Steve Smith has notched his 34th Test century to help put Australia in a dominant position on day two of the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG.
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The New South Welshman bludgeoned 140 (197) and formed a century partnership with captain Pat Cummins for the seventh wicket to frustrate the tourists on Friday morning.
It was Smith’s fifth Test hundred at the MCG and his 11th against India, which is a record. He now boasts the same number of Test centuries as modern greats Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar.
After Australia was bowled out for 474 in 122.4 overs, India was 2-51 at tea, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (23*) unbeaten in the middle, still trailing by 423 runs.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs India fourth Test live scorecard
Every Boundary – Smith’s 5th MCG ton | 04:16
Resuming day two at 6-311, Smith and Cummins tormented India’s bowlers in the morning session by combining for a 112-run partnership. The Australian vice-captain was at his eccentric best, giving Jasprit Bumrah a thumbs up after the Indian quick evaded his defences and squealing when an outswinger beat his outside edge.
India’s quicks turned to a short-ball barrage before spinner Ravindra Jadeja unearthed the much-needed breakthrough, with Cummins miscuing a lofted slog towards mid-off for 49.
Smith accelerated after reaching triple figures in 167 deliveries, charging at Mohammed Siraj and carving the seamer through point before thumping a slog-sweep against Jadeja over mid-wicket. Mitchell Starc didn’t shy away from playing his shots either, clobbering Bumrah over long-on for a swashbuckling six.
Smith in shock after unlucky dismissal | 00:35
Immediately after the lunch break, Jadeja snared his third wicket by bowling Starc for 15, while Smith departed the following over in bizarre circumstances — after charging at paceman Akash Deep and edging back into his pads, he watched from the middle of the pitch as the Kookaburra trickled back onto the stumps.
Tailenders Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland added 19 runs for the final wicket, which included two successful reviews for LBW, before Bumrah returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings, finishing with 4-99.
Rohit Sharma’s horror continued in the Victorian captain, with the Indian captain top-edging a hesitant pull shot towards mid-on in the second over for 3.
Fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul steadied the ship with a 43-run partnership before the second wicket before Cummins produced an absolute peach on the final delivery of the afternoon session. Pitching on a good length and nipping away from the right-handed Rahul, the Kookaburra beat the outside edge and kissed the top of off stump, a dismissal that Cummins has produced time and time again.
Cummins erupts after vital wicket falls | 00:35
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DAY 2 PREVIEW
Man of the moment Sam Konstas feels the ramp is a “safe shot” for him and says he is willing to risk looking silly to mess with the rhythm of Jasprit Bumrah.
The Test debutant took the series leading wicket-taker for 32 runs off two overs on his way to an entertaining 60, refusing to shelve his reverse-grip scoop after he failed to make contact with his first two attempts earlier in Bumrah’s spell.
Konstas, 19, said he had hatched the plan to take on the Indian star with his batting coach Tahmid Islam, who joined him in Melbourne ahead of the match, along with his longtime mentor Shane Watson.
Speaking after play with Australia 6-311 at stumps, he again brushed off Virat Kohli’s mid-pitch contact with him as an “accidental bump” as he explained his strategy against Bumrah.
“(Bumrah) is a legend of the game obviously, so I was trying to put a bit of pressure on him, and it paid off today,” he said.
“Just getting in the contest with him and trying to take his lines away … (the ramp shots) were definitely premeditated, especially with the pace, but (I was) just trying to keep my head still and watch it hard onto my bat.
“I got a few away and changed the field, which was good, and then tried (to get them) to bowl to my zones.”
Asked if he had any fear of backlash if he was dismissed cheaply trying to play a ramp shot, Konstas’ reply was: “Nah, not really”.
“I think it probably will look silly if I do get out, but I work pretty hard on that shot – I feel like it’s probably a safe shot for me, really,” he said.
“That’s the beauty about being young and maybe a bit naive – I’m just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers the best way I think is, and it was good to get a few runs today.
“I reckon maybe 20, 30 years ago people were probably saying, ‘defend a lot, just bat all day’, but I think new generation, new shots, it’s exciting for me.”
Konstas relives his epic test debut! | 06:33
After earlier describing Kohli’s mid-pitch act as a “shoulder charge”, Konstas avoided inflaming tensions further after play.
“I was just doing my gloves and I think (Kohli) accidentally bumped me, but I think that’s just cricket, that’s the tension,” he said.
“(After the incident) I was just trying to get into the contest, and whoever I was facing I just tried to bring the best version of myself.
“Obviously it got heated at times, which was good for me – I feel like that brings the best out of me, and hopefully I go well next innings.”
The fourth Test between Australia and India will resume on Friday at 10.30am AEDT, with Steve Smith eyeing a 34th Test century, following his 101 at the Gabba.
He has not scored centuries in back-to-back Tests since the 2017 Ashes (Perth and Melbourne), though he scored two in the same match against England at Edgbaston in 2019.
