Key events
80th over: Australia 291-5 (Smith 68, Carey 23) A maiden from Washington ends act one of this Test match. The second new ball is available and Jasprit Bumrah, back on the field, is going to take it.
79th over: Australia 291-5 (Smith 68, Carey 23) We won’t get the full 90 overs in today, probably more like 84 or 85. Jasprit Bumrah is still off the field but you’d imagine Deep and Siraj will take the new ball in his absence.
Reddy has an LBW shout against Carey turned down. It was a nice delivery that jagged back off the seam but Carey got a thick inside edge onto the pad.
78th over: Australia 288-5 (Smith 66, Carey 22) Smith has slowed down slightly since pulling Siraj for six, though it’s unlikely to affect his concentration. It feels like he’s taking a bit of downtime ahead of the second new ball, which will be available in two overs’ time.
77th over: Australia 286-5 (Smith 65, Carey 21) Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has bowled only two overs today, almost strikes with the first ball of a new spell when Smith plays a lazy shot that bounces just over the stumps. That was really close.
76th over: Australia 282-5 (Smith 63, Carey 19) Washington has been tidy without really threatening. The wicket of Labuschagne came from an unforced error. But he is at least holding up an end to get India through to the second new ball.
“I’m going to claim providing Geoff with that Mr Smith Goes to Washington line a few years ago,” writes Ray Murphy. “He even replied at the time giving an ‘elephant stamp’ for creativity.”
Bumrah had some treatment during the drinks break and is now leaving the field. He’s walking freely but that’s a concern for India; it looks like a calf problem. Might just be cramp.
75th over: Australia 279-5 (Smith 62, Carey 18) Carey sniffs at a good delivery from Siraj and is beaten. A misfield from Bumrah at long on – not his first of the day – turns one run into two, and there’s another misfield in the covers off the next delivery. Oh dear.
Time for drinks.
74th over: Australia 276-5 (Smith 62, Carey 15) Carey jumps all over Washington Sundar, slog-sweeping handsomely over wide mid-on for six more. He has quietly had a terrific year with the bat, averaging just shy of 40.
“Packing up the house for a move to the UK,” writes Don. “Not a single box was filled during Konstas’s fab knock. Since then we’ve done ten. I wonder how the cloning boffins at CA are going? A couple of Heads, a couple of Konstases and a handful of Cumminses should just about do it! That’s an Ashes series I’d like to watch.”
Especially if England had a load of Brooks, Roots and Woods.
73rd over: Australia 269-5 (Smith 62, Carey 8) Siraj replaces Bumrah, who took care of business in a short spell of 3-0-14-2. He’ll be back with the second new ball you’d imagine. Smith punches a nice drive for three; the loss of those three wickets has not changed his batting one iota. To prove the point, he pulls the last ball of the over mightily over square leg for six. This is the best I’ve seen him bat in a long time.
A couple of you have mentioned the Mr Smith/Washington line a few overs ago. I can’t take credit for that; Geoff (I think) referenced it during the 2020-21 series and it’s been burned in the memory ever since. Steal from the best and all that.
72nd over: Australia 258-5 (Smith 53, Carey 6) “Packing up the house for a move to the UK,” writes Don. “Not a single box was filled during Konstas’s fab knock. Since then we’ve done ten. I wonder how the cloning boffins at CA are going? A couple of Heads, a couple of Konstases and a handful of Cumminses should just about do it! That’s an Ashes series I’d like to watch.”
That brief innings from Mitch Marsh continued a run of form that is becoming a concern. These are his scores in Tests this year: 54, 5, 21, 10, 40, 0, 0, 80, 6, 47, 9, 5, 2, 4.
71st over: Australia 254-5 (Smith 50, Carey 5) Bumrah is slightly too straight to the new batter Carey, who is able to work him behind square for a couple of singles. Smith pushes another into the off side to reach a serene, authoritative half-century from 71 balls. He’s looked terrific. A poor over by Bumrah’s standards ends with a wide delivery that Carey cuts for two.
70th over: Australia 248-5 (Smith 48, Carey 1) Carey pushes Washington for a single to get off the mark. I’m surprised Rohit hasn’t gone in for the kill and brought Siraj back at this end. I know the second new ball is due after 80 overs but if necessary you could leave it until the morning; this is the time to strike.
69th over: Australia 246-5 (Smith 47, Carey 0) Since drinks Australia have lose three for 12 in four overs.
WICKET! Australia 246-5 (Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 4)
Smith is squared up by Bumrah and gets a leading edge into the off side for a single. Again, India won’t mind that as it gives Bumrah the chance of five deliveries at Marsh.
That’s all he needs. Marsh drives nicely for four, is hit on the glove by a nasty lifter and then top-edges a lusty pull through to Rishabh Pant. He’s usually so good on the pull but that zipped off the pitch and was on him too quickly. I’m not sure it was short enough for the shot either.
68th over: Australia 241-4 (Smith 46, Marsh 0) Smith carries on as if nothing has changed, rolling his wrists to collect a single off Washington’s first ball. Marsh defends the rest of the over.
