Hello and welcome to Sportstar's Live Coverage of Australia vs India, Fourth Test, Day 3 at the Gabba, Brisbane.
India vs Australia, 4th Test, Brisbane, Scorecard
India vs Australia 4th Test Live Cricket Score Online Day 4 Updates
Stumps Day 3: India 336 all out | Australia 369 & 21/0 after 6 overs | Leads by 54 runs
India ends Day 3 on a high - thanks to the century stand between Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar who bailed India out of trouble and in the process registered their maiden Test fifties. Australia began with a slender 33-run lead and David Warner was off the blocks quickly to take the lead past the 50-run mark. It will be an important day for both the teams as India will aim early inroads, while Australia would like to post a substancial total on the board. Do join us for Day 4 action tomorrow at 5:00 AM...
Australia 20/0 after 5 overs: Spin being introduced into the attack and it will be Washington Sundar. Starts well as he gives three with Warner picking the gap behind point.
Australia 13/0 after 3 overs: David Warner gets going as he smacks Mohammed Siraj for three consecutive boundaries. Siraj bangs it short and Warner goes for the pull through the mid-wicket and then drives the bowler through the mid-off for another boundary. Siraj then goes round the wicket, bowls short and wide as Warner pounces on it and gets it through the square for a boundary.
Australia 0/0 after 1 over: Mohammed Siraj begins with a maiden as he gets the ball to move and bowls a couple of out swingers and doesn't allow Harris to get off the mark. T Natarajan to partner Siraj.
End of Innings: India 336 all out- Trails by 33 runs
What a fabulous recovery was this from India as Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur hit maiden Test half-centuries and brought India back into the game with a 123-run stand for the seventh wicket. From 186/6, India was in doldrums as Australia was bossing the game with the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant. But the duo of Shardul and Sundar turned the game on its head with a stunning reply to bring the deficit down to 33 runs. Australia will face 10 overs in the final minutes of play.
India 328/9 after 109 overs: WICKET - Mitchell Starc strikes and a fantastic innings from Sundar comes to an end as he departs for a 144-ball 62. Came in at a very difficult situation, bided his time and played proper cricketing shots and some of his drives were simply glorious. He tried to steer Starc towards third man but ends up spooning a catch to Cameron Green at gully. End of a fine innings and he will remember this for a long, long time. The Sharddul-Sundar show at The Gabba comes to an end with the Indian supporters thoroughly being entertained.
India 326/8 after 108 overs: WICKET - Hazlewood strikes and he picks his fourth wicket as Navdeep Saini's resistance comes to an end. Back of length delivery, Saini tried to defend it but gets a healthy edge and Smith takes an easy catch.
India 319/7 after 105 overs: India trails by just 50 and thanks to Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar who with their century stand have nullified Australia's advantage. With Sundar batting on 60 from 128 deliveries and with three wickets in hand, India will aim to erase the deficit and try and get a lead. But before that, erasing the deficit will be the primary objective as even a slender lead will be very handy on this surface and India would not like to hand Australia that advantage.
Shardul, Washington century partnership shatters records, frustrates Australia
India 309/7 after 103 overs: WICKET - Pat Cummins breaks the partnership as he castles Shardul who departs for a brilliant 115-ball 67 - his maiden Test fifty at The Gabba against Australia and he can be very proud of. India was in deep trouble when he walked in but joined hands with Sundar to raise a match-saving 123-run stand for the seventh wicket. Absolutely brilliant from Shardul as he walks off after Cummins broke through his defence.
India 292/6 after 97 overs: Maiden Test Fifty for Washington Sundar - Exceptional from the Tamil Nadu all-rounder as he reaches his half-century with a single off Starc and what a knock he has played in company of Shardul. After picking a three-wicket haul on debut, Sundar delivers with the bat and the deficit is gradually decreasing and the dressing room seems mighty pleased with the youngsters effort. Sundar becomes the second Indian player after Dattu Phadkar to score fifty plus and three-plus wickets on debut. Definitely some records are being shattered as the partnership is now 111 off 190 deliveries.
India 289/6 after 96 overs:Fifty for Shardul - Take a Bow Shardul Thakur! He gets to his maiden Test half-century with a six off Nathan Lyon as he clubs the spinner over long-on and what a knock this has been. Sundar then smacks Lyon through the covers to bring the 100-run partnership and they can be really proud of themselves as both of them have played with great composure and most importantly, they were fearless in their approach. Australia under pressure.
