 0 0 4 ; India 1st innings: 5-0 ; Rohit Sharma (1), Shubman Gill (4)
Rohit and Shubman Gill at the crease. Rohit takes the strike. Starc opens the attack
Rohit clips the first ball on the pads towards deep backward square leg for a single.
Starc bowls two angling away delivery, which is left alone by Gill.
Gill pushes the full delivery, outside off, straight down the ground for FOUR.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2: Indian innings begin
Rohit Sharma takes the strike as Starc bowls the first over
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2: AUS 338-allout
Australian innings' key highlights on Day 2
Over 63.2: Review by India (Bowling), Umpire - Wilson, Batsman - Smith (Struck down)
Rain: Australia - 188/2 in 66.0 overs (Labuschagne 78, Smith 42)
Australia: 200 runs in 68.5 overs (414 balls), Extras 1
3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 218 balls (Labuschagne 52, Smith 47, Ex 1)
Smith: 50 off 116 balls (7 x 4)
Rain: Australia - 213/3 in 72.0 overs (Smith 52, Wade 2)
New ball taken after 80 overs
Lunch: Australia - 249/5 in 84.5 overs (Smith 76)
Australia: 250 runs in 87.3 overs (526 balls), Extras 2
Smith: 100 off 201 balls (13 x 4)
Australia: 300 runs in 100.1 overs (605 balls), Extras 9
Drinks: Australia - 310/8 in 101.5 overs (Smith 104)
Over 102.4: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - Reiffel, Batsman - Lyon (Struck down)
Innings Break: Australia - 338/10 in 105.4 overs (Hazlewood 1)
Australia 1st innings: 338-10 ; Steve Smith (131), Josh Hazlewood (1)
Bumrah continues...
Smith hammers the slow bumper through mid-wicket for FOUR while tucks the next towards backward square leg for a couple of runs.
Smith gets runout while trying to take the second run. Smith run out (Jadeja) 131(226) [4s-16]
IND vs AUS live score after 105 Overs: 331-9
Over Summary: 2 0 2 1 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 331-9 ; Steve Smith (124), Josh Hazlewood (1)
Jadeja continues and concedes five runs, including two doubles to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 104 Overs: 326-9
Over Summary: 2 4 1 1 3 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 326-9 ; Steve Smith (119), Josh Hazlewood (1)
Jasprit Bumrah [24.0-7-48-2] is back into the attack and Smith slaps the first ball towards cover for a couple of runs.
Smith guides the bumper over slips for FOUR and drives the 3rd ball for a single towards deep extra cover.
Hazlewood pushes towards extra cover for a single while Smith drives the 5th ball straight down the ground for three runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 103 Overs: 315-9 | Jadeja scalps Lyon
Over Summary: 4 1 0 W 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 315-9 ; Steve Smith (109), Josh Hazlewood (0)
Jadeja continues...
Smith smashes the first ball for FOUR while collects a single off the second.
Lyon defends the next ball while yorked himself off the 4th, hits on the toe. LBW OUT. Lyon lbw b Jadeja 0(3)
Josh Hazlewood, left handed bat, comes to the crease and defends the next two deliveries.
IND vs AUS live score after 102 Overs: 310-8 | Saini scalps Starc
Over Summary: 0 N 0 6 2 W 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 310-8 ; Steve Smith (104), Nathan Lyon (0)
Navdeep Saini continues...
Starc ducks under the first bumper while pulls the second ball towards deep suare leg for SIX.
Starc gets a top edge as he tries to pull the ball but the skier falls wide of mid-on fielder.
Saini persists with short stuff, Starc continues to pull it gets a top edge and Gill completes the catch. GONE. Starc c Shubman Gill b Navdeep Saini 24(30) [4s-2 6s-1]
Nathan Lyon, right handed bat, comes to the crease and fails to put bat on ball.
IND vs AUS live score after 101 Overs: 301-7
Over Summary: 1 0 0 1 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 301-7 ; Steve Smith (104), Mitchell Starc (16)
Jadeja continues and concedes a single each to both the batsmen.
IND vs AUS live score after 100 Overs: 299-7
Over Summary: 0 0 0 1 1 N4 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 299-7 ; Steve Smith (103), Mitchell Starc (15)
Navdeep Saini continues and leaks 7 runs, including a boundary to Mitchell Starc.