67th over: Australia 240-4 (Smith 45, Marsh 0) Even on a day when he’s been nowhere near his best, Bumrah has taken 2 for 53 and is on the prowl for more.
WICKET! Australia 240-4 (Head b Bumrah 0)
Bumrah returns in the hope of getting Travis Head early. Smith drives his first ball for three, the third run coming after a misfield from Siraj. I wonder if that was deliberate to get Head on strike.
If it was, Siraj is a twisted genius because Head has gone for a duck! He shouldered arms to an immaculate delivery from round the wicket that came back just enough to trim the off bail. Now then.
66th over: Australia 237-3 (Smith 42, Head 0) The new batter is India’s Kryptonite. But if they can get him early they’ll be back in the contest.
WICKET! Australia 237-3 (Labuschagne c Kohli b Washington 72)
The drinks break has done for Marnus Labuschagne. He charged the first ball of the next over and swished a drive towards mid-off, where Kohli leapt to take a good catch. Labuschagne leaves the field in a manner that almost redefines the phrase “trudging off”; he can’t believe he’s given his wicket away like that.
Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/AP
65th over: Australia 237-2 (Labuschagne 72, Smith 42) Yikes. Out of nothing, Deep gets one to spit from a length and beat Labuschagne. It straightened a touch as well, which might actually have saved Labuschagne. This has been an impressive old-ball spell from Deep, one that deserves better than figures of 6-1-26-0.
64th over: Australia 233-2 (Labuschagne 69, Smith 41) Mr Smith goes after Washington, charging down the pitch to blast a straight drive for four. This is looking very ominous for India, not just in this game but also ahead of the Sydney Test. Khawaja, Labuschagne and Smith are all in a far better place than they were at the start of the series.
63rd over: Australia 226-2 (Labuschagne 67, Smith 36) Labuschagne and Smith are the most prolific third-wicket partnership in Australian Test history, with around 2350 runs at an average of 60. It’s been a while since their last century stand, though, which was at Lord’s in 2023.
They may rectify that in the next hour. Smith mistimes a pull over midwicket for three to take the partnership to 72.
“Is there any shade on the ground?” says Adam Humphries. “If there is, I’d be parking Bumrah in it and bringing him on late in the day. Seems to be the Aussies’ day, but the visitors might get a bit lucky as the finish of play approaches with a rested strike bowler.”
It must be so difficult to resist the temptation to bowl him, especially when you’re in as much trouble as India are here. I agree, though; I’d be inclined to let him rest until either the second new ball is available or Travis Head arrives at the crease.
62nd over: Australia 223-2 (Labuschagne 67, Smith 33) Washington appeals unsuccessfully for LBW when Labuschagne misses a reverse sweep. Scratch that, replays show he gloved it. Rohit looked slightly more inclined to review that than the Deep appeal, but not with only one left.
61st over: Australia 221-2 (Labuschagne 66, Smith 32) For the third time in this spell, Deep begs Joel Wilson to give Smith out LBW. It was a good delivery which straightened off the seam to hit Smith on the back leg, but it looked quite high and there’s no chance Rohit Sharma can risk his last review on that. Replays confirm it was bouncing over and was probably going down leg.
A maiden from Deep, perhaps his best over to date, includes a beauty that beats Smith outside off.
60th over: Australia 221-2 (Labuschagne 66, Smith 32) Washington Sundar replces Jadeja, who grazes with figures of 14-2-54-1. Four singles from the over, all taken with minimal risk. It feels like India are entering a world of pain.
59th over: Australia 217-2 (Labuschagne 64, Smith 30) Deep beats Labuschagne with a clever wide outswinger. Given Labuschagne’s recent struggles, it’s odd that India haven’t tempted himwith more deliveries like that.
Runs continue to flow, with 40 in six overs since tea. Labuschagne pulls for three, Smith fences through the slips for three more and then a Bumrah misfield gives Labuschagne a second run.
“Hey Rob, multicultural crowd of over 80,000,” says Ray Murphy. “Is there a better Leviathan-sized ground in the world to watch cricket?”
I’m probably not the best person to ask, but none come to mind.
58th over: Australia 208-2 (Labuschagne 58, Smith 27) Smith rocks back to cart Jadeja wide of mid-on for four more. That brings up a ruthless fifty partnership from 82 balls; Smith celebrates by mauling the next delivery back over Jadeja’s head for four more.
57th over: Australia 199-2 (Labuschagne 57, Smith 19) I’m not sure Rohit would have reviewed that if the score was, say, 50 for 2. It was on the desperate side of optimistic.
Smith is not out!
Smith shuffled a long way across, missed a flick to leg and was hit on the knee roll. But it was doing too much and would have missed leg stump, so India are down to their last review.
India review for LBW against Smith! Deep has another huge LBW shout turned down, but this time Rohit goes upstairs. My hunch is umpire’s call on line, though it’s really close.
56th over: Australia 197-2 (Labuschagne 56, Smith 19) Labuschagne, who is batting with increasing fluency, glides Jadeja for two and then spanks an inside-out drive to the extra-cover boundary. Lovely batting. India have got problems.
