Key events
78th over: Australia 206-9 (Lyon 21, Boland 9) Lyon slogs for FOUR! Jadeja put it on off stump and the old man from Young jumped out and put it through square leg. With 20 minutes left in the day’s play, Australia may be about to smash and grab their way to a couple of nasty Cummins-Starc overs in the shadow of stumps.
77th over: Australia 200-9 (Lyon 17, Boland 8) India bring on Washington Sundar but it can’t slow Australia’s inexorable crawl past 200. A Lyon single brings it up and takes the partnership to 27. Australia lead by 306.
76th over: Australia 199-9 (Lyon 16, Boland 8) Boland plays out another Jadeja over as he reaches then breaches his longest Test innings – 48 balls and eight runs. And he’s done yet.
74th over: Australia 197-9 (Lyon 15, Boland 7) Lyon edges Jadeja for a single. Neither side minds that. Can Boland carve another boundary. He has now faced more deliveries than Nathan Lyon and looks set for a big score – maybe even double figures. The only one who wants this final wicket more than India is my greyhound who is waiting for a break in play to be fed the last of his Christmas turkey. Sorry Bailey, blame Mr Boland.
73rd over: Australia 196-9 (Lyon 14, Boland 7) Lyon drives Siraj down the ground for a single leaving Boland to CUT FOR FOUR! That takes the Australian lead over 300. That is huge. This partnership has been worth 23 runs – every one them could prove golden. That hurt Siraj. He has 3-66 but still has a face angrier than a bulldog chewing a wasp.
72nd over: Australia 191-9 (Lyon 13, Boland 3) Bumrah to Boland. It sounds like a mismatch but the Australian No 11 has now hung tough for 30 balls. Bouncer. Yorker. Off stump, leg stump. Big Scotty survives it all.
71st over: Australia 191-9 (Lyon 13, Boland 3) A single to Lyon as Siraj strays. Boland cops a bouncer and flinches enough to pop it up. Luckily it comes down short of gully. Good bowling. It baffles me why India haven’t tried the chin music before to these two. Boland glances a single and takes a run which a direct hit would’ve ended the innings.
70th over: Australia 189-9 (Lyon 12, Boland 2) Bumrah barrels in and puts one on Lyon’s leg stump. His flick of the bat misses but there’s enough pad for a leg bye. Can Boland survive five Bumrah balls? Yes. He. Can.
Gervase Greene has emailed to urge that we “officially drop the pretence that Cummins is not a genuine all-rounder?
In the last year – and while captain, curiously – he has jettisoned the dour, but solid blocker propping up the tail. He can now accelerate the rate as required, not only keep out – but score from – even top-notch bowling. And most pertinently, he can flick these switches at will, depending on what the team requires. He is a marvel.
A marvel he is, Gervase. And may yet prove it with a final burst this evening.
69th over: Australia 188-9 (Lyon 12, Boland 2) Time for another jet-fueled Jadeja over. And a little Nathan Lyon luck as he late cuts inches away from Rohit Sharma and steals a run. Blocker Boland survives a 14th ball as Australia lead by 293 runs.
68th over: Australia 186-9 (Lyon 10, Boland 2) Guess who’s back? Bumrah. Australia are creeping toward a lead of 300 and to reach that number would inflict an important psychological blow. Can India’s main man stop these bunnies from breeding 10 more runs? Lyon and Boland edge closer with two leg byes. And Lyon’s drive and Nitish’s misfield at mid-on adds another. These two have put on 14 runs for the 10th wicket. There’s a muted shout for lbw and a middlin review on the last but it’s way wide.
67th over: Australia 184-9 (Lyon 10, Boland 2) Spinner on spinner as Jadeja zips into Lyon. The Australian gets the better of the encounter, dabbing to backward point. He calls for two and it pressures the fielder into a fumble so he gets them. Then a single. And now more frustration for India as Boland’s cheeky single becomes a chancer’s two when the throw ricochets for an overthrow. The people’s hero is off the mark! Australia lead by 289.
66th over: Australia 176-9 (Lyon 8, Boland 0) Lyon is DROPPED! He was caught on the hop by a Siraj slower ball and tentatively popped it up at eye level. Siraj blinked at the wrong split second and spilt the chance. India have grassed four today by my count. Will it cost them in the long run? Siraj thunders one into Lyon’s pad and screams for an upraised finger from the umpire. It doesn’t come but Sharma shrugs and reviews. Unsurprisingly it’s sailing down leg side. Lyon celebrates by carving the fourth ball into the covers for three.
65th over: Australia 174-9 (Lyon 5, Boland 0) Here comes Australia’s No 11, local hero and Johnny Mullagh medallist 2021, Scott “Blocker” Boland. Jadeja gifts Australia a no-ball but Blocker blocks the rest to make it a wicket and five dots.
WICKET! Cummins c Sharma b Jadeja 41 (Australia 173-9)
Edged and caught! Cummins goes after another fine innings. Jadeja put it outside off and it gripped a fraction and Cummins’ artful steer became a top edge. That’s a crucial wicket but it gives Australia’s skipper time to put his feet up for a bit and prepare a plan for young master Jaiswal who has dropped three catches today and maybe isn’t feeling too lucky.
64th over: Australia 173-8 (Cummins 41, Lyon 5) We have 41,448 in the MCG and every one of them is on the edge of their seat. Lyon scampers a leg bye from Siraj’s first ball and gives back the strike to Cummins who cuts fine for another two to enter the roaring 40s. Great stuff from Cummins who, after 49 in the first innings, is now entering the rarified air of the full-fledged allrounder. And now he swings hard and high. Two there but he takes one to keep strike. Australia lead by 278.
63rd over: Australia 169-8 (Cummins 38, Lyon 5) Cummins steers a Bumrah yorker to third man. There’s a run there but he doesn’t takes it, preferring to protect the GOAT. Jasprit now gives him a bouncer to think about and the skipper takes evasive action. Then a yorker. Cummins is up to the challenge of both, knowing Bumrah can’t bowl forever. And now a little counterattack, leaning back and cutting to the rope for FOUR.
62nd over: Australia 165-8 (Cummins 34, Lyon 5) Lyon edges for FOUR. Streaky but sweet for Australia. Mohammed Siraj adds another furrow to his well corrugated brow. Rohit Sharma has come alive as a captain this afternoon. Despite criticism of his leadership and a shocking run of form with the bat, he has injected his spearhead Bumrah with acumen and fired up Siraj to take three wickets. Not only is the Test and series in the balance, Sharma’s career might be too.
61st over: Australia 161-8 (Cummins 34, Lyon 1) After a break for drinks, Jasprit Bumrah – refreshed and ready to bowl – steams in. Will Pat Cummins spurn singles to protect Nathan Lyon or will he trust the man with whom he orchestrated that famous victory at Edgbaston? There they put on 55 runs for the ninth wicket to secure victory in the first Ashes Test. Can they conjure more glory for Australia here? Not yet. It’s a maiden.
60th over: Australia 161-8 (Cummins 34, Lyon 1) Siraj returns – face full of zinc, head full of steam. New batter Nathan Lyon flicks off the pads to get off the mark. Cummins does well to drop a bouncer at his feet. The next one is wide and Cummins opens the blade and runs it through gully for three more. Australia lead by 266 runs.
WICKET! Starc run out (Nitish/ Pant) 4 (Australia 156-8)
Starc is GORN! The umpire went tot the replay but Starc walked. He knew he was well short of his ground. Dreadful mix-up by the Australian pair and probably Starc’s fault. He turned too quick for the second when Cummins, with a clear view of the swooping Nitish, cancelled it with a bark. But too late. Starc was well short of his ground and veered out of the path of the ball when he should’ve have tried to wear it on the body.
59th over: Australia 152-6 (Cummins 29, Starc 3) Here comes Bumrah. Does he ever go away? He has Starc in his sights and the big man gets a single. Or is it two? NOOOOOO! There’s a huge mixup and Nitish has swooped and thrown it the ‘keeper. Rishabh Pant seizes the bouncing ball, removes the glove in a flash and throws down the the stumps at the non-striker’s end. This looks close…
58th over: Australia 152-6 (Cummins 29, Starc 3) Starc attacks! That was a full blooded drive and if Nitish Kumar Reddy hadn’t dived for the stop it was four. Instead it’s one run. Desperate hours here at the MCG. A Test, a series and cricket’s world heavyweight title in the balance. Cummins carves Siraj for another two runs from the last.
57th over: Australia 152-6 (Cummins 29, Starc 3) Cummins clips a single from Ravi Jadeja’s first ball. Australia lead by 257 now but runs are coming in a trickle. Do they risk being skittled cheaply by hitting out and trying and rip out India’s top order in the final hour? Or eke another 30 at snail’s pace so they’re safe at stumps?
The question for Australia is: How much is enough?
56th over: Australia 150-6 (Cummins 28, Starc 2) Mohammed Siraj enjoyed that. He raises his arms and flapped them fiercely at the crowd, bellowing the whole time. Was that a sharp retort to the jerring Australian fans? Or a rev-up for the Indian contingent? Great theatre either way! New batter Starc flails one over the top to steal two runs.
WICKET! Labuschagne lbw Siraj 70 (Australia 148-7)
First ball is straight and fast from Siraj and Marnus misses. Big shout… OUT! Marnus reviews straight away but Siraj looks confident. Of course he does. Is there any bat? Replays show no and Marnus must go. Massive breakthrough for India! Siraj has three and Australia are back in strife.
55th over: Australia 148-6 (Labuschagne 70, Cummins 28) A tight leave first up by Cummins as Jadeja ramps the pace up to 95kph. It narrowly missed off stump so it’s a good leave. And there’s a good shot! Captain Pat swivels Jadeja fine for a boundary. That brings the partnership to 57 and Australia lead to 253.
54th over: Australia 144-6 (Labuschagne 70, Cummins 24) Attempted yorker. It’s straight and full but Labuschagne brings the bat down in time and jams it through backward square for two runs. He gets another two with a hip chip from the last. Hang on, it’s a belated no ball decision.
53rd over: Australia 139-6 (Labuschagne 65, Cummins 24) Edged but safe! Cummins pierces slips and runs two. Weird few moments as the Australian pair knock back two singles from Jadeja. They need to win this Test to take the Sydney weather Gods out of the equation next week. Lose or draw and they’re behind the 8-ball. Finally Cummins taps another run to escape Cyclone Jasprit next over.
52nd over: Australia 135-6 (Labuschagne 65, Cummins 21) Squared up and beaten! What a seed! Off stump line and seaming away. Bowler and batter share a grin at that one. Bumrah walks back to his mark watching the big screen and marvelling at his own genius. He proves it three more times as Marnus is made to look increasingly mortal.
If you’re wondering… England hold the record for the highest score chased at the MCG which was 332 back in December 1928. Not a bad target for Australia to aim for I reckon.
51st over: Australia 135-6 (Labuschagne 65, Cummins 21) Jadeja is whirling through his fifth over. He has 0-10 so far but has accelerated the run-rate no end. Cummins knocks back a single on the fifth to stay off strike to Mr Bumrah. Over to you Marnus…
50th over: Australia 135-6 (Labuschagne 65, Cummins 21) Bumrah’s spell begins with a maiden as Labuschagne signals Australia’s intent to shut up shop when he’s the maestro is on and have a lash at whoever’s at the other end. We’ll see how that works out…
Tick, tick… Bumrah. He has the ball in hand and we are about to resume.
TEA Day 4: Australia 135 for 6 with a 240 run lead
What a session! Yet again Jasprit Bumrah tore apart Australia’s brittle batting to bring India back into the game that looked to be slipping away.
