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An exhausted Indian shattered attack From Australia higher order to leave the world’s No. 1 team with a small two-run lead and in serious trouble on the Monday after the third day of the second test.
MARKER | Australia v India, second test
On the stumps in Melbourne, Australia they were 133 out of six with Cameron Green in 17 and Pat Cummins 15 in their second inning as the visitors concentrated on leveling the series after losing the first round by eight wickets.
India is doing it with an exhausted attack after Umesh Yadav stopped in his fourth over with a calf problem, limping off the field.
It was a setback for India, which was already missing the injured regulars Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, but the other bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja (2-25) and Jasprit Bumrah (1-34), took over admirably.
India was out by 326 in its first innings at lunchtime, adding just 49 to its 277 overnight for five in response to Australia’s 195.
It gave them a 131-run lead, courtesy of backup skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s magnificent 112 and Jadeja’s 57. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each.
Australia needed some of its big names to stay strong in the chase. Starter Matthew Wade did well with a 40-on-137-ball fight before getting caught lbw by Jadeja’s spin.
But Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns failed to step up.
Burns lasted only 10 balls, caught by Rishabh Pant off Yadav for four to follow his duck in the first inning.
Even if David Warner does not recover from a groin strain for the upcoming test in Sydney, it will be difficult for the selectors to justify the choice of Burns again, with Marcus Harris among those waiting behind the scenes.
Labuschagne survived an lbw review at 24, but only scored four more before being caught by Rahane with a thick edge from Ravi Ashwin.
At the other end, the usually flamboyant Wade attacked, but Smith again felt cheap, thrown by Bumrah for eight with the ball skimming the stump of his leg.
After Wade left, Travis Head was the last recognized hitter, but he fell victim to the pacemaker Mohammed Siraj on his debut, cutting a ball he hit Mayank Agarwal.
Captain Tim Paine fell to Jadeja by one, leaving Green and Cummins to fight in the rear, joining in a 34-race partnership to bring the Test to a fourth day.
India started the day on a chilly Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 24,995 socially estranged fans with an 82 run lead after taking command Sunday with a brave response to their embarrassing 36 in Adelaide.
But Australia moved quickly.
Rahane, captain in place of Virat Kohli, who returned home for the birth of his first child, was lucky on the second day, when he fell on 73 and 104.
But after adding eight to his 104 overnight, Labuschagne’s glowing conscience saw him run off.
Jadeja, back on the team after missing the first test injured, tapped Nathan Lyon to point and went off for a single as he looked to move up his 50.
Rahane responded, but he wasn’t quick enough with Paine removing the bails after Labuschagne’s launch.
He finished a 121-run partnership and one of the 32-year-old’s biggest innings, having reached the limit with troubled India at 64 for three.
Jadeja brought up his 15th test half-century before misjudging a Starc goalie, boring Cummins, before Lyon and Josh Hazlewood cleared their tail.