55th over: Australia 190-2 (Labuschagne 50, Smith 18) Akash Deep, on for Bumrah, has a big LBW shout against Smith first ball. It’s turned down by Joel Wilson and Rohit Sharma declines a review because of height. It was pretty close, mind, and would have been umpire’s call had they gone upstairs.
Smith takes seven from two deliveries later in the over, flicking to fine leg and driving three more through extra cover. Labuschagne fiddles a couple through the slips to reach a vital, hard-fought fifty from 114 balls. Australia are in such a good position here.
54th over: Australia 181-2 (Labuschagne 48, Smith 11) Labuschagne sets the agenda for the evening session by running down the track to slap Jadeja over mid-on for four. While it’s too early to be talking about a 12th Test hundred, he does look comfortable out there.
The players are back out there. It’ll be an extended evening session, with 37 overs still to be bowled. Ravindra Jadeja will take care of the first.
Teatime reading
A cracking piece here from Jack Snape on a debut innings like no other.
More than anything, Konstas had belied expectation. On debut, against Bumrah, in the first session on Boxing Day, it should be not be possible to play the way Konstas did. He charged down the pitch to Siraj short of a length, cut a middle stump-bound yorker for four, and produced more ramps than Arisa Trew’s backyard.
Tea
53rd over: Australia 176-2 (Labuschagne 44, Smith 10) Finally, on the stroke of tea, Washington Sundar comes on to bowl. He starts around the wicket with a slip, leg slip and short leg. Labuschagne is beaten by a good delivery that zips across him from round the wicket, then strides forward to drive classily to the long-off boundary.
That’s the end of a good session for Australia, who consolidated the work of Sam Konstas by scoring 64 runs in 28 overs for the loss of Usman Khawaja. India’s tiring bowlers are facing the prospect of a Headache in the evening session.
Photograph: James Ross/AAP
52nd over: Australia 171-2 (Labuschagne 40, Smith 9) It feels like Australia have weathered the brief storm that followed Khawaja’s unexpected dismissal. Jadeja, who is bowling accurately but with little help from the pitch, is milked for three singles.
51st over: Australia 168-2 (Labuschagne 39, Smith 7) Labuschagne and Smith are taking no risks against Bumrah, unlike Sam Konstas earlier in the day. I’m wary of recency bias but all but we’ll surely reflect on that as one of the most audacious debut innings ever played.
Kevin Pietersen dumping Glenn McGrath back over his head for six comes to mind, but he was 25, not 19. Ashton Agar’s 98 was awesome in a different way.
50th over: Australia 165-2 (Labuschagne 38, Smith 6) Smith mistimes a pull off Jadeja but it beats Sundar at mid-on and runs away for four. Just under ten minutes to go until tea; as things stand it’s Australia’s session.
49th over: Australia 161-2 (Labuschagne 38, Smith 2) Bumrah snaps an absolute jaffa past Labuschagne’s outside edge. Kohli appealed from slip but nobody else was interested.
This is a good spell for India, who are building some pressure, and Australia will be happy to get to tea without losing any more wickets.
A yorker from wide on the crease is jabbed into the ground and over gully for a couple by Labuschagne, who flicks two more behind square to end the over.
48th over: Australia 157-2 (Labuschagne 34, Smith 2) Smith drives Jadeja for a couple to get off the mark.
“Always love the almost poetic description we get from you,” writes Mark in Cleveland, though I should stress he’s talking about Geoff rather than me. “This piece from earlier only needed a tweak to become a first innings Haiku.
Khawaja this time. Stretching for a ball, to slip? Again, Deep sorrow.
47th over: Australia 155-2 (Labuschagne 34, Smith 0) Bumrah tries an elaborate off-break that is defended by Labuschagne, then walks back to his mark smiling at anything and everything. Geniuses are rarely as happy-go-lucky as Bumrah. Another maiden ends with Labuschagne edging a good one short of slip.
Labuschagne has slowed down as his innings has progressed: 21 from the first 43 balls, 13 from the next 47.
46th over: Australia 155-2 (Labuschagne 34, Smith 0) Jadeja is bowling very straight to the right-handers as usual, with a slip and short leg in place. Labuschagne waves a quick single to mid-off and Smith defends the last two balls.
45th over: Australia 154-2 (Labuschagne 33, Smith 0) That’s such a bonus for India, especially as Bumrah is at the start of his spell and could do some game-changing damage. The new batter Steve Smith nicks his fourth ball on the bounce to second slip, a lovely delivery that squared him up. A wicket maiden.
“T20 has ruined Test cricket,” writes Simon T. “Should’ve seen off the new ball with solid defensives or (preferably) studious leaves. Good luck to the young fella but I’ve hardly settled in to my salmon sarnies & Chardonnay…”
WICKET! Australia 154-2 (Khawaja c Rahul b Bumrah 57)
Jasprit Bumrah strikes with the first ball of a new spell! It was a rancid delivery, short on leg stump, but Khawaja was through his pull shot too early and toe-ended it in slow motion to midwicket. Bumrah puts his hands over his face in mock-embarrassment. All those snorters he bowled this morning and he gets a wicket with that.
