Australia’s hopes of reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are on a knife’s edge after day three of the final Test at the Gabba.
The hosts take a 54-run lead into day four with openers David Warner (20 not out) and Marcus Harris (1 not out) at the crease.
Needing a win to take back the silverware, Australia ran into resistance from Indian newcomers Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur just when they thought they were getting on top of the game.
India was eventually bowled out for 336, just 33 runs behind Australia’s first innings of 369, despite the tail being ostensibly exposed.
Josh Hazlewood produced the excellent figures of 5-59 on a difficult day for bowlers.
Australia would have hoped for a much better day after removing overnight batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the first session, then getting rid of Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant in the second.
But the arrival of the bowlers to the crease did not bring about the collapse the hosts were looking for, as debutant Washington and second-gamer Shardul dug in for a 123-run partnership.
Australia’s vaunted bowling attack, which failed to bowl out India in 131 overs on days four and five in Sydney, battled for 36 overs against the pair before Shardul finally chopped on against Pat Cummins.
That was just Australia’s 12th wicket from its past 233 overs of bowling in the series.
It did expose India’s true tail, and Navdeep Saini lasted five overs before fending a Hazlewood ball to Steve Smith in the slips.
Washington finally fell to Mitchell Starc next over, bunting one to gully revelation Cameron Green.
Siraj was the last man to fall when Hazlewood completed his five-fer with a clean-bowled.
David Warner and Marcus Harris successfully negotiated the half-hour before stumps, adding 21 runs to Australia’s lead.
The goal tomorrow for the hosts will be to pile on runs as quickly as possible to give themselves enough time to bowl out India again, though the Brisbane weather may end up having a say in the result.
See how it all played out in our live blog.
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Australia vs India: Fourth Test at the Gabba
By Dean Bilton
Australia still just in front?
Stuart Clark thinks so. Here’s how he sums up the day:
It was a great fightback from India today. When they lost Rishabh Pant we were all worried it would be a huge lead for the Australians.
Unfortunately for the Australians Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur came out and batted beautifully. Both of them played some nice shots — they had a bit of luck along the way but you get that in Test cricket — and they took the game up to Australia.
As the game sits here at the moment, Australia is probably still just in front front, but it could have been a whole lot worse for India and a whole lot better for Australia. Australia is still in a position to dictate, score as many as they need and when the time is right, send India back in.
If we get two full days without rain there is time for a result, but looking at the forecast we might not get that. I’m not going to say it … but tomorrow morning will be a big, big session.
By Jon Healy
Stumps: Australia is 0-21, leading by 54 (Warner 20, Harris 1)
There’s a lot of work to be done for Australia’s maligned batting line-up, but this opening pair did their job tonight, especially David Warner with that explosive over off Siraj.
Again, the batsmen need to score quickly and score well tomorrow to give this team a chance of victory in the game and the series.
It’s especially important considering how hard the Aussies have found it to bowl out the Indian batsmen, at one point taking 11 wickets from 233 overs between Brisbane and Sydney.
Making matters worse, rain is forecast…
So at least two big sessions of batting are required tomorrow, meaning David Warner and Steve Smith probably need to be involved in a big way, perhaps with a bit of Cameron Green thrown in.
Then it will come down to the bowlers again.
As far as today goes, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur deserve all the praise they’re getting for the 123-run partnership that helped India get within 33 runs of Australia’s first innings.
Now they have a job to do with the ball tomorrow.
Can’t wait. See you then!
By Jon Healy
The last over of the day will be bowled by Natarajan.
Warner is defending well and shouting his “NO RUN”.
Very wide from Natarajan. That’s a waste of a delivery.
Warner works a single to mid-wicket, so Harris will face the last ball of the day.
It’s left alone. And that’s that.
By Jon Healy
So today your headline reads “Indian tail wags..falls short of Australian total”. Whereas all day yesterday you ran with the “Australian innings on a knife edge”. As far as I’m aware, Australia are 30 runs ahead so why the biased reporting ?
-Confused
Because Australia needs to win and India only needs a draw, so the equation is different for each team.
By Jon Healy
5th over – Washington Sundar is bowling. Let’s boogie.
He’s given Warner a bit of room.
Guided to third man for three.
But those are the only runs of the over. And India is rushing to get one more in.
By Jon Healy
4th over – Natarajan to Harris
He’s angling in at off stump and swinging it away. Harris leaves.
Good defence as one straightens up.
Clipped off the pads by Harris to get off the mark. Warner wanted two, but Harris said no thanks.
Thick edge through the gully region, but Warner’s lucky it didn’t go to hand. Three runs instead.
