Australia lead by 298 going into day three after a India were skittled by a stunning performance by Steve O’Keefe
12.04pm GMT
Related: Australia take charge of first Test after Steve O'Keefe skittles India
11.09am GMT
What a day. Australia started the day at 9/256. Hoping for maybe some cheeky early runs and to keep India under pressure for as long as possible with the bat. Not in their most outlandish dreams could they have expected what happened next. India simply monstered by Steve O’Keefe in the middle session, the hosts rolled for 105. That’s their third lowest score on these shores. Ever.
O’Keefe’s 6/35 came in a hurry, as did Australia’s 7/11 to end the innings. But it will be remembered for a very long time. Some brilliant captaincy from Smith throughout, successfully having bowlers strike when he brought them on. Starc’s removal of Pujara and Kohli inside three balls earlier in the day laid the base for the chaos that came after the long break.
11.01am GMT
46th over: Australia 143-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 21). Belatedly, it is Jadeja back in the act. Guess what? An unplayable to Marsh begins it. Bounces just over the stumps after defying the edge. The questions keep coming, but Marsh is determined to see stumps. Last ball of the day, he’s able to knock it on the head from deep in the crease. That’s our lot, the Australian batsmen very happy to depart with a lead of 298. As they should be.
10.59am GMT
45th over: Australia 143-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 21). Ishant continues. Weird. Eight minutes to stumps, so he’ll take at least half of those. Marsh cuts with ease for a single to start the set. He’s done very well here, make no mistake. Smith far tighter in defence than he was against Jadeja, pushing solidly when playing, then just as comfortable when leaving. Not much bounce out there either, one of those bounced twice before reaching the ‘keeper Saha. Giving the ball a good old shine between deliveries too, suggesting that they have conceded this will be the penultimate over of the day and they won’t squeeze in another one. Not very good cricket. Then again, sometimes you just want the day to end. Over bowled, at last.
10.52am GMT
44th over: Australia 142-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 20). Oh wait, it’s Umesh back on. Not sure about this? Shadow of stumps. Ashwin hasn’t had a go in about, what, an hour? Jadeja beating Smith for laughs. Those two ranked No. 1 and 2 by the ICC at the moment in world cricket. Anyway, Umesh it’ll be. Marsh deals with the first half of the over easily enough, defending then pushing to cover. One taken. Smith equally calm, leaving and defending away. Wasteful not to have the megastar spinners on, surely?
The three highest fourth-innings totals to win Tests in India are 387, 276 and 276 (plus 347 to tie). #IndvAus
10.49am GMT
43rd over: Australia 141-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 19). Ishant gets another go. Only his second over, the previous spell lasting six balls for him. India in no hurry at all here, chatting away between balls. Not much going on at the batsman’s end though, Marsh defending throughout before taking a single to retain the strike. Probably not a bad thing if Jadeja is planning to continue - keep him away from Smith for 13 further minutes, please. Let’s not tempt fate. Okay? Thanks.
Mitch Marsh only leaves 8% of the balls he faces in Tests, a lower percentage than every other batsman in this match #INDvAUS
10.42am GMT
42nd over: Australia 140-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 18). Marsh takes a single down the ground to start the over. But that’s the only time the board changes, Jadeja continuing to keep Smith pinned to the crease. The Aussie captain, sure enough, was beaten twice on the way through. What does Jadeja need to do to get this bloke’s wicket today? Plenty, evidently.
10.40am GMT
41st over: Australia 139-4 (Smith 59, Marsh 17). Another of those 90-second overs that we hate on the OBO. Includes three singles though, all into the on-side. Gives them a bit more latitude than Jadeja. But I reckon we might be seeing Ashwin back next over from the grandstand end. He’ll make a menace of himself.
I'm surprised this bloke is happy to show his face, let alone acknowledge himself to the world...#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/qu1GPsJoup
10.37am GMT
40th over: Australia 135-4 (Smith 57, Marsh 15). Marsh won’t be able to put Jaedja into the crowd as easily as he did Jayant. First, he’s beaten. Stumping shout? Not given. They check, and it isn’t out. He learns his lesson though, in defence for the rest of the over. Where he needs to be until the close. This is hard graft, but he needs to be there at the end. No excuse. Maiden, by the way.
