India vs Australia Live, IND vs Aus 2nd Test Day 3 LIVE Score: All eyes are on Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja as India begin third-day proceedings against Australia in 2nd Test in Melbourne. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will have a task at hand to get rid of the two settled batsmen and try removing the Indian batsmen in less than 150 runs.
Furthermore, Australia will also have to pull their socks up in the fielding department, after dropping multiple catches including one of Rahane at the end of the day.
The second new ball is only in its 12th over and therein lies Australia’s opportunity of minimizing the damage. They need an early lift and an early wicket could set them going in the right direction today.
Ind vs Aus 2nd Test, Day 3 LIVE:
5:40: WICKET!!!! Rahane is run out
Lyon to Jadeja, out Rahane Run Out!! Australia finally get a breakthrough! It had to be a run out to remove Rahane, given how well he had been batting. This is a dismissal that’s probably brought about due to the milestone effect. Rahane run out
The Indian skipper gets standing ovations at MCG.
The @mcg raises as one to give @ajinkyarahane88 a standing ovation as he departs after giving Jadeja an “it’s ok” Pat as the all-rounder apologised to him for the run-out #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/0WnRfa064z
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 28, 2020
5:30: Mitchell Starc has left the field. It seems it is the same knee problem he was seen nursing on the second day.
Mitchell Starc leaving the field after a couple of overs this morning. Hopefully nothing too serious #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XT5mCctfJt
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
5:26: 97th over: India 292-5 (Rahane 112, Jadeja 47)
Cummins to Rahane, back over the wicket, and starts nicely. Back of a length, just outside the off stump, forces Rahane to defend. A lot of it depends on him and his raw pace.
5:08: 93rd over: India 279-5 (Rahane 106, Jadeja 40)
Cummins begin the day against left-handed Jadeja at the crease. He is bowling around the wicket, angling in at the batsman and presumably hoping to seam one away.
Shubman Gill – We needed to build as many partnerships as we could. It’s special to debut at the MCG in a Boxing Day Test. I wanted to bat positively, my gameplan was to play shots whenever possible. I was just looking at the ball, I didn’t realise that he was also going for the catch, it was actually closer to him and I was just happy that he took it (on that collision with Jadeja). I have been with the team over the last year or so, but never thought my first Test would have been a Boxing day game.
4:40: One look at the pitch map and Australia would recognise that they missed the Adelaide lengths – Pat Cummins started well, but faced with greater resistance from India’s middle order, the bowling pack faded away. The lengths were either too full or too short, it meant the ball invariably missed the outside edge several times. When they indeed found the edge, it either fell short or were shelled, as many as five of them. That has left the hosts in a hole and in a position where they could struggle to set a decent fourth innings target.
Ind vs Aus 2nd Test, Day 2 Highlights:
12:32: Rain stops play, Umpire calls for Stumps; India 277/5; Lead by 82 runs
Looks like Rahane’s hurt his hand once again, but as the physio comes out to have a look, the wind has picked up further and the groundsmen have been called in. Yep, rain stops play. Had it been a normal day we’d have had stumps by now, but with the rain delay, play was meant to stretch on for another 15 minutes. But no, it won’t be.
12:30: DROPPED!!!!
Starc to Rahane, no run, dropped, again. Well, well, well. This is no Australia. This is a sad joke. Starc bumps Rahane, who is in no position at all as he fends off his face, and the gloved up balloon flies in front of backward point, where Travis Head dives, gets both palms under, but still finds a way for it to pop out after he hits the ground
12:16: Walking down memory lane
A look at the Honours Board at the G.
.@ajinkyarahane88 scored a Test century in 2014 and here he is today all set to get his name engraved again.
Well done, Skip 💯#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1YfqQl3DKk
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020
12:09: Century!!!!!
Rahane hits a boundary to bring his 12th Test hundred
Other milestones that he achieved with this 100.