IND vs AUS live score after 99 Overs: 291-7
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 N 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 292-7 ; Steve Smith (102), Mitchell Starc (5)
Jadeja continues and concedes a run in form of a NO BALL.
IND vs AUS live score after 98 Overs: 291-7 | Smith hits 27th century
Over Summary: 0 4 1 0 0 3 ; Australia 1st innings: 291-7 ; Steve Smith (102), Mitchell Starc (5)
`Saini continues...
Starc defends the first ball while whacks the second over mid-on for FOUR.
Starc collects a single off the third delivery.
Smith defends the next two while works the last ball towards deep backward square leg for three runs and completes his 27th HUNDRED.
IND vs AUS live score after 97 Overs: 283-7
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 3 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 283-7 ; Steve Smith (99), Mitchell Starc (5)
Jadeja continues...
Starc edges the 5th ball but it falls short of first slip, three runs taken.
IND vs AUS live score after 96 Overs: 280-7
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 280-7 ; Steve Smith (99), Mitchell Starc (2)
Navdeep Saini continues and beats Starc outside off twice before the batter collects a single off the 5th delivery.
IND vs AUS live score after 95 Overs: 279-7 | Jadeja castles Cummins
Over Summary: 0 0 1 N W 0 1 ; Australia 1st innings: 279-7 ; Steve Smith (99), Mitchell Starc (1)
Ravindra Jadeja [12.0-3-43-2] is back into the attack and Smith defends the first two balls while collects a single off the 3rd one.
Cummins yorked himself and gets CASTLED. Cummins b Jadeja 0(13)
Mitchell Starc, left handed bat, comes to the crease and collects a single off the last delivery.
IND vs AUS live score after 94 Overs: 276-6
Over Summary: 0 2 0 0 0 1 ; Australia 1st innings: 276-6 ; Steve Smith (98), Pat Cummins (0)
Saini continues and concedes three runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 93 Overs: 273-6
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 B4 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 273-6 ; Steve Smith (95), Pat Cummins (0)
Bumrah continues and concedes a single. Pant fails to collect a pacy bumper, FOUR BYES.
IND vs AUS live score after 92 Overs: 268-6
Over Summary: 0 4 1 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 268-6 ; Steve Smith (94), Pat Cummins (0)
Navdeep Saini [7.0-0-32-1] is back into the attack and Steve Smith smashes the second ball for FOUR.
IND vs AUS live score after 91 Overs: 263-6
Over Summary: 0 4 2 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 263-6 ; Steve Smith (89), Pat Cummins (0)
Bumrah continues...
Smith defends the first ball while punches the second on backfoot towards deep extra cover for FOUR.
Smith hits the next ball towards cow corner for a couple of runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 90 Overs: 256-6
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 256-6 ; Steve Smith (82), Pat Cummins (0)
Siraj continues and concedes a single to Steve Smith.
There is also a loud shout for LBW against Smith but umpire remains unmoved. Replays show he hit that ball and the impact was outsode off.
IND vs AUS live score after 89 Overs: 255-6 | Bumrah castles Paine
Over Summary: 1 1 0 1 W 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 255-6 ; Steve Smith (81), Pat Cummins (0)
Bumrah continues...
Steve Smith collects a single off the first ball and Paine taps the second one towards cover for a quick single, opens his account.
Smith defends the third one while collects a single off the next.
Bumrah cleans up Tim Paine with an superb inswinger, BOWLED. Paine b Bumrah 1(10)
Pat Cummins, right handed bat, comes to the crease and Bumrah welcomes his with a bumper. Cummins sways away from the line.
IND vs AUS live score after 88 Overs: 252-5
Over Summary: 0 0 2 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 252-5 ; Steve Smith (79), Tim Paine (0)
Mohammed Siraj continues and concedes three runs to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 87 Overs: 249-5
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 249-5 ; Steve Smith (76), Tim Paine (0)
Bumrah continues and bowls a MAIDEN over to Tim Paine.
