Live: Boxing Day Test — Australia vs India
STUMPS: Australia 6-311 (Smith 68, Cummins 8)
Australia’s day then here at the MCG.
After winning the toss, Sam Konstas absolutely starred on debut and put India on the back foot.
Australia’s top four, which has been shaky all series, all got half-centuries.
Konstas (60), Khawaja (57) and Labuschagne (72) will all be kicking themselves for not going on with the job.
Smith, unbeaten on 68, has a great chance to do so tomorrow.
India will be happy with the final session, which saw them pry out four wickets, including three in the space of 23 balls.
Outside of being ambushed by Konstas early, Jasprit Bumrah was again excellent for India.
The tourists will hope to make some early inroads tomorrow with the bowlers to come, while Australia will hope to edge towards 400.
Join us tomorrow as we bring you all the live action!
86th over – Cummins sees off Bumrah, and the day
Bumrah has looked tired in this short spell with the second new ball.
I mean rightly so, this is 21st over of the day. Once again, he’s done the lion’s share of the work for India.
He almost gets through on a yorker to Cummins, but the Aussie skipper is able to get the bat down in the nick of time.
Cummins defends the final ball of the day and the umpire’s knock the bails off.
85th over – Cummins continues to live dangerously
FOUR! Lucky for Cummins! Akash draws another edge, but the ball travels along the ground and past the diving KL Rahul.
Not convincing, but the Aussie skipper will take it.
Five runs off that Akash Deep over after a Cummins single as well.
84th over – Cummins survives LBW shout
A muted LBW appeal from Bumrah as he strikes Cummins on the pad, but that’s clearly going down leg.
The official attendance is in and it’s at 87,242. It is the highest attendance for a day of Test cricket between Australia and India in Australia.
India racing in between overs to try and get a few more in.
Stumps is technically supposed to be in five minutes.
AKASH STRIKES STRAIGHT AWAY!
Rohit’s bold call pays dividends!
Akash Deep gets one to rear up at Alex Carey from around the wicket, and Carey nicks it through to Pant.
That’s a well-deserved wicket for Akash, who has bowled well today with little reward.
Just as Australia looked to be getting away, India strikes back.
The skipper Pat Cummins strides to the wicket now.
83rd over – Akash Deep collects Smith low
As we thought, it’s Akash Deep who gets first use of the second new ball alongside Bumrah.
Siraj has been disappointing today, so this is a good move.
After dismissing Carey with his first ball, Akash is right on the money against Cummins.
A leg bye from Cummins brings up the 300 for Australia as it continues to get darker around the MCG. The floodlights having more of an impact now.
Akash squares Smith up as well, as Smith awkwardly defends into the off side. Motions the path of the ball afterwards in typical Smith fashion.
The final ball also squares Smith up, this time missing the bat and striking him.
Would you believe it? It is a FOURTH shot in the box of the day for an Aussie batter.
Smith also on his knees, as Marnus and Konstas were.
82nd over – Bumrah returns as India takes new ball
Here we go.
Now we’ve got the second new ball.
Jasprit Bumrah coming in from the Member’s stand end.
He’ll be around the wicket to Alex Carey.
Suddenly the crowd, which had gone dormant, is up and about again.
Carey takes a bit of a risk! Walks down the wicket and chips one into the on side for a couple of runs.
The next ball is driven through the off side for another two, which brings up the 50-run stand.
Another ball floats into Carey’s pads and again he chips it over midwicket for a couple.
Carey finishes with a single, seven off Bumrah’s return over.
81st over – Reddy keeps things tight
Tidy stuff from Reddy to start the over as he forces Smith into a couple of defensive shots.
Rohit Sharma likes what he’s seeing from the slips cordon.
Pant being up to the stumps is just forcing Smith to have to play from the crease.
Just one run off the over for Australia there. Reddy has gone for just 10 off his five overs.
80th over – No new ball yet
Washington continuing to keep things tight at one end.
Gets a full over at Smith and finishes with a maiden, great stuff.
The second new ball is officially available now, but India isn’t taking it just yet.
Bumrah ripped his cap off and was ready to go, but he might be coming on from the Member’s stand end.
Reddy to continue for now.
79th over – Bumrah back on the field ahead of new ball
Good news for India, Bumrah is back on the field after a brief rest, as we thought.
He’ll get the new ball straight away. Meanwhile, it’s still Reddy bowling.
Carey pulls a short one to fine leg, where Kohli is stationed, and he receives a bronx cheer as he fields the ball on the boundary.
No love lost for Australia’s favourite villain after his little run-in with Konstas earlier today.
