Another Steve Smith century and 129 runs from the tail has helped establish Australia as firm favourites in the third test against India at the MCG. An elegant 74 from Ryan Harris one of the highlights in a day that saw Australia double their day one score in two sessions, achieving a total of 530.
The Indian bowlers struggled again with consistency on the good batting wicket. Mohammad Shami still managed to bother the batsmen with his variation and speed claiming two more wickets and peppering the bodies of Mitchell Johnson and Steve Smith.
Brad Haddin opened the day with some explosive batting. Against some often erratic bowling, Smith and Haddin added 67 more runs to their partnership in only 10 overs, rattling the Indian attack.
Steve Smith hit his 3rd century in as many matches after glancing a delivery down to the fine leg boundary. Smith’s recent form elevating his status to one of the most influential batsmen in world cricket.
“I think it was just about being patient and letting the bowlers keep coming back and keep coming back and getting tired. I think we were able to do that and reap rewards late in the day yesterday and today as well,” commented the stand-in captain.
Haddin was caught behind from another bottom edge off the bowling of Shami who has nabbed a number of batsmen the same way this test. M.S. Dhoni claimed one of his 5 dismissals for the innings and the 251st of his career.
Shami bowled aggresively in partnership with Yadav after the fall of Haddin’s wicket. Clearly motivated by the breakthrough, Yadav hit both Smith and Johnson on the body and looked to have the batsmen rattled. As was the case in the second test, this only proved a motivation for Johnson to hit out and he thumped a demoralising 28 runs.
Johnson was stumped off the bowling of Ashwin as he looked to continue his typically aggressive innings bringing Ryan Harris to the crease.
India were unable to contain the lower-order batsman and Harris quickly established himself as a good support for the impenetrable Smith and another spot-fire for the Indians to douse.
Harris was dismissed for his highest ever score of 74, achieving his third ever half-century and shooting the Aussies to 8/482 in a 106-run partnership with the stand-in captain Smith that included 9 boundaries and 1 six.
Smith charged towards his double century, protecting the final two batsmen by holding the strike and refusing runs. Smith was eventually bowled trying to ramp a ball to the fine leg boundary for 192.
The highest score for his country pumped Smith’s overall average to 51.27 and 84.33 for the summer. Smith has averaged 107.12 in the first innings of tests in 2014, a stat that includes 5 centuries out of 7 for his country, accumulating over 1100 runs.
Wipe that drool away…
The Indian batsmen began well against the new ball, no doubt hoping the ball would come onto the bat the way it did for the Australians. Vijay and Dhawan posted 55 runs before Dhawan fell to Ryan Harris, caught well in the slips by Steve Smith for 28.
Josh Hazlewood bowled an excellent line and length and was unlucky not to grab a wicket. Brad Haddin dropped a chance to remove Pujara for 12 late in the day, going for a low chance with one hand instead of two.
Australia finished the day 422 runs ahead after an entertaining and record breaking day of cricket before nearly 60,000 fans.
The Aussies will be looking to bowl India out tomorrow, but the task may prove a difficult one if the batsmen get into a rhythm on the good MCG wicket. Nathan Lyon may have to bowl well again to assist the quicks and keep the batsmen guessing.
