India vs Australia 3rd Test: Smith, Head tons take AUS to 405/7 at Stumps; Bumrah picks fifer

A batter enjoying a rich vein of form and a legend searching for runs joined forces as Australia relished a perfect Sunday (December 15, 2024) at the Gabba. With the series level at 1-1, the host gets an opportunity to press ahead even as the threat of rain lingers.

In his previous three Test knocks at this venue, Travis Head, with three ducks, never troubled the scorers. However, this time around, he kept the number-crunchers busy.

Just like Zaheer Abbas and Graham Gooch, classy batters of the past, the Australian southpaw too revealed a voracious appetite for Indian bowling. His 152, a follow-up to the 140 at Adelaide, ensured that the host sat pretty on the second day of the third Test.

Head found an ally in Steve Smith, who in his previous 24 innings in Tests, failed to score a ton. Amends were finally made and as Smith, scratchy to start with and magisterial later, scored 101, it proved to be a key component for Australia to post an unfinished first innings score of 405 for seven at close, with a belligerent Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc at the crease.

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Earlier, Smith and Head combined once Marnus Labuschagne fell. It was an alliance of contrasts, Head slotted the fifth gear, Smith, meanwhile, survived lbw appeals and play-and-miss routines. The duo found the post-lunch phase to be productive and when Ravindra Jadeja came on, Head tucked into some freebies.

Smith, found his voice too, driving Akash Deep twice, while Head waded into Mohammed Siraj with slashes and pulls. Nitish Kumar found the batters too intimidating and soon Head reached his inevitable ton. After tea, Head dallied with Nitish on 112 but the edge proved tough for a diving Rohit Sharma at first slip.

Soon Smith etched his hundred and the belated post-celebratory swing of the bat reflected his enormous relief. He fell edging Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit plucked a fine catch but by then the 241-run fourth-wicket partnership had placed Australia on a strong pedestal. With the new ball, Bumrah (five for 72) continued to strike, and scalped Mitchell Marsh and Head.

In the morning, openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney strived to extend the overnight score of 28 for no loss. But Bumrah had a contrarian idea and lured edges from the duo. The host struggled at 38 for two with Labuschagne and Smith at the crease. The latter had an exaggerated trigger moment, moving across the stumps a touch more than usual just at the release-point of the delivery.

There was a spot of gamesmanship as Siraj swapped the bails and Labuschagne reversed the change. Perhaps it distracted the batter as he reached out to a Nitish delivery and the edge flew to Virat Kohli. Australia 75 for three, and in need of a partnership.

It was a requirement that found an immediate response as Head swatted Nitish and drove Bumrah. Australia moved to 104 for three at lunch, a total that gained heft as the day wore on.

The scores

Australia – 1st innings: Usman Khawaja c Pant b Bumrah 21 (54b, 3×4), Nathan McSweeney c Kohli b Bumrah 9 (49b, 1×4), Marnus Labuschagne c Kohli b Nitish 12 (55b), Steve Smith c Rohit b Bumrah 101 (190b, 12×4), Travis Head c Pant b Bumrah 152 (160b, 18×4), Mitchell Marsh c Kohli b Bumrah 5 (16b), Alex Carey (batting) 45 (47b, 5×4, 1×6), Pat Cummins c Pant b Siraj 20 (33b, 1×4), Mitchell Starc (batting) 7 (7b). Extras (lb-17, nb-5, w-11): 33; Total (for seven wkts., in 101 overs): 405.

Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Khawaja, 16.1), 2-38 (McSweeney, 18.3), 3-75 (Labuschagne, 33.2), 4-316 (Smith, 82.6), 5-326 (Marsh, 86.2), 6-327 (Head, 86.5), 7-385 (Cummins, 97.5).

India bowling: Bumrah 25-7-72-5, Siraj 22.2-4-97-1, Akash 24.4-5-78-0, Nitish 13-1-65-1, Jadeja 16-2-76-0.