10.35am GMT
39th over: Australia 135-4 (Smith 57, Marsh 15). Boom! Fetch that, Mitch says, popping Jayant miles back over long-on. After the grief he copped online yesterday, that may have been a bit cathartic. Does the clever thing next ball, with a single around the corner. Smith less comfortable with a couple turning big, but they’re only 27 minutes from the finish line now. The lead is 290, by the way.
Jayant is a pie chucker unless he hits a hole in the pitch...well hit m marsh
10.31am GMT
38th over: Australia 127-4 (Smith 56, Marsh 8). Jadeja’s back. That’s why I included that Smith tweet in the previous post. See? Anyway, he takes a single to cover first ball, so ignore me. Marsh gets the treatment though. Twice he’s beaten, comprehensively, by balls spitting past his blade. Can’t do that much about it, really. Too good. Outrageous that he hasn’t a wicket in his 14 overs so far this afternoon.
10.28am GMT
37th over: Australia 126-4 (Smith 55, Marsh 8). Glorious straight drive from Marsh when he gets back on strike. It’s a bit bottom-hand-ish, but timed perfectly. Along the ground too. That’s the way, Mitch.
Smith has been careful outside his off stump, only driving 8 times. He's scored off 7 of them though, including 3 boundaries #INDvAUS
10.24am GMT
Wicket? Is Smith lbw? Doesn’t look like it, but Virat wants a second opinion anyway. I won’t keep you in suspense this time: NOT OUT. Another pretty ordinary review.
10.23am GMT
36th over: Australia 119-4 (Smith 53, Marsh 4). Ishant opened up the first innings, but is held back until the 36th a day later. Can you believe he’s on 28 years old, by the way? Arguably the best of his career ahead of him. Plenty has happened since that 2007-08 summer where he arrived with such excitement. About six Australian Prime Ministers, for instance. Probably another in a couple of weeks the way it is going. Back to now. Marsh gets off the mark with a powerful cover drive. That’ll do. He looks less certain later in the over, but it is always going to take a while to look fluent in these conditions.
10.18am GMT
35th over: Australia 115-4 (Smith 53, Marsh 0). Not out! Hitting outside the line. Missing anyway. Was spinning a mile. In concslusion, a poor review. Huge innings in the context of Marsh’s immediate future, so he needed that break. Job isn’t done for Australia yet. They need him to do a shift and get them through to stumps alongside the skipper.
KOHLI: sorry Ashwin we're subbing you out this innings
ASHWIN: who for??
VVS LAXMAN: I am here and ready to bat for three days#IndvAus
10.15am GMT
Another wicket? Is Mitch Marsh out for nothing? Kohli has sent it upstairs...
10.13am GMT
Oh no! Matt Renshaw did so much right. And yeah, a bit wrong as well. But I just started believing we were witnessing something a bit special. A bit weird, too. But it isn’t to be. He’s gutted at the shot he has played, a big outside edge that’s gone high to long-off, trying to pop it onto the moon over long-on. Taken. Albeit just! Ishant relied on his chest to balance the catch. Doesn’t make for a pretty replay for anyone. Well, that’s that. 99 runs for the match for Renshaw.
10.11am GMT
34th over: Australia 113-3 (Smith 52, Renshaw 31). Yadav continues, running away from us at the broadcast end. Renshaw is up the business end and is beaten by the Indian quick second up. Not great batting, more a waft than a stroke. But he’s still there, and doing a mighty job. A single gives Smith the strike, who responds with a full-blooded clip behind square, beating the fielding and bringing up his half century! 93 balls to get there, and that’s his seventh boundary. A fine effort from the captain. Had his chances, but has made them count.
Nice piece here about Jess Cameron. Cricket or footy? Both. What a talent.
