The first day of the third Test definitely belonged to Australia, but India did have its moments, at least in the first session of play. Umesh Yadav’s pace and reverse swing accounted for the wickets of Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, helping India get on to a decent start before the Smith and Maxwell show. In pic, Umesh Yadav celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Peter Handscomb
Indian skipper Virat Kohli grimaces in pain after hurting his shoulder while diving to stop a racing ball close to the boundary ropes. Till this moment, India seemed well in control of the day’s proceedings. After Kohli left the field for treatment, luck too deserted India as the host couldn’t capture a single wicket till the end of the day.
Steve Smith celebrates after hitting a century. In the process, he became the 20th Australian player to complete 5000 runs or more in Tests. Another interesting fact? Just three players have posted more centuries than Smith while completing 5000 runs in Tests — Don Bradman (21), Sunil Gavaskar (20) and Matthew Hayden (20). He is unbeaten on 117 and Indians would want him back in the dressing room first thing tomorrow morning.
Steve Smith wasn’t the only thorn in India’s flesh on Thursday. The skipper combined well with comeback man Glenn Maxwell to stitch an unbroken partnership of 159 to establish a fifth wicket partnership record v India in India. The partnership, biggest in the present series, is threatening to spoil India’s charge towards a series lead.
What’s a day without some Ishant Sharma drama? No, this time, Ishant was an involuntary participant to an amusing incident on the pitch. India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to challenge the on-field umpire’s call after an lbw appeal off Ishant Sharma against Glenn Maxwell was rejected. It came to light that Ishant Sharma had bowled a no-ball but the umpires decided not to call it as unsuccessful appeal. With the replays showing that the ball would have missed the stumps, it ended up being a win-win situation for all: India didn’t lose the appeal and Maxwell didn’t lose his wicket.
Wriddhiman Saha however took the cake for the most entertaining display of the day. The wicket-keeper can be seen picking the ball from Australian skipper Steve Smith’s pad, in a desperate attempt to get rid of Smith and much to the laughter of his team-mates and fans around.
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