A Steven Smith century and his sterling partnership with comeback man Glenn Maxwell, along with an untimely Virat Kohli injury, put Australia firmly in the driver’s seat after Day 1 of the Ranchi Test against India. Follow all the action of Day 2 from 3pm (AEDT) here on The Roar.
Australian captain Smith, who had won the toss and elected to bat, brought up his 19th Test hundred to see his side through to 4-299 at stumps.
The day started off promisingly as Matt Renshaw provided good resistance at one end while David Warner looked to be in his elements.
After the two had brought up a 50-run stand for the first wicket, India got their first breakthrough when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Warner for 19 runs. Jadeja, who had conceded a boundary in the previous ball, bowled a shin-high full toss to Warner, who instead of sending it into the top tier of the stands hit it straight into the bowler’s hands.
That brought Smith out to the centre and the skipper played the waiting game. Renshaw, who got off to yet another good start, was next to be dismissed, as Umesh Yadav struck in the 23rd over.
The third wicket fell towards the end of the first session, with Cheteshwar Pujara holding on to a good catch off Shaun Marsh’s edge following a good delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin.
Australia went into lunch at 3-109, with Smith and Peter Handscomb in the middle. The two batsmen looked solid at the beginning of the post-lunch session, while Yadav was generating reverse swing, eventually trapping Handscomb plum in front.
It proved to be the last wicket of the day, as Smith and Maxwell first saw Australia past the 200-run mark, then hit the accelerator in the final session, finishing up with Smith on 117 and Maxwell 82.
While it was the ninth hundred away from home for Smith, Maxwell’s innings showed just how much he has improved. For a man, who is better known for hitting the ball out of the park at every opportunity, to claim his first boundary of the innings on his 56th delivery is testament to how much work he has put in. This pair will be crucial for Australia if they can survive the first hour on Day 2.
India’s best opportunity to break this partnership is likely to come early, but the home side do not have a recognised fifth bowler, which could prove a problem if they end up bowling a lot of overs.
Kohli’s shoulder injury will be an added concern, with some media outlets reporting that he has been ruled out of the Test. Regardless, his injury makes the task that much harder for the hosts.
Follow the live scores and blog of the second day of this third Test between India and Australia from 3pm (AEDT) here on The Roar.
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Art Vanderlay
Guest
Yeh, it was "just " the Australian media who were hysterical. No-one here got carried away...
Rats
Guest
Impressed with Umesh Yadav... Such a workhorse.. A rarity for an Indian fast bowler.. Hope he stays injury free.. Hope he stays out of IPL.. And be fresh and good to represent India at highest level.. BCCI should protect the very little fast bowling resources they have got.
brent elms
Guest
it looks like a good pitch, australian media as usual are complete rubbish, judges the pitch by just looking at it or just because its in india its a bad pitch. it is looking like ind vs eng all over again. i have been saying this for quite some time, rank turners give australia a good chance at winning flat wicket is no good for us as india will manage to get us out around 400 and we will struggle to get their wickets and looks like its exactly what's happening. big day tomorrow, kohli might not bat but on this pitch australia will have to work very hard.
peter chrisp
Guest
We will wait and see usually the pitch deteriorates you will roll us under 200 and with your second dig let's hope the Aussie's can do the same and less here's hoping
Linphoma
Guest
From the evidence so far it looks like India have gone back to the formula they used to dust England. First dig - your 450, I'll see that and raise you a hundred. That'll be Day four when you get to bat again Second dig - we'll roll you for under 200 as the deck breaks up, leaving a modest chase, even if this Australian attack bowls hand grenades.
