Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2020-21
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
Date: 26 December-30 December, 2020
RR: 4.42 | India beat Australia by 8 wickets
The man who got India the breakthrough in the morning, Jasprit Bumrah is caught for a quick chat. Bumrah says that he is really happy with their performance with the ball. Tells that they had decided not to complain about having one bowler short. Adds that they decided to help the new members coming in the team. On him being the leader of the attack, Bumrah says that they had decided to help each other. On his performance from the last 2 games, Bumrah says that he doesn't look at the stats because that will put unnecessary pressure on him and would rather focus on doing the basics correct.
The day started with the two Aussie overnight batters continuing their fight. They nearly managed to remain unscathed in the first hour of the morning before a snorter from Bumrah got the better of Cummins. Green continued the battle along with Starc but was removed eventually by Siraj on 45 as he tried to play a pull shot. The other batters resisted a bit before Ashwin removed Hazlewood in the last over of the extended first session. The bowlers didn't put themselves under any sort of pressure and just kept bowling good lines and lengths and they were sure about the rewards which eventually came their way. In spite of having one man short, they worked well to bundle out the Aussies.
Another session to India and they inch closer to the victory. They had to work hard in this session as Green and Cummins resisted well. However, once the stand got broken, it was only about how long they can survive. They did manage to do it for a decent amount of period but they needed runs. They got just 68 in this extended morning session of Day 4 which means India need 70.
Final over before the Lunch break coming up.
Change of ends for Jasprit Bumrah.
LBW appeal taken upstairs. Has Ashwin got his man? The umpire thinks otherwise but the Indians go for the review. There is no bat, confirmed by Hot Spot. Nothing on RTS either. Time for the Ball Tracker. Umpire's call on hitting the wickets.
Ashwin is back on. 36-6-69-1 from him so far.
With just 1 wicket left, the lunch has been extended by 30 minutes. Also, here's Bumrah again. Can he knock the last man out quickly?
Josh Hazlewood in at no 11.
Starc has been given out! He has asked for the review. Let's see if the technology can save him.
Nathan Lyon in at number 10. How long can he survive ?
Jadeja is on now! His figures so far are 12-5-25-2.
Run out appeal taken upstairs. Has Starc got himself back in time? Yes, he has.
Mohammed Siraj is back on. 14.3-2-24-1 from him so far.
Drinks! The first hour has all been about patience for both the teams. Australia almost managed to go unscathed but then Bumrah came up with unplayable ball to Cummins and now India have an opening. How long the tail will survive? Mitchell Starc is the new batsman in at number 9.
The second new ball is due now! Will Rahane go for it straightaway? Yes, they have gone for it. So, Bumrah is back too.
Time for Ravindra Jadeja to roll his arms now. The second new ball is due after 4 overs. So, maybe Rahane wants to take it quickly. Can Jadeja provide a breakthrough to the Indians with this old ball?
Review time! India have gone for a review against Cummins. Rahane went for it almost at the end of the timer! Let's see what the repalys have to show.
First change of the morning. Time for Mohammed Siraj to have a go. 12.3-1-23-1 are his figures so far.
Will it be spin from the other end? Yes! Here's Ravichandran Ashwin.
We are ready to start Day 4. The Indian players take the field following the two umpires. Cameron Green and Pat Cummins make their way out to the middle as well. The duo managed to frustrate the Indians in the final hour of Day 3 as they batted over 100 deliveries. That's what will be their aim once again. However, they will need to keep scoring runs as well. Jasprit Bumrah has got the ball first up. He would look to provide the early breakthrough to the Indians. All in readiness. Here we go...
Rishabh Pant is caught for a quick chat. On the discussion at the end of Day 3, Pant says that Rahane said that they need to concentrate and keep it simple and bowl good lines. Tells that he has no idea about Yadav's injury and he needs to ask the same to the physio. On him missing the first Test, Pant says that it's part and parcel of the game. Says he has been training hard and once he gets the chance, he looks to help the team do good. On keeping in Australia, Pant says that he is adjusting with respect to bounce. Tells that key on these wickets is to give yourself a bit of space when keeping against the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja. On his banter with Wade, Pant says that he enjoys every bit of it. Adds that Wade wanted to get going with some sort of discussion to concentrate but adds he didn't want to let him do that.
Hello and welcome to Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. The game is poised well and truly in the favour of the Indian side and Rahane's men would look to seal the deal in the first session itself. They would not want the pair of Cummins and Green to get settle again and frustrate them. Australia, on the other hand, knows they are in big trouble and would want these two to continue batting as long as possible. Will they be able to do so or will Bumrah and others roll them over? We will get all the answers once the action resumes. Stay tuned.
... Day 4, Session 1 ...
So, that ends another enthralling day's play! India will feel they are well on top of this match. They just need 4 wickets to bundle the Aussies and that they would look to do in the first session of Day 4. Australia, on the other hand, would want these two to bat long. Will they be able to do so? We will find out all these things on Day 4. The action will begin at 1030 local (2330 GMT Previous Day). Join us for that. For now, it is goodbye from our end.
Indian skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, is caught for a quick chat. Rahane says that the bowlers came out strong and bowled tight lines. Says it was unfortunate to miss out Yadav. Adds that captaincy is all about backing the instincts. Credits the bowlers for bowling on right lines and lengths. On his century, Rahane says that getting to a hundred while captaining the side is always special. Feels his century at Lord's is his best knock. On him patting Jadeja after getting run out, Rahane says that he told him to not think about the run out and carry on his innings. On asked if the same was said to him by skipper Kohli in the first Test, Rahane tells that he got out quickly after Kohli's wicket and adds Kohli told him it is okay.