– 12th Indian captain to score a Test 100
– Second at MCG; Vinoo Mankad only other Indian player to do so
Hundreds by Indian skippers in Australia (Tests)
M Azharuddin 106 Adelaide 1991/92
S Tendulkar 116 MCG 1999/00
S Ganguly 144 Gabba 2003/04
V Kohli 115 & 141 Adelaide 2014/15
V Kohli 147 SCG 2014/15
V Kohli 123 Perth 2018/19
A Rahane 100* MCG 2020/21
💯
Captain @ajinkyarahane88 leading from the front. Brings up a brilliant century. His 12th in Test cricket 👏👏#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/23w9KS57fw
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020
12:02: 87th over: India 264-5 (Rahane 96, Jadeja 36)
Disappointing day for the Aussie bowlers generally. Only Cummins has managed to hold his line and length for any period at all and even he is getting worn down.
11:53: 84th over: India 254-5 (Rahane 89, Jadeja 33)
Cummins continues as Hazlewood is getting ready to return to bowling from one end. The pacer traps Jadeja on the crease and appeals for an lbw.
The current partnership is worth 81 runs. India lead by 59.
11:39: 81st over: India 236-5 (Rahane 74, Jadeja 30)
Starc replaces Green and the new ball is taken immediately. And doesn’t the new cherry come off the bat nicely?! First ball of the over, Jadeja clips Starc off his pads for three through midwicket. Dropped catch!
11:32: Drinks!!! are on the field now
11:25: 80th over: India 232-5 (Rahane 73, Jadeja 27)
Three runs for Jadeja off Lyon and it’s another nice shot that races through the covers. Four from the over and that, ladies and gentlemen, might be it for this ball.
11:15: 77th over: India 225-5 (Rahane 71, Jadeja 22)
More movement in the air for Green but he can’t make the breakthrough. Just a single from the over.
10:58: Key Stats
Partnership: 42(83)
Last Wkt: Rishabh Pant c Paine b Starc 29(40) – 173/5 in 59.1 ov.
Ovs Left: 28
Last 10 overs: 30 runs, 0 wkts
10:44: 69th over: India 206-5 (Rahane 62, Jadeja 12)
Hazlewood again. AB is making a good point on the telly regarding unconventional fielding positions. Predictably, Herr Border is not a fan. Give him two slips and gully every day of the week. The short square returns for Jadeja, again with two slips in place. But Hazlewood’s radar is a little off and the overpasses with no threat to the batsman, who keeps the score ticking over with three runs past point.
10:26: India are into the lead now
Starc to Rahane, FOUR, the natural angle from Starc, pushed across the right-hander, Rahane uses the pace on the ball, plays with an angled bat and runs it past the slip cordon for a boundary
10:18: This would be a tricky session for India. Firstly batting after rain is never easy and then the second new ball.
9:43: Tea – India 189-5 (trail by six runs)
An engrossing session with 99 runs scored for the loss of two wickets. India are now one lusty blow away from parity and they made good inroads in the afternoon on the back of Rahane and Pant, the latter making a brisk 29 before falling to Starc. Australia will want to do away with Rahane soon after tea if they are to minimise their likely deficit on first-innings scores. See you in a few moments. Hopefully the rain will abate sooner rather than later.
9:32: FIFTY!!!!!
Rahane brings up his half-century with a boundary. What a game he is having so far! Was tactically bang on as captain yesterday and this innings has been him at his near best in terms of temperament and shot-selection.
Quality innings so far from India’s stand-in skipper #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HIPKaHCs5x
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
9:22: WICKET!!!! Starc to Pant, out Caught by Paine!!
Edged and gone! Pant tried to accelerate the innings but his intent brings about his downfall. Shorts of length with width, but he tried to go really hard on the cut. The extra bounced led to his downfall. Score: 173/5
9:10: 56th over: India 161-4 (Rahane 38, Pant 28)
There are some players who seemed like T20 specialists but ended up doing well in Tests. Sehwag was one. Pant might be another. He seems like playing in a better frame of mind in Tests than T20s
Rishabh Pant in Tests in Australia:
25
28
36
30
39
33
159*
28* (today)
8:44: Drinks then. You’d think this was India’s hour.
51st over: India 135-4 (Rahane 33, Pant 7)
8:26: 47th over: India 122-4 (Rahane 24, Pant 3)
The runs comes from Lyon, but in contrasting fashion. Rahane controlled and driving. Pant is in a hurry to start going big.
8:18: WICKET!!!!! Lyon to Hanuma Vihari, out Caught by Smith!!