India 272/6 after 93 overs: The deficit is now under 100 as India now trails by 97 runs. Shardul in particular is growing in confidence as he creamed Starc through the covers for a boundary to move to 46 - the highest score in India's total as Sundar braves a fiery Starc over as the fast bowler clicked 147.1kph on one occasion with 145kph being the constant. Good cricket all around but credit to Sundar and Shardul for their audacious approach. Both batsmen nearing their half-centuries.
India 253/6 after 88 overs: Nathan Lyon starts the proceedings after Tea and he bowls a maiden as Sundar exhibits solid defence. He is in no hurry and having played 88 deliveries, Sundar is batting like a proper batsman and his drives have been stylish. Remember, he has opened for his State in First Class cricket.
We are back for the final session and how much can the Indian tail wag remains to be seen. Sundar and Thakur are unseparated and they will aim to take India forward but Australia will come hard with the new ball just seven overs old.
Tea Day 3: India 253/6 - The 250 is up for India and what a fine show this has been from Shardul Thakur (33 n o, 62b) and Washington Sundar (38, 82b) as they forge an unbeaten 67-run stand off 124 deliveries and have kept Australia at bay. With the dismissal of Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant, Australia thought they would wrap up the tail quickly. However, Thakur and Sundar fought back with great guts and determination and staged a remarkable recovery as India now trails by 116 runs. From 186/6 to 253/6, this has been simply fabulous from both Shardul and Sundar who are playing their first Test innings. Great composure and the way they have put a price on their wicket is simply outstanding. Join us in 20 minutes for the final session.
Australia 239/6 after 83 overs: The new ball has been taken but Shardul and Sundar have forged a brilliant fifty-run stand - the highest so far in the Indian innings. The partnership is worth 54 off 102 deliveries with Sundar batting on 35 off 74 balls and Thakur on 23 off 48 deliveries. Impressive from both the tail-enders and they are in no mood to throw it away. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are bowling well but credit to the batsmen, they have negotiated without much fuss.
Australia 224/6 after 77 overs: Sundar and Thakur continue to resist the Australian attack but Tim Paine will be itching to get the new ball and allow his pacers to do the job. The new ball will be available in 3 overs and it will be a challenge for the inexperienced tail to blunt it and take India closer to Australia's first innings total. For the moment, Sundar and Thakur are playing risk-free cricket. Remember, Sundar had opened innings in First Class cricket for Tamil Nadu.
India 205/6 after 71 overs: Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur are playing their shots with the latter getting his first Test runs with a six over the deep backward square. Thakur is taking the risk of fetching boundaries but Sundar is playing to the merit of the ball and is leaving the deliveries well. India desperately needs a partnership as they cannot allow Australia to pocket a huge lead. Only a lesser deficit will allow India too bounce back in the game.
India 187/6 after 67 overs: India continues to slip and this time it's Rishabh Pant who has to depart and what a fine reflex catch by Cameroon Green at gully... Back of length from Hazlewood and Pant looked to guide it over the cordon but failed tp get the enough as Green took a sharp catch and the Australians are escatic. India in deep trouble.
India 175/5 after 65 overs: Washington Sundar and Pant are trying to forge a stand with the spinner declaring his positive intent with a crisp drive through the mid-off and the timing was absolutely brilliant. Pant, meanwhile, continues to play his game as he gets the occasional boundary and it will be interesting to see how he tackles Nathan Lyon with India having lost half of the side.
From the conversation about racism Mohammed Siraj's bravery has triggered in cricketing discussions to Tim Paine's questionable sportsmanship, Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya, Vijay Lokapally and Shayan Acharya unpack all the developments from the Sydney Test and what they mean for India and Australia ahead of the final Test at the Gabba.
India 163/5 after 61 overs: WICKET - Hazlewood strikes immediately after Lunch and once again an Indian batsman throws his wicket away and this time it's Mayank Agarwal. He did all the hard work in the morning session and was poised and well-set in the middle only to play an outrageous shot and walk back. Back of length delivery, there was width on offer and Mayank throws his hands at it, gets a thick outside edge and Smith takes a fine catch on the rebound to leave India five down. There was absolutely no need to play that shot but Mayank just couldn't resist the temptation. This Test is slipping away from India's grasp and they need another miracle of sorts to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Back for the second session and it will be Hazlewood to start proceedings.