The second session saw India get Burns early and then Wade and Labuschagne put on a fight. Ashwin removed Labuschagne to break the stand and then along with Smith, Wade fought hard to stay in the middle in the entire second session. However, the final session of the day turned things around quickly for the visitors as they took control of the game with quick wickets.
The day started with India losing their 5 wickets for just 32 runs but they extended their lead to 131. The collapse happened after Rahane got run out trying to steal a run for Jadeja so that he gets to his half ton. Jadeja eventually got there but soon joined Rahane in the pavilion after a barrage of short balls from Starc troubled him. The Aussies then finished the Indian innings quickly with Starc and Lyon getting 3 each.
Once again it was Bumrah who opened the floodgates for the Indians with the wicket of Smith. Jadeja then got the ball and struck twice quickly to force Australia on the back foot. Siraj too got a wicket. India would be disappointed a bit towards the end where they couldn't get past Green and Cummins and allowed the duo to bat over 100 balls.
What a session for India! Wade and Smith arrived in the middle and offered some resistance before Bumrah got the better of Smith as he bowled him around his legs. Wade then battled for a while with Head but once Wade fell, Australia crumbled as they lost three wickets for just 2 runs. Green and Cummins then batted really well to stitch a small partnership and make the Indian bowlers work hard. With this gritty stand, the duo made sure the Aussies have taken the lead now.
Green taking his time! He wants to make sure this is the last over.
Last over before Stumps coming up. Or maybe another one?
Mohammed Siraj gets the ball again. Gets a piece of advice or two from Bumrah and Rahane.
Ashwin is back. 18-4-36-1 are his figures so far.
Jasprit Bumrah is back. He has been impressive with figures of 13-2-32-1 so far.
Pat Cummins comes in to bat at number 8.
Review time! Indians have taken a caught behind appeal upstairs.
Skipper Tim Paine is in next. Drinks have been taken though. India right on top here. They smell the victory. They still have got the cushion of 33 runs and will look to run through the remaining 5 wickets as well. A stern challenge for Green and skipper Paine awaits.
Who is in next? Will it be Paine? No, Cameron Green it is.
Review time! Wade has been given out LBW! He looks plumb but he goes for the review. Don't think there is any bat Hot Spot and RTS confirms the same. Ball Tracker rolls in and three reds it is. Wade has to go. A review gone too.
Change of ends for Ashwin.
Ravindra Jadeja is on now.
Time for the concussion test. The physio is out. Wade is looking fine and he is ready to face.
Travis Head comes now to bat at number 5.
Will it be Ashwin from the other end? With Smith on strike, surely! Yes, here he is. 10-2-24-1 are his numbers so far.
Time for the final session of the moving day of the Test match. India still with an advantage as their players take the field. Matthew Wade and Steven Smith follow them out in the middle as well. Jasprit Bumrah to start after Tea.
... Day 3, Final Session ...
The Indians were right on the money as Umesh struck early to dismiss Burns for another low score. Umesh though left the field after having issues with his calf and after that Wade along with Labuschagne controlled things nicely and added 38 between them. Most of the runs came off the bat of Marnus who looked more positive than Wade. But as the stand between the two was growing, Ashwin struck and got the better of Labuschagne. Smith and Wade after that managed to see off the remaining session. The task for them will get bigger when they come out to bat in the final session of the day. India would look to get the big fish Smith and then they can maybe breathe a bit easy. The final session coming your way shortly.
That was some brilliant stuff from Ashwin and Wade in the final over! Good from Pant as well as he kept talking throughout the over and put pressure on Wade! Test cricket at its absolute best! The session one would feel has gone to both the teams.
We will get another over!
Jasprit Bumrah is back. 6-1-14-0 are his numbers so far.
Another review from India. This is against Wade for LBW. Once again Siraj is absolutely certain and Rahane goes with the bowler. Time for the replays! Noting on Hot Spot and nothing either on RTS. Ball Tracker again. It is pitching outside leg. This time India lose a review.
Steven Smith now in at number 4. Interesting battle to look forward to.
Review time! Rahane wasn't too sure but he went with his bowler. Time for Hot Spot first. No bat on it and nothing on the RTS either. Time for Ball Tracker. Pitching in line, impact in line but umpire's call on hitting the wickets.
DRINKS! Australia have done well in spite of losing a wicket in this hour! Indians have not bowled badly but they have given away easy singles and that has not helped them one bit. Umesh's absence in the middle will hurt them more. Let's see how the Indian bowlers return post this mini-break.
Mohamed Siraj is back on.
Spin time! Umesh Yadav is off the field and Rahane tosses the ball to Ashwin. He was the one who sent Wade packing. Can he do that again?
Who will come next? Marnus Labuschagne it is at number 3.
Burns has been given out caught behind now. He has taken the review with moments left on the timer. The Hot Spot detects the edge. Burns goes and takes the review along with him.
Review time! Where's that hit him? It has hit the shoes. Ball Tracker time! Pitching in line, impact is in line as well but wickets umpire's call. Burns stays. India keep their review.
Right! We are back for the second session! The Indian players are in a huddle near the rope. They now disperse to take their positions in the field. Joe Burns and Matthew Wade stride out to open the Aussie innings. In the first innings, Burns fell for a duck while Wade looked decent for his knock. They will have to play a big role if the Aussies are to get to a good score. Jasprit Bumrah will take the new ball for India. He was the one who gave the first wicket to the Indians. Rahane will want it from him again. Three men catching at slips, one at gully. Here we go...
Who will take the ball from the other end? Umesh Yadav it is. Didn't get a wicket in the first innings. Let's see what he can do here. Burns to face.
Right! 70 is what India need to level the series. The fact that the conditions are pretty good to bat, they should chase it down easily. However, they will remember their score of last match's second innings and would not want to get carried away. Australia, if they can strike early, can put the visitors under some pressure. Join us for India's 2nd innings in a short while.