IND vs AUS live score after 86 Overs: 249-5
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 249-5 ; Steve Smith (76), Tim Paine (0)
Mohammed Siraj continues after Lunch and bowls a MAIDEN over to Steve Smith.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 session 1 highlights
Day 2 key highlights
Over 63.2: Review by India (Bowling), Umpire - Wilson, Batsman - Smith (Struck down)
Rain: Australia - 188/2 in 66.0 overs (Labuschagne 78, Smith 42)
Australia: 200 runs in 68.5 overs (414 balls), Extras 1
3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 218 balls (Labuschagne 52, Smith 47, Ex 1)
SPD Smith: 50 off 116 balls (7 x 4)
Rain: Australia - 213/3 in 72.0 overs (Smith 52, Wade 2)
IND vs AUS live score after 84.5 Overs: 249-5 | Bumrah scalps Green
Australia 1st innings: 249-5 ; Steve Smith (76)
Bumrah continues...
Green defends first four balls, which are going away, while Bumrah follows by a inswinger and the batsman fails to put bat on ball, hits the pad. This is PLUMB, GONE. Green lbw b Bumrah 0(21)
And it is LUNCH on Day 2
IND vs AUS live score after 84 Overs: 249-4
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 2 ; Australia 1st innings: 249-4 ; Steve Smith (76), Cameron Green (0)
Mohammed Siraj continues and Steve Smith clips the last ball of the over towards deep square leg fo a couple of runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 83 Overs: 247-4
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 247-4 ; Steve Smith (74), Cameron Green (0)
Bumrah continues and concedes a single to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 82 Overs: 246-4
Over Summary: Wd 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 246-4 ; Steve Smith (73), Cameron Green (0)
Mohammed Siraj [20.0-3-60-1] is back into the attack and concedes only a WIDE.
IND vs AUS live score after 81 Overs: 245-4
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 245-4 ; Steve Smith (73), Cameron Green (0)
Jasprit Bumrah [17.0-4-36-0] is back into the attack as India takes the second new ball and bowls a MAIDEN over Steve Smith.
India vs Australia 3rd Test live updates
India has taken the second new ball.
IND vs AUS live score after 80 Overs: 245-4
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 245-4 ; Steve Smith (73), Cameron Green (0)
Ashwin continues and concedes a single to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 79 Overs: 244-4
Over Summary: 0 4 0 4 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 244-4 ; Steve Smith (72), Cameron Green (0)
Jadeja continues and Steve Smith smashes two boundaries to stamp his authority over Jadeja.
IND vs AUS live score after 78 Overs: 235-4
Over Summary: 2 1 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 235-4 ; Steve Smith (63), Cameron Green (0)
Ashwin continues and concedes three runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 77 Overs: 232-4 | Jadeja scalps Wade
Over Summary: 4 0 2 0 W 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 232-4 ; Steve Smith (60), Cameron Green (0)
Jadeja continues...
Wade hits the first ball down the ground for FOUR while collects a couple of runs off the 3rd delivery.
Mathew Wade dances down the track off the 5th ball and goes for a biggie but manages only top edge and Bumrah completes the catch. Wade c Bumrah b Jadeja 13(16) [4s-2]
Cameron Green, right handed bat, comes to the crease and blocks.
IND vs AUS live score after 76 Overs: 226-3
Over Summary: 0 0 4 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 226-3 ; Steve Smith (60), Mathew Wade (7)
Ashwin continues and Steve Smith sweeps the 3rd ball towards deep backward square leg for FOUR.
IND vs AUS live score after 75 Overs: 222-3
Over Summary: 0 4 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 222-3 ; Steve Smith (56), Mathew Wade (7)
Jadeja continues and Mathew Wade drives the 2nd ball of the over through extra cover for FOUR.
IND vs AUS live score after 74 Overs: 218-3
Over Summary: 0 0 0 1 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 218-3 ; Steve Smith (56), Mathew Wade (3)
Ashwin continues and concedes a single to Wade.
IND vs AUS live score after 73 Overs: 217-3
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 4 ; Australia 1st innings: 217-3 ; Steve Smith (56), Mathew Wade (2)
Jadeja continues after rain break and Steve Smith drives the last ball powerfully towards extra cover for FOUR.
India vs Australia 3rd Test live updates
Play resumes again after a rain break.
India vs AUstralia 3rd Test: Sydney weather live updates
According the Sydney weather forecast, there is chances of rainfall till 1 pm locak time (7:30 am IST). The forecast after that is encouraging. Hope for the best. Stay tuned for live updates.