Bumrah has 4-30 from 14 overs and the scalps of Travis Head (1), MItch Marsh (0) and Alex Carey (2) are hanging from his belt to join that of Sam Konstas (8) from the first session. In doing so Bumrah went to 202 Test wickets at an average of 20. Incredible!
Even so, Australia fought their way back in that final hour. Marnus Labuschagne has scrapped and scraped his way to an undefeated 60 and Pat Cummins (21 not out) is playing another brilliant rearguard knock to save his top order’s blushes. Those two have put on 43 runs in quick time – by far Australia’s most profitable partnership.
This will be a fascinating night session. Will Bumrah the Destroyer return and rip through Australia’s final four wickets. Or will this epic Test take another twist with Australia batting beyond 300 and giving India a challenging target on day five?
Grab a cuppa and contemplate. We’ll be back with the final session shortly.
49th over: Australia 135-6 (Labuschagne 65, Cummins 21) At 43 runs, Cummins and Labuschagne have given Australia its best partnership of the innings. But it almost ends as Jaiswal DROPS ANOTHER! The young opener has been banished from slips after dropping two catches there and put in the dog box of silly mid-off. Now Cummins fends at Jadeja and spits a catch at ankle-height but airborne enough to get fingers to it. Alas, Jaiswal is too high in his crouch and another chance goes begging. That’s Tea.
48th over: Australia 134-6 (Labuschagne 64, Cummins 21) Two from the first as Sundar shucks the rust with a first ball down legside. Second is wide again but outside off and Labuschagne slaps at it but can’t pierce the field. he does better next time, chipping past silly mid-on for a run. Australia lead by 239 and this partnership is now worth 43 runs.
47th over: Australia 131-6 (Labuschagne 61, Cummins 21) Another Jadeja over goes by in fast-forward with just a Labuschagne single from it. Looks like Washinton Sundar will bowl the last over before tea. Curious and curiouser…
46th over: Australia 131-6 (Labuschagne 60, Cummins 21) Short and sweet from Akash and Labuschagne swings it to the rope for four. Next one angles back and Marnus chops down late and watches aghast as it fizzes back towards the stumps… but bounces over! The luck of Labuschagne strikes again. He takes a single to celebrate leabing Cummins to carve the final ball to the boundary backward of point. Shot, skipper!
45th over: Australia 121-6 (Labuschagne 54, Cummins 17) Time for spin. Ravi Jadeja returns to the attack and his first ball is wide and full. Labuschagne cuts for a run. Cummins watches the next three then steps out and drives for four. Australia’s captain is putting together another valuable innings for his side here.
44th over: Australia 117-6 (Labuschagne 54, Cummins 14) Dropped! Akash Deep threw it down short and Cummins gave it a heave and top-edged. Nitish Kumar Reddy sent off under swirling wind to claim the catch but couldn’t get there in time. Valiant attempt. Cummins nails the next one and it runs close to the rope for another two.
43rd over: Australia 111-6 (Labuschagne 52, Cummins 9) Marnus gets his fifty with a push to square leg. It’s been another rearguard action by the mercurial No 3 who has held this innings together while never quite getting ion top of India’s bowling attack. Now Cummins flashes at a full ball outside off by Siraj. They run three. Labuschagne drives past mid-on for another two then works a single off his hip. Siraj is starting to tire, he’s too weary even to mutter murderous intent at the batters. Seven from the over. Australia lead by 216 but they need another hundred to be safe and apply pressure.
42nd over: Australia 104-6 (Labuschagne 49, Cummins 6) Uh-oh, Bumrah is back! After a short spell in the skinny shadows of the Shane Warne Stand, India’s destroyer has been recalled by skipper Rohit Sharma for a final spell in the hot half hour before tea. Bumrah runs in with 4-28 and you wouldn’t bet against him scalping the final four. Cummins fends off the first and Labuschagne rebuffs a single to fine leg to retain strike. Can Australia survive? Marnus finds a single from the last to keep strike for the next.
