
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts Cookies Policy.
Hello everyone! We are back with our live coverage of the Sydney Test that saw the opening day taking a hit due to a lengthy rain delay. Australia though finished on a solid note when the day’s play ended after losing opener David Warner cheaply. Will Pucovski began his Test career with a solid fifty after being gifted two lives (and a potential run out chance as well). Marnus Labuschagne too went on to score a fifty after adding exactly 100 runs for the second wicket with Pucovski. Steven Smith has also looked solid after he made an aggressive start and he seems to have found his form back. A tough day awaits India bowlers.
At stumps, Labuschagne was unbeaten on 67 and Smith, after his uncharacteristic run of low scores so far, seemed out of the woods with 31 confident runs, which included five authoritative boundaries. Labuschagne found the fence eight times. This was after Pucovski, riding on some luck, made 62 on debut to break the shackles for the under-fire side.
Smith looked positive from the word go and was determined to not let the Indian bowlers dictate terms to him. “It was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully we go along well tomorrow,” he said at the end of day’s play in which 55 overs were bowled owing to a four-hour rain disruption.
Having entered the match after registering scores of 1, 0 and 8 in his last three innings, Smith’s first confident shot came against India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was nicely driven through the mid-on for his first boundary of the series. His confidence up after dismissing Pucovski for his first Test wicket, debutant pacer Navdeep Saini got carried away and was guilty of bowling too full to Smith, who latched on to them with a couple of fours.
With Smith looking in fine fettle, the early signs were ominous for India and skipper Ajinkya Rahane brought back his nemesis Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack, but the Australian was equal to the task on this occasion.
A tossed up delivery was whipped off pads through mid-wicket and then Smith danced down the track to loft Ashwin on the onside for another boundary. Meanwhile, Labuschagne was in his element after he had settled in and played a few pleasing drives on both sides of the wicket, having drawn confidence from the pull shot he played against Bumrah at the beginning of his innings.
The two added 60 runs for the third wicket after a 100-run association between Labuschagne and Pucovski, who was trapped in front of the wicket by Saini but not before starting his Test career with a solid knock.
So an absorbing day of Test cricket comes to an end. Australia started on a strong footing with Marnus Labuschagne hitting 91 before departing. From thereon, Steve Smith took over and struck his 27th Test century and was the last man out on 131. By then he had taken Australia to 338-all out. In reply, India were off to a solid start with their new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill seeing off the new ball while adding 70 runs between them. Just when it looked India will finish the day way ahead, Australia pacers struck to send back both the openers. Rohit was out on 26 but Gill went on to score his maiden Test fifty. When the day’s play ended Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten alognside his captain Ajinkya Rahane.
STUMPS: India 96/2, Trail Australia by 242 Runs
Praise from the legend himself
For someone playing only his 2nd test match @RealShubmanGill looks very assured at the wicket. Good solid defence, positive stroke play and clarity of thought. Definitely has a very bright future for India in all the 3 formats. #AUSvsIND
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 8, 2021
Just three overs remaining in the day now. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara just looking to se through what is remaining in the session. Score 96/2 in 42 overs
Dead bat mode on. Pat Cummins’ spell ends and he has been replaced by Mitchell Starc in the attack. Nathan Lyon continues from one end. Cheteshwar Pujara is on 3 off 31 while Rahane is also on 3 off 21. India 88/2 in 38 overs, trail by 250 runs
So both the Indian openers are back in the dressing room. Australia must be very pleased with that.
IND vs AUS LIve Cricket Score: Edged & Taken! Shubman Gill departs right after being caught by Cameron Green at gully. A good length delivery outside off and Gill has a go at it but only manages an outside edge. A good catch from Green as well. He scored 50 off 101. India 85/1 in 32.1 overs
Over 31.3: Maiden Test fifty for Shubman Gill. The youngster continues to impress in only his second Test. Reaches the milestone with a single. A superb innings so far from Gill. Has struck eight fours. India 86/1
Live Updates: OUT! Josh Hazlewood is pumped up as he has dismissed Rohit Sharma to break the opening partnership. He bowls it full, asking Rohit to drive but he cannot keep it down and sends it right back into the hands of the bowler for a simple caught and bowl. Rohit scored 26 off 77 with three fours and a six. India 70/1 in 26.6 overs, trail Australia by 268 runs. Drinks are on the field
India vs Australia 3rd Test Live Updates: A huge appeal for a catch at short leg and umpire raises his finger, adjudging Rohit Sharma out. Nathan Lyon and teammates celebrate but the Indian opener reviews. And after taking his sweet time, third umpire confirms there was no inside edge and the ball went to Matthew Wade at short leg after deflecting off his pad. The decision has been overturned.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest Cricket News on India.com.