Cricket: Indian rookies frustrate Australia in fourth and final test

Test rookies Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar combined for a rear-guard position that thwarted Australia’s acclaimed bowling attack and took India from a precarious position Sunday to near first-inning parity in the series’ decider. .

The partnership was formed with India struggling at 186-6 in response to Australia’s 369, and with no more recognized batsmen in the pavilion, he added 123 runs, an Indian record for seventh spot at the Gabba.

Thakur, in his second test, came off the mark with a six and elevated his first half-century test with six others from Nathan Lyon and led India’s scoring with 67 of 115 balls. Sundar posted 62 of 144 deliveries in its debut test entries. Between limits, low-medium order batsmen dodged, ducked and were hit by short balls thrown at them by Australian fast bowlers.

The pair had been elevated to the starting lineup for Test 4 and took three wickets each for the first two days after a series of injuries at the Indian bowling alley culminated in spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and lead spinner Ravichandran. Ashwin being excluded from the game in Brisbane.

When Australian running back Josh Hazlewood (5-57) completed a five-wicket round with a clean bowling pin from a wildly swinging Mohammed Siraj for 13, India was out by 336 at the end of day three, just a 33-run deficit in the first entry.

Australia hit stumps at 21 without losing, a 54 lead. David Warner was undefeated at 20.

The series is tied at 1-1 with two days remaining and it appears that India is on track to force at least a tie that would ensure it retains the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Hazlewood was the choice of Australian bowlers and was rewarded for his close line with a ninth round of five courses in a test inning.

India resumed Sunday with a 66-2 roster for an extended day after rain swept the game at the end of day two, adding 99 runs for the loss of Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Ajinkya Rahane in the morning session.

Hazlewood made the first breakthrough of the day by eliminating Pujara by 25 of 94 balls, taunting the veteran 90-tryout forward with a good-length ball that found the edge and moved to goalkeeper Tim Paine.

Rahane mixed some classy punches with some expansive off-the-stump punches and his luck finally ran out at 37 when he beat a Mitchell Starc delivery to Matt Wade on the third slip.

Hazlewood also hit early in the middle session. He fired Mayank Agarwal (38) and, six overs later, had Rishabh Pant (23) spectacularly catch Cameron Green.

The Australians haven’t lost a test match at the Gabba since 1988, but they have drawn. To win the series, they need to score runs quickly on Monday with the aim of setting a big goal and then defeating India. That’s something they couldn’t do in Test 3 in Sydney despite being in a solid position.

– AP

Here’s how all the action unfolded on the third day: