On the second day of the third Test between IND vs AUS at the Gabba in Brisbane, the Australian batsmen ruled the roost. It’s going to be a herculean task for India as Australia ended the day on 405/7 after 101 overs, courtesy of Travis Head and Steve Smith, who have shown scintillating centurion form in their batting.
Head and Smith’s Brillant Centuries Give Australia Upper Hand
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Travis Head continued his good form against India. He scored 152 runs, and this was his second successive Test century against India and overall third. He has been the best player in this series, as he has now amassed 392 runs, which has made him the highest run-getter of the series. His innings included some delightful strokes and his ability to counterattack kept the Indian bowlers at bay.
Steve Smith, too, was in sublime form, scoring 101 runs off 190 balls, his 15th international century and 10th Test century against India. Smith’s steady and composed innings helped anchor the Australian innings and allowed Head to play his natural attacking game. Together, the duo formed a crucial partnership, with Australia progressing steadily after the early wickets on the first day.
India’s Bowlers Struggle as Australia Builds Momentum
While Jasprit Bumrah was the star of the Indian bowlers, claiming 5 wickets, the rest of the Indian bowling lineup failed to pick up enough wickets. The most expensive of them all were Akash Deep and Ravindra Jadeja, who did not provide a break in the Australian partnership, letting go of too many runs. The Australian wicketkeeper, Alex Carey, went unbeaten at 45 runs, adding further misery to India’s misery as the day ended with Australia at a strong 405/7.
Australia’s Supremacy at the Gabba
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The match is of crucial importance, with both teams level at 1-1 after the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia’s performance at the Gabba has been formidable. This ground has traditionally been a fortress for Australia, with 42 wins out of 67 Tests, and only 10 losses. India, however, has a recent historic victory here, having defeated Australia in 2021 to end their 33-year unbeaten streak at this venue.
Tense Battle as Both Teams Seek the Upper Hand
Both teams have been keen on gaining an upper hand in this Test match. This Test has been crucial for the series as India had an easy win in the first Test, defeating Australia by 295 runs while Australia countered with a 10-wicket victory in the second Test to level the series. The result of this third Test will probably determine the future of the series.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect on Day 3
With cloudy skies and favorable conditions expected on Day 3, India will hope to capitalize on the early morning swing to dismiss the remaining Australian batters quickly. However, Australia’s strong total has placed them in a commanding position, with Carey still at the crease and the lower order yet to come. India will need a disciplined bowling performance to stay in the game.
Playing XIs:
India- Captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia- Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, captain- Pat Cummins, Nathan Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
As the third Test unfolds, both teams have everything to play for, and the match is poised to deliver plenty of drama in the coming days.
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