Related: Jess Cameron: the Ashes winner who became an Aussie Rules footballer
10.06am GMT
33rd over: Australia 108-3 (Smith 48, Renshaw 30). Jayant Yadav gets the last over before drinks. His first go of the innings. Oh, and Renshaw is having some kind of afternoon here at Pune. First time up the business end it is a leading edge. Coulda gone anywhere. Not to hand. When back on strike later in the over he brings out his reverse sweep and is dropped behind the wicket by Vijay. Has to do better there. India have really given themselves chances to get back into this, but routinely made a mess of it. Four runs added, just to make matters worse for the hosts. Kohli will be raging. It isn’t, to be fair, as easy on the replay as it looked at first glance. But a chance is a chance. Australia’s lead is 263 as they have a sip of water and maybe some sachels of powder slipped in to protect their tummies. Confession: I was on these earlier in the week in Cape Town after a bung milkshake. It’s been a long week. Still, no regrets about the ‘shake. Was really good.
10.01am GMT
32nd over: Australia 100-3 (Smith 46, Renshaw 24). Renshaw, you know, only needs to bat for another hour here and he’s just about won Australia a Test Match. That might be overstating it a little, but we’re in that territory given the lead they took into this second dig. Keep going, young man. He is defending and driving Umesh with relative ease after Smith gives him the strike half way through the over. That single brought up the Australian 100, I should add.
Want a bit more for after play? Lovely piece here on the second Madras Tied Test that’s worth a poke around.
Related: How Australia and India produced the second tied Test in cricket history | Steven Pye
9.57am GMT
31st over: Australia 99-3 (Smith 45, Renshaw 24). Matty Renshaw’s having a party! Bring your Imodium and your arm guard! The boy, crook and broken, has the skill to still flick the best spinner in the world through midwicket off a dangerous length. Then, next ball, he smacks him over his head for four more! Go you good thing go!
9.52am GMT
30th over: Australia 86-3 (Smith 43, Renshaw 13). Edge, four. Well, not quite an edge really, Smith changing his grip at the last minute to glide past gully. Going a real shift here the captain, notwithstanding the chances. Renshaw looks solid in defence after his arm blow/illness. Until he plays and misses. Rugged couple of days he’s having.
Why do teams put their youngest or sub-fielder under the lid. 1 of the toughest positions, put you best fielder there, right @AlexBlackwell2
9.50am GMT
29th over: Australia 81-3 (Smith 38, Renshaw 13). Smith dropped again by Mukund. The sub-fielder is having a nightmare. Short leg is where he is stationed, and had an eternity after rebounding off the front pad. The captain was well down the track. Oh, that’s a bad one on the replay as well. Really should have been taken. The strike now Renshaw’s, he plays out the over conservatively. Bloody hell, plenty going on.
Matt Renshaw has gone past the half-death Allan Border called for and is now at least three-quarters dead. The kid’s a pro. #INDvAUS
9.45am GMT
28th over: Australia 80-3 (Smith 37, Renshaw 13). Umesh Yavad! A fast bowler! Respite! His first jam roll for the day. And has he broken Renshaw’s arm? Oh this isn’t good. He couldn’t avoid the short ball in time, wears it, and it has collected him. The team Doc, Peter Brukner, is out there in a flash. He has arm guard on, but this is his bottom hand. Still leaning over, I’d be surprised if he isn’t taking a leave of absence as he did yesterday, but for altogether more serious reasons. He’s thrown up out there too. Our boy is really in the wars. Well, he is staying out there. It’s a very long delay, and there’s still a ball to go. But he’s sticking it out. Defending the last ball competently, the right decision made. For now.
Some comments, while I have some time to read them. Roland Smith says he “hasn’t been so excited by cricket from India since Hayden smashed 5 sixes in the first session of the first test in 2004.” By contrast, Max Maddison says the Australian batting is bringing him back to Earth. Keep the faith, man.
Matt Renshaw batting on. Gutsy! Wonder whether sore arm takes mind off upset stomach, or vice versa? #INDvAUS
9.36am GMT
27th over: Australia 79-3 (Smith 36, Renshaw 13). Ashwin causes trouble for Renshaw initially, getting an edge that doesn’t carry. The big boy gets a boundary from the next shot. Basically digging out a yorker. Don’t see that from a spinner too often. The contest remains in favour of Ashwin when he inspires another false stroke off the pads that he doesn’t make contact with. Good, penetrative set.
