India vs Australia 3rd Test: The match venue is the Sydney Cricket Ground. India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) 3rd Test Highlights: Australia scored 166/2 after a four-hour rain interruption on the opening day of the third Test between India and Australia here on Thursday.
Groundsmen at the Sydney Cricket Ground worked relentlessly, including using a blower to go with the super-sopper, to get the surface ready for resumption at 3 pm local time. Australia won the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground and opted to bat first. Will Pucovski, making his Test debut, scored a half-century, despite a failure from the returning David Warner. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith took the innings to the close of play.
Australia post 166/2 on Day 1. Steve Smith (31) and Marnus Labuschagne (67) see the day through as India end the day with a pace barrage from the debutant.
Ashwin elicits an animated appeal from the inner circle as the ball balloons off Smith's pads and goes straight to short leg. But the umpire is unmoved and replays show Smith had not got bat to it. Jadeja bowls from the other end as India look to close out the day with a flurry of spin.
AUS 161/2 after 51
Ashwin continues going for runs. Both batsmen ready to step out to attack him, send his balls crashing back over his head. A few half-shouts from the inner circle as Ashwin gets the ball to spin into Smith's pads once, Siraj gets the ball to swerve through Labuschagne's defence, but overall, it's been pretty easy going for the Australians.
AUS 159/2 after 48
Labuschagne gets into the act now. He has been content to play the defensive foil till now, having played more than 100 balls, but suddenly there is a flurry of boundaries from him. He crashes Siraj through the gaps to get to his 50. Australia get to 150 in the 44th over.
AUS 152/2 after 44
Steve Smith comes out all guns blazing. Has had a poor series so far. Will he make up for all of it on this batting paradise? Some early aggression from the former captain, who is currently batting at a strike rate close to 100. He takes the battle to Ashwin, stepping out his crease and smashing him down the ground.
AUS 136/2 after 42
What a start for debutant Navdeep Saini. He got Pucovski Lbw!! And the partnership has been broken.Pucovski knew he was a dead duck as soon as he missed it. He finally misses one. Full delivery at 141.3kph, Pucovski plants his front foot across and does not get his bat down in time, Will Pucovski lbw b Navdeep Saini 62(110)
100 comes up for Australia with Bumrah and Saini operating for India. 100 comes up for Australia in the 34th over, the Aussie juggernaut rolls on. This partnership is also approaching the 100-mark. Pucovski pulls for four to end the 34th over. AUS 107/1 after 34
Another short rain break later, the third session starts on Day 1. Bumrah to bowl the first over of the session and the 32nd over of the day with two slips and a gully in place. Pucovski and Labuschagne resume what is becoming a sizeable partnership.
AUS 94/1 after 32
Navdeep Saini bowls his first over in Test cricket. His first two balls in Test cricket are smashed for fours by Pucovski. Who gets to his 50 on Test debut in the process. Off 97 balls.
AUS 93/1 after 31
And the Tea break is taken.
Labuschagne cracks back-to-back fours against Ashwin. Lots of runs have come off Ashwin since the dropped catch by Pant. He was gracious in patting Pant on the back before his next over, but his luck didn't turn. Labuschagne cracks another four through to the off side in Ashwin's next.
AUS 84/1 after 30
Pucovski is out! The short ball from Siraj gets the wicket. Pucovski gets a short ball, tries to pull but only gets glove to it. Pant takes a catch running back. The 50-run partnership is broken. Or no! Cancel that! That's another catch dropped. The ball touched the grass. Pucovski gets another reprieve.
AUS 56/1 after 25
Big opportunity goes abegging. Risbhabh Pant drops a catch as Pucovski gets an edge off Ashwin's off spinners. On a pitch like this, where batsmen are currently having it easy, it is criminal to let down such chances! Pucovski makes the most of the reprieve in the next over, rocks back and cuts Ashwin for four.
AUS 55/1 after 24
Will and Marnus continue flying the Aussie flag. It's Siraj, Bumrah and Ashwin who are still operating for India. Not yet time for Saini, or Jadeja. Not much happening off the surface for Indian bowlers, and the batsmen are not being stretched at the moment.
AUS 47/1 after 21
Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne are taking their time at the middle and watchfully building Australian innings. Both have stitched a steady 37-run partnership so far. The pair is not taking any risk before Indian bowlers. Pucovski 23* off 53 balls and Labuschagne 15* off 35
AUS 43/1 in 16 overs
The first change in the Indian bowling attack came in form of R Ashwin in the 14th over. Ashwin has been brought in before Navdeep Saini. This is going to be a crucial change for India.
AUS 36/1 in 14 overs
The Day 1 play resumed here at SCG after losing out 36 overs due to rain. Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne are at the middle trying to make India bowlers sweat. Navdeep Saini is yet to bowl his first Test delivery.
AUS 27/1 in 9 overs
Good news is coming in. After umpires inspection, the play to resume at 3 pm local time and at 9.30 IST. A leaf blower is being employed to dry a damp area as there seems to be some concerns about the edge of the pitch at the Paddington end.
As per the latest update from Sydney, umpires will conduct further inspections at 2.30 pm (local time). The covers are off and the sun is out for now.
The rain continues at Sydney Cricket Ground and it appears that teams may not be able to walk in even after the early lunch. The covers were off, the Indian players were warming up but the rain's back and so are the covers. "We were about to start at 1:40 and now it has started to rain again. So, we're covering up.
The rain has forced an early lunch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The day's play halted after 7.3 overs today where we witnessed the early and easy fall of David Warner. Mohammed Siraj got him out for just 5. Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne were batting before the rain stopped play. Pucovski has looked solid apart from a couple of short balls which had him in trouble. Labuschagne has not had much to do. All eyes on the sky now.