Lunch Day 3 - 161/4 after 60 overs: It's a shared session as although India lost a couple of wickets they did well to recover in parts and cut off the deficit as they now trail by 208 runs. Both the overnight batsmen - Rahane and Pujara were dismissed with the latter getting a peach from Hazlewood but the India skipper fell to a plot and was guilty of playing a loose shot. However, Mayank Agarwal in his new role as a middle-order batsman has looked good and has come out to bat in a positive way, using his feet well against the spinners. He is joined by Rishabh Pant, who has the capability of taking the attack to the Australians. Crucial session coming up and India will hope the Mayank-Pant stand remains intact. Back in 40...
India 144/4 after 55 overs: WICKET - The plan has worked for Australia and Mitchell Starc strikes to remove India skipper Ajinkya Rahane. A third slip was in place, Starc gets it to pitch full, invites Rahane for the drive and the batsman goes for it, plays away from his body, gets a healthy edge and Wade takes a simple catch. A wicket at the stroke of Lunch.
India 126/3 after 47 overs: The partnership is steadily growingt Cummins is between Mayank and Rahane but Cummins is bowling a relentless line in tandem with Cameron Green. India needs to be careful as they can't afford to lose another wicket. The captain has been solid in his defence and has left deliveries well...
India 116/3 after 42 overs: Mayank is off the mark and he is showing good positive intent as he drives Lyon firmly through the covers and runs four. Rahane, meanwhile, has been a little more cautious after the fall of Pujara and the India skipper will hold the key.
India 105/3 after 39 overs: WICKET - That's the end of Pujara and Hazlewood strikes to end his resistance. The ball just straightens up after pitching, just kisses the outside edge of Pujara's bat and Paine takes a regulation catch. Mayank Agarwal is the new man in.
India 105/2 after 38 overs: R ahane dispatches Lyon to the deep point for a boundary to bring the 100 up for India and the partnership is worth 45 off 113 deliveries.
India 89/2 after 34 overs: Top shot from Pujara as he rides on the bounce and steers Starc behind point for a welcome boundary. Rahane and Pujara have begin well and need to carry on.
India 69/2 after 30 overs: Mitchell Starc is bowling a tight line and on one occasion almost got Rahane as he forced the India skipper to go for a drive, the ball took a thick outside edge and just evaded a diving Cameron Green at gully. Both Cummins and Starc are not allowing the batsmen off the hook but Pujara in particular is compact in his defence.
India 64/2 after 27 overs: Rahane is up and running with a beautiful drive through the covers but the ball doesn't reach the boundary as the India skipper settles for a couple. Cummins then comes back to bowl three consecutive dots to end the over on a high.
We are all set for Day 3 to begin and it will be Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane
Brisbane Test: Australia tightens grip on rain-curtailed day
Rohit Sharma’s indiscreet shot selection pegged India back after its rookie bowling attack restricted Australia to 369 on a rain-curtailed second day of the fourth Test on Saturday. With heavy thundershowers preventing any play in the post-tea session, India ended the day at 62 for two.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Rohit was elegant as ever in his 44 off 74 balls before Nathan Lyon in his 100th Test enticed him to come down the track; he was caught out by Mitchell Starc at long-on. India also lost Shubman Gill (7), who edged a delivery off Pat Cummins to Steve Smith.
Cheteshwar Pujara (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (2) added two runs in the 6.1 overs before the break.
There were six boundaries from Rohit but he did not fiddle at deliveries in and around the off-stump channel even as Cummins and Josh Hazlewood bowled a testing spell under overcast conditions.
No regrets for playing that shot off Lyon, says Rohit
Rohit Sharma understands the criticism that his untimely dismissal has invited but the India vice-captain has "no regrets" about going after Nathan Lyon, saying that's his way of putting bowlers under pressure.
Rohit looked in good touch during his 44 off 74 balls but was dismissed trying to loft Lyon over mid-wicket, the kind of shots that has often brought about his dismissal even during earlier Test matches.
"You always have a plan and I actually have no regret of playing that shot. It is something that I always like to do --- put pressure on bowlers. Nathan Lyon is a smart bowler and he bowled into me which made it difficult for me to get some elevation," Rohit said at the post-match virtual conference.
His shot selection invited criticism from the commentary box. India was 62 for two at stumps when Rohit could have gone for a big score after a good start.
Rohit understands the disappointment but in his defence would explain why he went for that kind of a high-risk stroke.
"It's not that it is (that shot) coming out of nowhere. It's a shot that I have played well in the past. That's something that I back myself to play and that's the kind of role I play in this team. When it looks like that, it looks bad, but I don't think too much as my focus is to make it count once I am in," he said.
Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant(w), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine(w/c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Toss: Australia won the toss and opted to bat first
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