9.33am GMT
26th over: Australia 73-3 (Smith 35, Renshaw 8). Are they trying to bowl 60 overs in this session? Won’t somebody please think of the OBO-er? In short: Renshaw did a reverse sweep again. He hit it this time. It went for four. This is a good thing for those who like their cricket to include a constant state of chaos. Not strictly speaking what the left-hander is there for, but we’ve come this far now!
9.31am GMT
25th over: Australia 68-3 (Smith 35, Renshaw 3). Defend. Defend. Defend. Reverse sweep! Oh Matty Renshaw, you brighten my life. No contact again though. Maybe he’ll put it away. Hope not. He keeps the strike after a more conventional Matty Renshaw stroke: a tickle to fine leg.
Derek D’Cruz has some views and he isn’t afraid to share them. “Wonderful day of cricket. Backfired for India. Why does the ICC allow India to prepare such diabolical wickets? Yet in a few weeks for the IPL, this same ground will no doubt have a wonderful wicket to play on. Are commentators allowed to discuss the ICC or the BCCI and the chaos and lack of leadership they display in governance?” Told you he had views. I’ll take them as comments, as they say on a TV show that I haven’t watched for many years.
9.27am GMT
24th over: Australia 67-3 (Smith 35, Renshaw 2). After his near-demise, Renshaw picked a single to long-on with an ease that suggests inner peace with what has just occurred with DRS. Smith then makes contact to three Jadeja deliveries in a row! Not a single play and miss! What a time to be alive!
9.25am GMT
NOT OUT! Too high. There was a mark on snicko but they went upstairs anyway for the ball-tracker. Renshaw survives.
9.22am GMT
Renshaw given LBW! I think? Sent upstairs! Stand by! DRS!
9.21am GMT
23rd over: Australia 66-3 (Smith 35, Renshaw 1). Well, then Matt Renshaw played a reverse sweep third ball. Remember that time? That time is today. And what a day. I’m not even going to talk about the rest of the over. This moment deserves this whole post. Cricket.
9.20am GMT
22nd over: Australia 63-3 (Smith 33, Renshaw 0). Smith has no idea against Jadeja. Three times on the trot beaten by the genius left-armer ortho to begin this over. When finally getting bat on ball, off the edge of course, the Aussie captain came back for an outlandish second run. He’s given not out when the bails are off, but they go upstairs to check. Lucky boy, Sniffer. Chill out.
9.16am GMT
He does it again! Three Australians down, all Ashwin’s. It’s turned big, Handscomb tried to turn it around the corner, but only succeeded in gifting a catch to leg-slip. Not a great way to go. He looked set, too. Australia, dare I say, still have some work to do here.
21st over: Australia 61-3 (Smith 31, Renshaw 0).
9.13am GMT
20th over: Australia 57-2 (Smith 29, Handscomb 17). Smith is dropped! It is the sub Abhinav Mukund. Mid-on, to his right, after Smith came down the track. Would have been a very similar demise to yesterday. But he survives. Messy. He’s far more conservative for the rest of the set. Maybe it will take that chance to help settle Smith?
9.09am GMT
19th over: Australia 57-2 (Smith 29, Handscomb 17). Singles to each through the onside. Handscomb getting another chance makes the most of it with his best shot to date, a cover drive that burts into the advertising boards. Have that, best spinner in the world. Looks up for this, the Victorian.
On only six occasions have Australia lost after leading by 155+ after the first innings, including once in India: Kolkata, 2001. #IndvAus
9.07am GMT
18th over: Australia 51-2 (Smith 28, Handscomb 12). Never a chance to catch your breath with Ashwin/Jadeja in tandem. It’s the latter operating here from the broadcast end in front of us. He’s got Smith defending and leaving early on. An improvement on the play/miss pattern that emerged before the little break. Oh, but there it is: Smith defeated outside the off-stump. And again! This time the captain pinned on the back foot. Lucky to survive. Honours to the bowler. It may be here that Smith’s best chance to stay is to play shots. Hard to justify if he falls that way though. Dilemma.