By Jon Healy
Warner is going to give us a half century here
-ThePostman
Tonight?
By Jon Healy
Warner’s taking up some time between overs to readjust himself.
Four slips and a gully for Siraj to Warner, who leaves the first ball.
And the second.
FOUR! First short one and it’s pulled from outside off through mid-wicket. Shot. And Australia needs this from Warner.
F’more! Pushed down the ground. Perfect timing and it rocketed past mid-off.
BANG! Cut this time. Not great bowling, but Warner is just standing and delivering to all parts of the ground. Good to see this again. Now let’s hope it lasts for Australia’s sake.
Defended to end the over.
By Jon Healy
T Natarajan will bowl from the other end.
Huge out-swing. Again, the line’s off, but it’s hooping all of a sudden. These blokes must be bowling at just the right pace.
He’s way too wide.
Still very wide. Dean’s just posited that it might be a defensive tactic. Bowl 6 feet outside off for a couple of sessions and force Australia to chase the game.
Drop and run. And it’s almost a run out! And Warner’s hurt himself. It was a tight single at the best of times, but Warner’s looking a bit worse for wear as he gets up.
By Jon Healy
Marcus Harris will face the first ball from Mohammed Siraj.
The first ball is wasted, way too wide. At least Siraj will be nice and limbered up from going the tonk.
Rishabh Pant now has padding on that left elbow that got injured while batting in the first innings in Sydney.
A little bit of in-swing for Siraj, but too far down leg.
A maiden to start.
By Jon Healy
Why bowl bouncers all the time at tail ends. Not skilful bowling in my opinion just cheap and a lack of class. Cricket can be played better than that and not
lose anything from it 😎-Lin
By Dean Bilton
Kristen Beams sums it all up
Josh Hazlewood definitely deserved that five wicket haul, he’s been so good. He’s been one of the only bowlers to get some swing out of the ball, and a good economy.
It was entertaining batting while it lasted, but India have plenty to be pleased about. What the Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur have been able to do has changed the whole dynamic of the game. Australia would have expected to be batting a long time ago, but instead they have a pretty tricky little period to face.
What they come out and do will be very interesting to watch.
By Jon Healy
Australia leads by 33 heading into the second innings
So the Australian openers will have an awkward 20 minutes to negotiate. They have to launch though, maybe not immediately, but not too soon after.
Because they need to build a rapid lead, then they can treat tomorrow like an ODI, try to knock off 250-300 in two sessions, declare and hope for good weather too.
But anyway, David Warner and Marcus Harris need to make it through tonight first.
By Jon Healy
Is there something wrong with the stumps?
-NowYork
Yeah, they’re too short.
By Jon Healy
112th over – Hazlewood once more
FOUR! Another short one uppercut by Siraj. Cop that, Josh.
A full one, sliced away to deep point. Which, what’s he doing there?
BOWLED HIM! India is all out for 336.
Top of off stump. Imagine that.
And he’s giving the number 10 a staredown. Class.
By Jon Healy
111th over – Starc coming in again
He refuses to bowl anything but short balls. He’s just trying to break arms. Starc is supposed to have a dangerous yorker, right?
See! With the short balls, he can back away and flail. No edge, no wicket.
IT’S AT THE STUMPS! And he’s almost chopped on. Well dug out. But thank the Lord for a ball aimed at the wooden pegs.
Another yorker and the Aussies go up for LBW, but it’s missing leg stump.
By Jon Healy
110th over – Hazlewood again
Yes, Mohammed! He’s wandering over to the off side and tries to belt it over fine leg. Love it.
He backs away and slaps through point. They take the single, so Natarajan will be on strike.
It’s short! Come on, guys. Bowl at the stumps. He averages 2 in first-class cricket.
Bang. Hit down the ground for one. He’s happy with the single to get off strike.
More short stuff. This is so frustrating. Every time the tail gets in, Australia’s quicks just bounce ’em.
Smacked over mid-off and Pat Cummins tracks it down. They took two, so Natarajan will be on strike to Starc. Good luck, mate.
By Jon Healy
By Jon Healy
109th over – Starc takes over from Cummins
The first ball is short and Washington guides to third man, and runs hard to get back for a second. How good is this guy?
Down leg. He’s also sticking with a short line.
A big full yorker is dug out by Washington, who neglects to take a single to mid-off.
Washington has fallen!!
He bunts a short ball off his chest to gully and Cameron Green takes a sharp catch down low. What a knock from the debutant though. 62 badly needed runs for India. Brilliant.
OUCH! The first and only ball Starc will bowl to Natarajan this over is a nasty bouncer. And he wears it on the armguard I think. Feels unnecessary.