SonOfLordy
Guest
Aussie media should be ashamed of itself for painting the Indians as villains "doctoring" the pitch. Just a normal pitch.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, flat surface. Again those odd signs of the pitch having something on the day but on most other occasions, the batsmen, if set, shouldn't feel too worried. Smith did well to get Australia to 451 but with India at 1/120, they might not want to look at what happened in the England series. Fortunately for Australia, Cummins and to an extent, Lyon, looked like they could trouble the batsmen at different times. Rahul played rather well for 67 before getting out to a snorter from Cummins, Vijay and Pujara are grinding their way at the crease. India will hope to bat the entire of day three from here on, Australia will look to bowl them out before that which will ensure them a lead. Predictions? Back tomorrow with the third day's play. Good evening.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SOK to Vijay, block, block and block before pushing the fourth to the off-side. Defends the fifth and then pushes a slightly shorter delivery to point. Maiden to finish things off. India end the day at 1/120 in 40.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Right, so the last over of the day and Smith could look to use Glenn Maxwell? Century under his belt should count for some confidence? As it is, my hotline through to the Aussie skipper has been repaired and he can hear me loud and clear. Just doesn't want to take my advice. It's SOK time.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Is that the shot of the innings? Vijay has been troubled by Lyon but here, he goes the surface and pushes it. Four, as it beats the mid-off fielder... ...appeal for a catch. Is that an inside edge? Review time. Again, Vijay's troubles against Lyon. This will remain not-out but Lyon and Australia will be happy to see these last few overs from Lyon against the Indian opener. Appeal was for a caught at short-leg, but come off the pads. Defends the next two, before pushing the next for a single.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Ajinkya Rahane is padded up, which is interesting - means Kohli won't be batting any time soon and that the night watchman might also be reserved till later. After four dots from Hazlewood, he tries a full, swinging yorker to try and get Rahane out in the middle but Pujara does well to flick it through the on-side for a four. Lets go of a bouncer last ball. 1/115 in 38.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon is getting a lot more off the surface from round the stumps and he is bowling beautifully too. Vijay looked like he had a few issues gauging the turn and then deciding on whether to play forward or back... ...gets off strike with a single to the leg-side. Pujara defends the fourth as Wade shouts out, "he wants to come down Gary." Smith gets a leg-slip in but Lyon bowls one shorter and is worked away for a single. The leg-slip goes back to short fine-leg for Vijay, who drives the final ball to short cover. 1/111 in 37.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden from Hazlewood. Very different to Cummins, more of the same, consistent line and length from him, getting it on that right spot. Pujara defends well. 1/109 in 36. Four overs remain.
Beauty of a geek Brains of a bimbo
Guest
Cummins will get injured by the end of this series.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the bowling. Josh Hazlewood replaces Cummins...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon comes from round the stumps and raps Vijay on his pads. A huge appeal follows from the bowler and the keeper but they opt out of the review because, Lyon reckons it's come off the bat. It had... ...next ball, Vijay clips it to the leg-side and that hits Handscomb on his helmet. Bit more purchase for Lyon here and makes Vijay go down the pitch on the third and defend it. Vijay flicks it to square-leg for one which allows Lyon to go back to over the stumps at Pujara too. Whips it through square-leg for a single too. Some turn and bounce for Lyon. Two from it. 1/109 in 35
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Cummins will continue, into his sixth over with a wicket last over allowing him another one. Good couple of deliveries before Cummins lets loose a bouncer. Pujara goes under. The next one is a slower ball I think and it keeps a tad low too, allowing Pujara to adjust and work it through on-side for a couple. Nudges the fifth ball to square-leg, who is close-in and fields. Pujara pushes the final ball away to the off side. 1/107 in 34.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, everyone else knew though. The short-leg fielder saw it too and was hoping for it to pop up.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Pushes the first to the covers before wanting to play a sweep and Vijay mistimes it. Gets a top-edge and goes over the keeper and the slip for a four. Lyon will be encouraged by that... ...or will he? The next one, he has played another shot and connected it off the screws. Smashed it away for a four. Lyon decides to go round the stumps, and Vijay defends. Before he makes it the third four of the over, paddling it away fine. Interesting batting this right after having lost a wicket. Risky too. 12 from the over. 1/105 in 33.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the attack. Nathan Lyon takes over from SOK.