After putting themselves in a commanding position on day two of the third Test at the Gabba, Australia took total control of the Test match at the end of the first session on day three.
It was a start-stop session with rain making several appearances but Australia dominated proceedings. Australia added 40 more runs to their overnight score before ripping through the Indian top order.
Starting the day on 405/7, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc started with a few boundaries. Carey notched up his first half-century of the series before Starc hit Ravindra Jadeja for a six to get going. But he soon fell to Jasprit Bumrah as Starc nicked one to the keeper.
There was a rain interruption but Australia didn’t declare. Akash Deep was greeted with a superb six from Carey. But after that, Australia’s run-scoring came down to a trickle. Carey was just getting singles while Nathan Lyon wasn’t really going for the big shots. Mohammed Siraj knocked over Lyon before Carey holed out to give Deep his first wicket. Australia finished with 445 as Carey got 70.
In reply, India got off to the worst possible start. They lost three wickets in the 7.2 overs that was possible before lunch. And all those three dismissals were off loose strokes.
More rain delayed the start of their innings. Mitchell Starc drew the edge of Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first ball. But it went to the ground and raced through the cordon for four. However, the left-handed Indian opener flicked the next ball straight to square-leg. It was a soft dismissal.
Josh Hazlewood hit KL Rahul on his hand on the first ball of his spell. The Karnataka batter received some attention on his wrist before he got going again. Starc struck again as Shubman Gill edged a full, wide delivery and Mitchell Marsh took a superb catch at gully.
Virat Kohli’s troubled stay at the crease
Virat Kohli walked out and looked very tentative. The India No. 4 went for a drive on his first ball and missed. He was beaten all ends up on the next as Starc pulled his length back a touch. He got off the mark with an inside-edge onto his pad. Kohli was beaten again by Hazlewood in the following over before Starc surprised him with a bouncer and hit his glove. He was in a very awkward position while facing that short ball.
The 36-year-old eventually fell to Hazlewood as he chased a wide delivery and feathered one to the keeper. His dismal run continued as he registered his 4th low score in five innings in this series.
At the other end, Rahul struck a couple of good boundaries before Kohli’s dismissal. He drove one through the covers before flashing at another which went over gully. He has looked India’s best batter on this tour and in this game.
At 22/3, India are in deep trouble. Rishabh Pant had walked out to bat before the rain came. Rahul and Pant will be critical to India’s chances of making a match out of this. The Australian fast bowlers are already looking threatening and have troubled the batters. They will be looking to continue the good work.
KEY PERFORMANCES: Australia 445 (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101, Alex Carey 70, Jasprit Bumrah 6/76, Mohammed Siraj 2/97) vs India 22/3 (KL Rahul 13*, Mitchell Starc 2/11, Josh Hazlewood 1/11).
