India close in on series-parity after clinical show

All the doubts - if any - of India struggling in the absence of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami have been put to rest in Melbourne. A clinical outing with bat and ball have put India on the brink of a series-levelling win after the third day's play, despite being a bowler short. Australia, whose batting caved in at a rapid pace just warded off an innings defeat, only just mind you, to force proceedings to the fourth day of the Melbourne Test.

After being reduced to 99 for 6, Cameron Green and Pat Cummins resisted the Indian attack to finish on 133 for 6, amidst a stand of 34 when stumps were drawn on Monday (December 28). In the absence of Umesh Yadav, who left the field with a calf injury, India only had four bowlers to contend with. The quartet available though, didn't let India feel his absence bowling tight lengths and keeping the batsmen in control, posing timely questions. They gave away no freebies as Australia's batsmen, already under pressure having conceded a 131-run, were made to work hard for their runs.

Joe Burns's horror summer continued but Matthew Wade dug in for his patient 40, much in contrast to his preferred style of play. Marnus Labuschagne was undone by Ashwin before Steve Smith was bowled down leg by Bumrah as Australia were in trouble early in their innings. Ashwin challenged the batsmen varying his pace and lengths bringing both edges into play. Bumrah deployed the short-ball tactic from time to time before darting in the yorkers. Head and Wade then fell in quick succession before Tim Paine's caught-behind decision was much debated after being given out via Snicko, but the lack of intent from the Australian batters on a wicket that had eased out prompted another familiar collapse, bringing to the fore the dependency on a couple of players to hold fort. Australia added pressure on themselves letting the spin duo of Jadeja and Ashwin get away with overs that fetched very little runs for three wickets, conceding just 71 runs in 33 overs.

Australia bagged five wickets in the opening session to bowl India out for 326. Australia needed quick wickets in order to keep in control India's swelling lead, and did well in the end to wrap up the tail without too much fuss within the first session. After finally getting rid of centurion Ajinkya Rahane and Jadeja after their sapping century stand, the Australian bowlers didn't let the tail wag. After a poor outing in the field yesterday, where Australia dropped as many as five catches, even letting off Rahane twice, it was a run out that finally gave Australia the wicket they wanted. It was the first time that Rahane had been run out in Test cricket, departing for a splendid 112 that anchored India's innings.

Of the 24 balls in his spell, Mitchell Starc bowled 22 short balls, with his barrage unsettling the Indian tail, his reward coming with Jadeja's wicket for 57. Umesh and Ashwin were dealt body blows but the hosts' ongoing tryst with dropped catches continued, with the tally extending to as many as six in the innings after Labuschagne put down Ashwin at leg slip off Lyon whose late runs were crucial in stretching India's lead.

After Burns departed cheaply once again, Labuschagne was saved by umpire's call before adding runs at the top with Wade. Labuschagne was living dangerously though until his luck ran out with Ashwin ekeing out the outside edge against a quicker one, setting him up nicely with the slower ones leading up to it. India then reviewed another leg before shout against Wade on the insistence of Siraj but it pitched outside leg. Wade, who had a very slow start, began to gain momentum as the session progressed.

The Ashwin vs Smith battle resumed after the offspinner had gotten the better of the right-hander so far in the series with no runs scored off him before this innings. Ashwin varied his pace against Smith, forcing him to play on the front foot, and kept it straight with a leg gully and a slip. Smith was fidgety and Ashwin almost had his man when Smith flicked one down leg but it didn't carry. Smith eventually fell to Bumrah, and with scores of 1, 1*, 0 and 8 for 10 runs so far in the series, it's the lowest tally he has recorded across four innings in his career.

Brief scores: Australia 195 & 133/6 (Matthew Wade 40, Marnus Labuschagne 28; Ravindra Jadeja 2-25) lead India 326 (Shubman Gill 45, Ajinkya Rahane 112, Ravindra Jadeja 57; Pat Cummins 2-80, Mitchell Starc 3-78) by 2 runs.