(photo credit: screenshot accuweather)
India vs Australia 3rd Test live weather updates
Rain stops play again and this one might be a lengthy break. The whole square is covered now.
IND vs AUS live score after 72 Overs: 213-3
Over Summary: 0 0 0 4 0 1; Australia 1st innings: 213-3 ; Steve Smith (52), Mathew Wade (2)
Ashwin continues and Smith smashes the 4th ball of the over for FOUR and brings up his first FIFTY in the ongoing series.
IND vs AUS live score after 71 Overs: 208-3 | Jadeja scalps Labuschagne
Over Summary: 0 0 4 0 W 2 ; Australia 1st innings: 208-3 ; Steve Smith (47), Mathew Wade (2)
Jadeja continues...
Labuschagne defends first two ball while hits the 3rd ball for FOUR to bring up 100-run stand with Smith.
Labuschagne edges the 5th ball and Rahane completes the catch at first slip, GONE. Labuschagne c Rahane b Jadeja 91(196) [4s-11]
Matthew Wade, left handed bat, comes to the crease and paddle sweeps the last ball of the over towards deep fine leg for a couple of runs.
IND vs AUS live score after 70 Overs: 202-2
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 202-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (87), Steve Smith (47)
Ashwin continues and concedes a single to Labuschagne.
IND vs AUS live score after 69 Overs: 201-2
Over Summary: 0 1 3 0 2 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 201-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (86), Steve Smith (47)
Jadeja continues and leaks six runs in the over.
IND vs AUS live score after 68 Overs: 195-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 1 1 1 ; Australia 1st innings: 195-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (83), Steve Smith (44)
Ashwin [17.0-1-56-0] is back into the attack and concedes three singles.
IND vs AUS live score after 67 Overs: 192-2
Over Summary: 4 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 192-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (82), Steve Smith (42)
Jadeja continues after rain break and Labuschagne smashes the first ball for FOUR while blocks the remaining deliveries.
India vs Australia 3rd Test live updates
The covers are coming off. This may be a short break and play may start shortly.
India vs Australia 3rd Test live updates
Lighr drizzle stops play in Sydney. Both the overnight batsmen looked solid in first 45 mins of play on Day 2
IND vs AUS live score after 66 Overs: 188-2
Over Summary: 0 4 0 1 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 188-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (78), Steve Smith (42)
Mohammed Siraj continues and Labuschagne flicks the 2nd ball towards deep backward square leg for FOUR while collects a single off the 4th delivery.
IND vs AUS live score after 65 Overs: 183-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 183-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (73), Steve Smith (42)
Ravindra Jadeja continues and bowls a MAIDEN over to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 64 Overs: 183-2
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 183-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (73), Steve Smith (42)
Mohammed Siraj continues and concedes a single to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 63 Overs: 182-2
Over Summary: 0 0 1 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 182-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (73), Steve Smith (41)
Ravindra Jadeja [3.0-2-2-0] is back into the attack and concedes a single each to both the batsmen.
IND vs AUS live score after 62 Overs: 180-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 1 ; Australia 1st innings: 180-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (72), Steve Smith (40)
Siraj continues and concedes a single to Labuschagne off the last delivery.
IND vs AUS live score after 61 Overs: 179-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 179-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (71), Steve Smith (40)
Jasprit Bumrah continues and concedes a single to Labuschagne.
IND vs AUS live score after 60 Overs: 178-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 3 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 178-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (70), Steve Smith (40)
Mohammed Siraj continues and concedes a triple to Labuschagne.
IND vs AUS live score after 59 Overs: 175-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 175-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (67), Steve Smith (40)
Bumrah bowls a MAIDEN over to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 58 Overs: 175-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 2 1 ; Australia 1st innings: 175-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (67), Steve Smith (40)
Siraj continues and concedes three runs to Steve Smith.
IND vs AUS live score after 57 Overs: 172-2
Over Summary: 4 1 0 0 0 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 172-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (67), Steve Smith (37)
Jasprit Bumrah [14.0-3-30-0] is back into the attack and Steve Smith drives the first ball through covers for FOUR while taps the next towards cover-point region for a single.
Labuschagne sees off the remaining deliveries.
