Australia tighten noose with 197-run lead as India falter below stress at SCG

Cheteshwar Pujara’s singular lack of intent pushed an injury-ravaged India right into a deep gap as Australia tightened the noose with a considerable 197-run lead on a forgettable Saturday for the guests within the third Test in Sydney.
Pujara’s slowest Test half-century, a painstaking 50 off 176 balls, was quickly adopted by India being bowled out for 244 on the third day with the opposite batsmen feeling large stress of a dormant scoreboard.

It was a dynamite show within the area by Australia! Watch all 10 Indian wickets to fall right here #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4I05u5eEt9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021
A primary-innings lead of 94 runs offered by the bowlers and a few good fielding did assist Australia’s trigger.
By stumps, Steve Smith (29 batting) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 batting) gave an exhibition of how one can bat on sluggish tracks with Australia reaching 103/2.
Labuschagne, specifically, confirmed how one can bat positively on a useless observe hitting six boundaries in 67 balls.
As Shane Warne identified throughout commentary, it could be very tough to chase any rating in extra of 250 with variable bounce and the odd balls protecting low.
Pat Cummins (4/29 in 21.4 overs) was sensible on an unresponsive observe with some efficient short-pitched bowling and bought good help from Josh Hazlewood (2/43 in 21 overs) and Mitchell Starc (1/61 in 19 overs), having arrange a leg-side lure.
To make issues worse for India, there have been run-outs and two batsmen — Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja — have been hit on the left elbow and left thumb respectively.
While each would possibly come into bat within the second innings, Jadeja, with a swollen left thumb, will discover it tough to even grip the ball.
EXPLAINED | How India ran themselves out on Day 3 of the Sydney Test
Earlier, Pujara’s ultra-defensive strategy put large stress on his colleagues and India by no means fairly bought the momentum going as Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc constantly attacked the batsmen — first with a leg-side area and short-ball technique after which on the hall of uncertainty.
Pujara doesn’t play the pull or hook shot properly and he wasn’t allowed room to both minimize or drive.
While he by no means tried to rotate the strike, the likes of Ajinkya Rahane (22 off 70 balls) and Rishabh Pant (36 off 67 balls) felt the urge to interrupt the shackles within the absence of any such intention from the opposite finish.
“It may have looked like a flat pitch but it wasn’t easy to score runs,” Pujara instructed host broadcasters Channel 7 throughout post-match snap interview.
The defensive strategy additionally resulted in three run-outs together with the one among Hanuma Vihari (4 off 38 balls), who fell brief whereas going for a fast however non-existent single.
It was then left to Ravindra Jadeja (28), who needed to throw his bat round to carry the lead all the way down to lower than 100 runs, however that’s of little consolation contemplating that India would now should bat fourth to avoid wasting the match.

Run out! Cummins spots up Labuschagne and Ashwin’s heading again!
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/KwwZDwbdzO pic.twitter.com/XdTtL5bkjA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021
A complete of 84 runs from 34 overs within the first session, with lack of intent particularly from Pujara, didn’t assist India’s trigger and Rahane’s dismissal was purely as a result of scoreboard stress.
The Indian captain didn’t get a move-on initially on a sluggish observe the place bounce grew to become variable because the session session progressed.
He did hit a canopy drive after which tried to tackle Nathan Lyon by lofting him for a six over lengthy on.
However, Cummins bowled one the place he bought further bounce in his off-cutter, cramping Rahane for room and he was performed on. The duo added 32 runs in 22.3 overs and it didn’t assist the staff in any method.
Had KL Rahul been match, there may have been a case of Vihari getting dropped as he didn’t present in any method that he was in management throughout his half an hour keep on the crease.
READ | Hanuma Vihari and the struggles of Indian cricket’s Aam Aadmi
Pant bought into the groove rapidly however a nasty blow on the forearm did have an effect on his shot-making and the consequence was a caught behind off Hazlewood, after a 53-run stand in a bit over 20 overs.
Pujara, on the different finish, was bowled brief initially with three males on the leg aspect after which on the off-side along with his cowl drive dried up.
Even the drive extensive off mid-on didn’t fetch him boundaries. In the primary 100 balls, he didn’t have a single boundary.
Finally, after finishing his slowest ever half century in Test cricket, Cummins bought one to rear up from in need of size and it was that one good ball each batsman will get when he’s not scoring runs.
From 195 for 4, instantly it was 210 for eight and there was solely Jadeja left to attain a number of runs.