9.05am GMT
17th over: Australia 51-2 (Smith 28, Handscomb 12). Ashwin versus Handscomb, after Smith gets us underway with a single to the first ball. Always busy, our Steve Smith. So is Handscomb, when he comes down the wicket to take the superstar offie through midwicket for a boundary. That’s nice. He responds with a huge turner that takes him on the thigh pad. Can see these two playing out a great little contest here.
9.01am GMT
I don’t, for even a moment, understand how that happened.
But I’m glad it did. Thanks to Geoff Lemon for a brilliant stint on the OBO, as they tend to be when the joint erupts like it did in that first hour after tea. Incredible scenes. Adam Collins back with you on the tools for the last couple of hours. For my part, I’m hoping that less is more through the close. Because three-day Tests make freelance cricket hacks go broke.
8.51am GMT
We say this sometimes when it is less warranted, but - what an incredible session. Truly remarkable in Test history. To get some perspective, Australian cricket has been all pessimism leading into this series, myself well and truly included. When the Australians made 260, it looked under par. And when the Indians came out to bat after just one over on Day 2, most onlookers would have expected them to stride on to a big total. But India have been totally disassembled by Steven Norman John O’Keefe. Deconstructed. Destroyated. India lost 7 for 11 at the end of that innings. 7 for 11! That’s their worst collapse of seven wickets, ever. All time.
An innings that was going along alright with Rahul and Rahane suddenly fell in a sinkhole, the batting lower order didn’t bat, and Steve O’Keefe got a bag of six - in the top 10 analyses for Australian bowlers in India ever. And then, while a couple of wickets fell, Steve Smith in particular slammed some quick runs to push that lead out beyond 200. What will Australia need? Can India regroup in the second innings? Will Matt Renshaw be able to bat without more comedy scenes? I’ll leave you with Adam Collins to find out.
8.44am GMT
16th over: Australia 46-2 (Smith 27, Handscomb 8)
One more testing over from Ravindra Jadeja, a couple more past Pete Handscomb’s edge, again the batsman keeps his cool, and safely navigates his side to the lunch break. The Australian lead is now past 200.
8.41am GMT
15th over: Australia 46-2 (Smith 27, Handscomb 8)
Dropped! Murali Vijay puts down the Aussie captain! That was the easiest of chances in at leg slip - Smith followed the turn of an Ashwin ball, prodded it away in the air, it went softly away, and Vijay juggled, slopped it hand to hand, and somehow let it slip through. I somehow think he was looking to celebrate before he’d even taken the catch. He was moving as though he was going to throw the ball up. Not entirely sure, but that was my first impression. The Australians had already taken two singles, and then Smith follows up with another dicey reverse sweep, but this time for four. It was turning way too far to leg to safely reverse it, but Smith lucked out and got enough.
8.36am GMT
14th over: Australia 40-2 (Smith 22, Handscomb 7)
Handscomb right back in his crease to Jadeja, and when the ball attacks his pads he glances it to fine leg for two runs. Blocks out the rest of the over, bar an attempted whack through cover that didn’t come off.
8.35am GMT
13th over: Australia 38-2 (Smith 22, Handscomb 5)
A Jadeja maiden, and another heart-in-mouth moment as Smith tries a reverse sweep, edges it into the off-side, but no one can get close enough to attempt a catch.
8.33am GMT
12th over: Australia 38-2 (Smith 22, Handscomb 5)
Smith finally plays at a Jadeja turner. Beats him. He shrugs, in that way that he does when beaten. Jadjeja mimics him childishly from the far end of the pitch. A single from the over. The Indian spinners are flying through these overs.
8.31am GMT
11th over: Australia 37-2 (Smith 21, Handscomb 5)
They’re working Ashwin a touch more easily than Jadeja. Three singles, but there’s another ball that bounces very sharply at Smith, and he raisers the bat to let it thud into his rib cage to leg slip.
