New Delhi:
Jasprit Bumrah took 6/33 and registered his third five-wicket haul as Australia were bowled out for 151, giving India a massive lead of 292 runs. It was indeed a surprise that Virat Kohli did not enforce the follow-on. Bumrah, along with Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma chipped in with vital wickets at crucial times. For Australia, none of their batsmen got going as their woeful year with the bat continued. However, in a sensational burst of bowling, Pat Cummins took four wickets for just four runs as Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were dismissed for 0. India lead by 346 runs and an interesting day 4 is in prospect. Will Kohli declare early? (SCORECARD)
That will be stumps on day 3. India firmly on top with a lead of 346 runs. Australia had just one thing to smile about and that was the spell by Pat Cummins, who took 4/10. However, there is rain forecast for the remaining two days.
Another one bites the dust. Josh Hazlewood bowls a short ball that kicks up from the deck outside off, Rohit attempts the cut shot and the edge is taken.
India are trying to play out the remaining overs calmly after the burst by Pat Cummins. Agarwal has looked in great touch
Cummins is on a roll. Short ball on leg stump, Rahane looks to help it down to fine leg but gets a thin edge and Paine takes the catch. He misses the hat-trick but this will boost Australia.
WICKET! Cummins on a roll. Century in the first and duck now in the second innings. Cheteshwar Pujara flicks a full ball on the pads but it goes to the fielder who is stationed at an unconventional leg gully position.
Hanuma Vihari falls to Pat Cummins for the second time in the match. For the second time, he falls to the bouncer. Short ball and it climbs up on the deck, Vihari fends it and Khawaja takes the catch.
Mayank Agarwal is looking in great touch and he has hit a couple of boundaries. India are in a comfortable position.
The lead for India has crossed 300 and with each run, Australia's woes mount. However, the debate is why India did not enforce the follow-on. Perhaps, Kohli has his reasons.
India have not enforced the follow-on. This is probably to rest the pacers. However, one might have felt that with Australia low on confidence, they could have done it. But, Kohli has his reasons probably.
So, will Virat Kohli enforce the follow-on? Australia trail by 292 runs and they are under massive pressure. If Virat Kohli enforces the follow-on, then this will be the first time since 1988 that Australia have suffered this fate at home.
WICKET! Third five-wicket haul for Jasprit Bumrah and he has trapped Nathan Lyon LBW for 0. Australia are sinking fast. Australia are all out for 151 and Bumrah ends with 6/33
WICKET! Immediately after the break, Bumrah strikes and gets his fourth wicket. Short of a length ball and it straightens outside off, Paine fishes at it and the edge is taken by Rishabh Pant. Bumrah with a chance of yet another five-wicket haul.
That is Tea on the third day. The wicket of Cummins before the session has once again tilted the balance towards India. How much can Australia's tail frustrate India? The important question: Will Kohli enforce the follow-on?
Does not need a review. Shami gets the ball to cut back in and the ball hits the top of off stump. Pat Cummins' vigil has ended.
India opt for a review against Tim Paine. Shami got the ball to cut back in and Paine plays inside the line of the delivery. The ball hits him high on the pad and there is no bat. Review gone.
The partnership between Paine and Cummins has steadied Australia slightly but they are still a long way away from enforcing the follow-on. Cummins broke the shackles by slicing a square drive off Jadeja.
DROPPED! Pant drops Pat Cummins on the first ball bowled by Hanuma Vihari. That would have been a magnificent extension of India's domination but for the moment, the Australian tail is holding on.
Tim Paine and Pat Cummins have a monumental task on their hands. With each passing hour, the pitch is becoming difficult to bat on.
WICKET! Another poor shot from an Australia batsman and India are into the tail now. Quicker ball angled in, Marsh looks to whip it to the leg side, gets an inside edge onto the pad and the catch lobs to slip.
Mitchell Marsh clobbers Mohammed Shami for a boundary to deep midwicket. Australia go past 100 and the hosts will need this partnership to flourish if they have to avoid the follow-on.
WICKET! Sublime bowling from Bumrah. He stays round the wicket for the left-hander, the ball cuts back in further and Head plays all around the delivery to get cleaned up. India into the tail now.
Welcome back for the second session. One Marsh is out and the other one comes in. Mitchell Marsh now has an opportunity to show his worth.
Want to know how the sledging war is developing between India and Australia in Melbourne? Here is an article that sum it up.
WICKET! Last ball before lunch and it is a dream end to the session for India. Jasprit Bumrah bowls a dipping full toss and it sneaks under Marsh's under-edge to ping him in front. Tragedy for Australia and their task becomes even more difficult now to stay alive.
Marsh and Head are trying to stabilise the innings as Australia look to avoid any further jolts before the lunch break.
Australia have an uphill task of surviving the remaining sessions with the pitch starting to crumble and deteriorate. The advantage is firmly with India. This is the time now for Shaun Marsh to show his worth.
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja, you beauty. Accurate and deadly, that is what he is on a crumbling wicket. Flatter delivery and it hits the edge of the rough outside off, Khawaja stabs at it with hard hands and the edge is taken sharply by Mayank Agarwal at short leg.
Marsh is still to get off the mark while Khawaja hits another boundary. Ravindra Jadeja is getting some turn. He could be the main bowler on day 3.
Usman Khawaja strikes a lovely boundary off Ishant while Shaun Marsh is hanging on against a testing spell from Jasprit Bumrah. Good contest at the moment.
WICKET! Another one falls. Poor shot yet again and this is not the kind of batting one would want to see. Short ball from Bumrah and Harris goes for the pull shot again, he top-edges it and Ishant Sharma takes a neat catch at fine leg. Both openers gone now and Australia in trouble.
WICKET! That is a poor shot and Aaron Finch has fallen for the trap. Full ball and on the pads, Finch goes for the flick. He knows there is a man at short midwicket for just that kind of stroke, Mayank Agarwal obliges and takes a sharp catch. Aaron Finch c Agarwal b Ishant 8.
Hello and welcome to day 3 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at Melbourne. Australia's openers are making decent progress, with Aaron Finch striking a boundary off Ishan Sharma while Marcus Harris is looking fluent with a couple of drives. India will be desperately eyeing wickets.