A semi-appeal to end the over as Reddy beats the bat of Carey, who is struck on the pad. India opts against the review.
Replays show he may have got a faint inside edge on that.
78th over – Washington continues lengthy spell
Washington continuing the around the wicket ploy to Alex Carey, who continues to middle just about everything.
Two runs off the over as Smith finishes by flicking the final ball into the leg side for a single.
It’s been a long spell this from Washington, 10 overs now.
77th over – Nitish into the attack as pacemen rest
Yep, we’re well and truly into the “waiting for the second new ball” portion of the day now.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is thrown the ball. Rishabh Pant keeping up to the stumps.
Reddy’s first ball draws an inside edge from Smith, with the ball almost chopped back onto his stumps.
Four off the over, four singles, as a lovely dive at mid-off from Siraj denies Carey a boundary after a silky off drive.
76th over – Washington continues after drinks break
A bit of a concern here for India with Jasprit Bumrah off the field currently.
He left in good spirits, smiling from ear to ear, so I doubt it’s anything serious.
Most likely a little breather before the second new ball.
A tidy over from Washington after the break, aside from a no-ball, which turns an over that would’ve gone for one into an over that went for three as Smith works the final ball into the leg side for a single.
Meanwhile, some lights have been turned on here at the MCG, as it’s just gotten a little gloomy.
75th over – Misfields frustrate Rohit
Another over of Siraj being all over the place.
He’s lucky he’s not given away four byes there after a lovely stop from Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
BEATEN! Better! Siraj gets this line right from around the wicket and beats a prod from Carey.
Sloppy misfield from Bumrah, who’s gotta be tired, gives Alex Carey a two. Rohit Sharma scratches his head in disappointment.
It’s followed by another misfield, this time from Jaiswal in the covers. The heat getting to India maybe?
This partnership is up to 33 off just 36 deliveries. Australia has wrestled back some of the momentum from India after that spurt of 3-9 off 23 deliveries.
74th over – Carey goes downtown against Washington
SIX! What a shot from Carey! Washington gives it some air and Carey gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over Kohli at mid-on.
He’s looked really, really good in his short stay so far Carey, transferring the pressure right back onto India.
India can’t just go through the motions until the new ball, they need to keep the pressure on.
As has been the case all series, too much is falling on Bumrah’s shoulders.
Seven runs off that Washington over.
73rd over – Siraj returns as Bumrah gets a rest
Mohammed Siraj has been thrown the ball as Jasprit Bumrah gets a well-deserved rest.
I don’t think it’ll be too long before he’s back with the new ball around the corner.
It is interesting Siraj getting the ball here, makes me think Akash Deep might get a crack with the new rock. He’s been the better bowler of the two non-Bumrah pacemen today.
Siraj has been particularly leaky today, going at over four an over and it continues here.
Smith drives him through the covers for three to move to 56 off just 77 balls.
SIX! Siraj goes short and doesn’t get anywhere near high enough, as Smith rocks back and pulls him over square leg for a maximum.
11 runs off Siraj’s return over. His economy rate is up to 4.71 now.
72nd over – Smith and Carey continue against Washington
Washington continuing to fire the ball in at Smith’s pads, and Smith at this stage looks comfortable enough with the ploy.
Another single for the ex-skipper through that midwicket region.
Washington manages to draw an edge from Carey, but it falls safely as the Aussies pick up a single.
There’s a massive gap on the off-side and Smith rocks back and cuts a ball outside off stump for a couple. That’s poor bowling.
A good over for Australia, four off it.
71st over – Smith brings up another well-made 50
Bumrah starts around the wicket to Carey. The second new ball is nine overs away.
He strays onto Carey’s hips and is worked through the leg side for a single.
Lovely running from Carey and Smith as Smith defends a ball into the off side.
Smith knocks a Bumrah length ball into the off-side for a single to bring up his half-century. Still a lot more work to do for Australia’s former captain.
Smith’s 50 comes off 71 balls. He’s looked mostly assured right from the jump.
Bumrah gives Carey a bit of width to end the over and Carey cuts it for a couple. Confident start from Australia’s keeper.
70th over – Pressure on Smith as wickets tumble
There’s a definite bump in energy now around the MCG.
The largely pro-Indian crowd has been subdued most of the day, but the whistles are flying around at will now.
The tourists are back in the game. Steve Smith’s wicket is suddenly looming as HUGE.
Washington around the wicket to Smith, he’s got Jaiswal close in on the leg side around the corner.
Alex Carey, the new man at the crease, drives Washington well down the ground to get off the mark.
A great effort from Jadeja to end the over on the final ball ensures Carey will be facing Bumrah to begin the next over.