Vihari looks to back his cut off the previous ball with a big booming sweep. But the ball drifts in, spins sharply, bounces extra as well, hence taking the glove and lobbing tamely to leg-slip.
Nathan Lyon is straight into his groove! It brings Rishabh Pant to the crease… 🍿
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
8:12: India should have given a chance to KL Rahul in the next match instead of Agarwal. ‘Would be unfair on both, Mayank has just had a couple of lean matches with the bat; KL hasn’t had red-ball practice on this tour’
7:56: 40th over: India 94-3 (Rahane 13, Vihari 14)
Hazlewood carries on with his patience game, working away around the off stump. Rahane manages a single to the on-side, that’s the only score from the over.
7:41: We’re back live. Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari will try to hold ground and attack Aussies as the day progresses.
7:08: Lunch – India 90 for 3
Very competitive first session of Test cricket. It was parry and thrust early, with Gill scoring while Cummins and Hazlewood looked dangerous.
Once he was out, momentum came into Australia’s favour. He delivered on that threat by picking up Pujara as well, but Rahane and Vihari have made it through the session and will resume with the chance to build.
They currently trail by 105 runs with seven wickets in hand.
6:33:
30th over: India 80-3 (Rahane 2, Vihari 12)
Rahane’s ability to score away hundreds was what made him vice-captain and captain now. But, it is really for a while now and this is the perfect time for Rahane to come back to form.
6:06:
WICKET!!!! Cummins to Pujara, out Caught by Paine!! Score 67/3
It was a one-handed screamer from Paine! And he loves it, absolutely loves it. Look at him go. This is a massive strike for Australia and they know it. Almost a replica of Pujara’s Adelaide second innings dismissal. Stuck on the crease to this in-angler that just straightens a bit to find the edge. Was travelling and both first slip as well as the keeper went for it.
5:55:
WICKET!!! Cummins to Shubman Gill, out Caught by Paine!!
Finally, an edge carries and is taken for Australia! Cummins has deserved this, given how well he has bowled but it’s a loose shot from Gill really. Fullish with a hint of outward shape, he could have left it alone due to the line but is sucked into a lazy drive.
Oh, lord, my half century! I only had 5 runs left!
– Shubman Gill, probably #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vQ0TUWr0DZ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
5:49:
20th over: India 57-1 (Gill 44, Pujara 12)
Cummins to Gill, draws the edge but it costs him four. Gill goes softly enough at that to keep the edge down, and hits the gap in the cordon on the bounce.
5:44:
Gill vs Shaw: The debate begins
Gill has shown a lot of patience, unlike Shaw. He’s been dropped a few times but he surely has put a price tag on his wicket. No debut nerves and rarely plays a loose shot. Looks good for a big innings.
5:41:
18th over: India 53-1 (Gill 40, Pujara 12)
Cummins to Gill, who is riding on luck at the moment. Steers to gully, no run. Straight-drives beautifully, but Cummins get down and snatches the ball up in his follow-through and no run.
5:26:
16th over: India 52-1 (Gill 39, Pujara 12)
Cheteshwar Pujara has to be the most dependable batting partner in world cricket. Not just because of the way he plays but more about how he makes sure he points out every fielding change, even the obvious ones, to his colleague from the non-striker’s end
5:13:
Was it out or not out?
Pujara is given not out as the third umpire deems there not enough evidence of an edge! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UHePzIGKz5
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2020
13th over: India 40-1 (Gill 32, Pujara 7)
Shubman Gill on strike for the first time this morning, and he has the challenge of facing Josh Hazlewood under cloudy skies. First ball indicates that JH will be a handful, some swing into the pads of the right-hander that strikes him, but going down leg. Second ball, in the channel and going away off the seam. Third ball, decking in, inside edge and dropped! A big deviation from the inside, Paine is wrong-footed behind the stumps, has to dive back to his left and gets his left palm to the ball but isn’t in position and can’t hang on. He curses as he flicks it back towards the stumps. Fourth ball, flicked through midwicket for four! Gill will punch and counterpunch, and as he gets a straighter ball on a fuller length he takes full toll. India get past that 36 mark. What a contest. Gill sees out the over.