IND vs AUS live score after 56 Overs: 167-2
Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 1 0 ; Australia 1st innings: 167-2 ; Marnus Labuschagne (67), Steve Smith (32)
Mohammed Siraj bowls the first over on Day 2 with strong leg side field and concedes a single to Steve Smith.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 session 1 begins
Mohammed Siraj bowls the first over on Day 2.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 live action to begin at 4:30 am IST
From today onwards play will resume at 4:30 am IST to cover up the overs lost on Day 1 due to rains.
Play to begin 30 minutes earlier today, at 10:00am local time.
Distance from family in pandemic leaves debutants emotionally torn
The Covid-19 pandemic has left young cricketers playing their debut series emotionally affected as they are often missing their relatives and family in times of joy and sorrow.
Mohammed Siraj, who is playing his debut series, broke down on Thursday while the national anthem was being played just before the third Test against Australia as memories of his father, who died a couple of months ago, came flooded back to him. He had not seen his dad for close to three months before he died and hasn't seen his family for over one-and-a-half months since his death.
Hours after Siraj broke down, Australia opening batsman Will Pucovski struggled to control his emotions in the media interaction when he said that he is missing mum, dad and girlfriend who couldn't come to Sydney to watch him make his debut due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Pucovski belongs to Malvern, which is in the state of Victoria, about 900 km from Sydney in New South Wales.
Sydney has recently witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases and the cricket teams are in strict quarantine. According to the Australian team tradition, the family and partner of the debutant are present alongside the player when he is presented with the baggy green cap prior to the debut at home.
"Obviously, I would have loved Mum, dad and girlfriend to be up here and my mates. They couldn't make it due to Covid-19 restrictions, especially dad, who has been a massive support," said Pucovski during the media interaction. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
WATCH: Hazlewood's Test debut show on his birthday
Ponting said that on a flat track, Pucovski could have caused more damage with a daddy hundred.
"It's probably lucky for Rishabh that Pucovski didn't go on and make a big hundred or a double hundred and looking at the wicket, it looks like an unbelievable surface," Ponting, who also happens to be Pant's head coach at IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, said.
Check IND vs AUS Tests full schedule match timing and free streaming details
"I'm sure when Rishabh put those catches down, he would have thought the worst and 'here we go, he's really going to make me pay' but (Pucovski) didn't today."
Ponting slams Pant for dropping catches
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Thursday slammed Rishabh Pant for his below-par wicket-keeping on the opening day of the third Test here, stating that the Indian youngster has dropped more catches than any other keeper since his debut and needs to work harder.
Pant, on the first day at the SCG, dropped Will Pucovski on 26 and 32 respectively as the debutant opener went on to score 62. The two unlucky bowlers were Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj.
"Since his debut in Test cricket, he's dropped more catches than any other keeper in the world. That highlights he has got some work to do with his keeping," Ponting told 'cricket.com.au'.
"The one's (dropped catches) today are two that should be taken, simple as that," he said.
Rishabh Pant is under the hammer after he dropped two catches on Day 1 of India vs Australia 3rd Test at SCG. Photo: @cricketcomau
In signs ominous for India and encouraging for Australia, the beleaguered Steve Smith looked dangerous and his understudy Marnus Labuschagne struck an unbeaten half-century as the hosts reached 166 for two on a rain-marred opening day of the third Test here.
At stumps, Labuschagne was unbeaten on 67 and Smith, after his uncharacteristic run of low scores so far, seemed out of the woods with 31 confident runs, which included five authoritative boundaries. Labuschagne found the fence eight times.
This was after debutant Will Pucovski, riding on some luck, made 62 on debut to break the shackles for the under-fire side.
Smith looked positive from the word go and was determined to not let the Indian bowlers dictate terms to him.
Having entered the match after registering scores of 1, 0 and 8 in his last three innings, Smith's first confident shot came against India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was nicely driven through the mid-on for his first boundary of the series.
His confidence up after dismissing Pucovski for his first Test wicket, debutant pacer Navdeep Saini got carried away and was guilty of bowling too full to Smith, who latched on to them with a couple of fours.
With Smith looking in fine fettle, the early signs were ominous for India and skipper Ajinkya Rahane brought back his nemesis Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack, but the Australian was equal to the task on this occasion.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1 highlights
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 live match updates
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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