5:07:
12th Over, (Gill 28, Pujara 7)
Cummins being the proceedings for India, and we go up to DRS with the first ball of the day. Perfect line and length from Cummins, has Pujara pushing forward, past the edge. A convinced Paine immediately takes review. But with no conclusive evidence, Pujara continues while Australia lose its first review.
4:50:
Welcome Back!!!!
A very overcast day here at the MCG. There is a bit of rain forecast too although the drainage here is generally good. The overhead conditions could be a factor in how things go.
Ravindra Jadeja: It feels really good. The bowlers did a fine job. There was some turn in the first session and the ball was stopping, so Ajinkya told me to get ready to bowl a few overs. He (Siraj) has been doing a great job in First-class cricket and deserved this chance. When I saw the ball in the air (Wade dismissal), I didn’t realize that Shubman was also behind it. Somehow it stuck. He (Gill) is very calm and has a good red-ball technique.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test. When we arrived, we were greeted with a drizzle. The pitch was under covers too but it has cleared up now. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Rh3aoP8jLU
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2020
Highlight from Day1:
Ind vs Aus 2nd Test Indian bowlers shine under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy : An inspired Indian bowling unit, led by the menacing Jasprit Bumrah and the crafty Ravichandran Ashwin, steam-rolled Australia for a meagre 195 on a memorable opening day of the second Test here on Saturday.
New captain Ajinkya Rahane had a great day in office as he marshalled his resources impressively with debutant Mohammed Siraj (2/40 in 15 overs) repaying the faith shown in him with wickets of Marnus Labuschagne (48) and Cameron Green (12) with the old ball.
However, the Test series is increasingly looking like Ashwin’s (3/35 in 24 overs) paradise as he once again made opposition’s best batsman Steve Smith (0) look ordinary, exploiting the turn and bounce that the first day of the MCG track offered.
Bumrah (4/56 in 16 overs) was bowling as if it was business as usual, beating the bat and getting those breakthroughs just when it mattered on a pitch that had retained moisture. As it turned out, Rahane didn’t lose a bad toss.
The Indian team looked way more galvanised despite being without regular skipper Vurat Kohli, who is on paternity leave. Some great catches were taken and the intent was way more visible.
Rahane’s first punt was introducing Ashwin inside the first hour of play after Bumrah had forced Joe Burns (0) to nick one to Rishabh Pant.
Ashwin, who varied the pace of his deliveries cleverly got some turn and bounce straightaway as he drew Matthew Wade into coming down the track and skying one for India’s best fielder Ravindra Jadeja to take a well-judged catch running backwards.
After one that jumped and turned beating Smith and Pant, Ashwin kept the next a tad straighter and the former Australian skipper’s glance was pouched by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg gully.
All this while, Bumrah was beating the bat at the other hand.
Interestingly, Rahane didn’t give the debutant a single over before lunch break as he knew that Siraj’s strength is generating pace and movement with semi-new and old ball.
Siraj, initially bowled a bit short at Labuschagne and Travis Head (38 off 92 balls) as they added 86 runs for the fourth wicket.
It was Bumrah, who provided the post lunch breakthrough with a delivery that held its line and the left-hander’s thick edge was taken by Rahane at gully.
Siraj’s maiden wicket was a lucky one as the ball was drifting down the leg-side which Labuschagne tried to whip but Shubman Gill, stationed at backward square leg, snapped it inches off the ground.
However, the Hyderabad pacer’s second wicket was a much fuller ball with a hint of inward movement that caught Green plumb in-front.
Skipper Tim Paine (13) couldn’t script a rescue act like Adelaide as a classical off-break saw him guide one straight into the hands of Hanuma Vihari at backward square leg.
Bumrah didn’t take much time after that as he and Ravindra Jadeja (1/15) polished off the tail in a jiffy.
The debutant has found good support from Pujara who has looked solid too. The Aussie bowlers did beat the edge endless times and it was a testing phase indeed. They would have loved if Labuschagne had held on to that chance of Gill.
It was the sort of luck India needed today, especially after losing the toss.
For now, it’s advantage India and Australia have a lot of work to do on day two to bring the hosts back in the contest. Still a bit in it for the bowlers and we should have another gripping day tomorrow.