8.30am GMT
10th over: Australia 34-2 (Smith 19, Handscomb 4)
Loving this innings from Smith. Again, he watches Jadeja’s turning deliveries go past the edge, then hangs back to defend the straight one. A single from the second-last ball whipped through square. The lead climbing towards 200.
8.26am GMT
9th over: Australia 33-2 (Smith 18, Handscomb 4)
Another smear from Smith, a hard-hit sweep, and he gets every bit of Ashwin’s delivery through backward square. In the air for a while and bouncing over the rope. Then comes down the wicket and drives a single to keep the strike.
8.24am GMT
8th over: Australia 28-2 (Smith 13, Handscomb 4)
Peter Handscomb to the crease, and the right-hander is faring much the same as Smith. Beaten by Jadeja’s turn a couple of times, the left-arm ortho turning the ball away, but Handscomb gets one ball to drive through the covers for four. Full enough, lovely shot. Australia, I think, will take the approach that they need to score as quickly as they can here to ram home this advantage, build the lead, and put as much pressure as they can on India. But at the rates wickets are falling, one wonders if the top order will be out before Renshaw is able to come back. About 10 minutes to go.
8.20am GMT
7th over: Australia 23-2 (Smith 13)
It’s a long duck, but it’s a duck all the same. Marsh trying to defend out another over, bar one sweep that misses the ball. In the end with the last ball Ashwin does him in the old familiar way: a straight ball from around the wicket into the left-hander, while Marsh plays for turn that isn’t there. Done.
8.18am GMT
6th over: Australia 23-1 (S. Marsh 0, Smith 13)
Perhaps Smith is learning from his experiences with Rangana Herath last year in Sri Lanka. He’s playing Jadeja expecting the straight ball, and the turning one keeps beating his edge. But Smith isn’t letting that worry him. When he sees one he likes the length of, he comes down the wicket and carves it out through cover for another four. If he can hang around long enough to notch fifty or so, that could be a matchwinning innings on this pitch.
8.15am GMT
5th over: Australia 19-1 (S. Marsh 0, Smith 9)
If Smith is about counter-attack, Marsh is about survival against Ashwin. Blocking, blocking, edging, prompting shouts from the fieldsmen, but he gets through the over. It’s a maiden.
8.14am GMT
4th over: Australia 19-1 (S. Marsh 0, Smith 9)
Beaten. Four. Beaten. Another busy over. Jadeja goes past the off stump, then Smith counters by slamming him through cover to the fence. Then a big-turning delivery beats the outside ege, bounces high out of the pitch as well, this is a real numbers game for batsmen now by the look of it, and we’re only on Day 2.
8.09am GMT
3rd over: Australia 15-1 (S. Marsh 0, Smith 5)
Smith. Whack. Slog sweep for four. Ashwin gets a bit short, Smith collars it. Drives a single through the on side. Marsh tries to block out the rest, beaten off the last ball as well. This match keeps going at a million miles a minute.
8.07am GMT
2nd over: Australia 10-1 (S. Marsh 0, Smith 0)
Smith out at 3, Renshaw still in the sheds. Shaun Marsh blocks out the over. Beaten by Jadeja’s last ball.
8.05am GMT
1st over: Australia 10-1 (Marsh 0)
Stahp it! This match is going too fast to keep up. Warner. Ashwin. Marsh? Oh right, Renshaw can’t bat for another half hour because of the time he spent off the field. Warner punches a couple, then reverse-sweeps the second ball for four! Well, Glenn Maxwell got plenty of stick for doing that in the Emirates a couple of years ago, but Warner is all like:
7.56am GMT
40.1 overs: India 105-10 (Ishant 2)
Well, well, well, as the constable said when he saw three holes in the ground. Australia started the day batting. And now they’ll be batting for a second time an hour after lunch. In the meantime, they’ve rolled India. Virat Kohli nicked off second ball for a duck. Pujara was bounced out by Starc. KL Rahul dislocated his shoulder failing to hit a ball out of the ground. If he’d stuck around another couple of overs he could have broken the Bannerman record, he made 64 of India’s total. O’Keefe produced a three-wicket over, bowled one maiden after it, then took a wicket in each of his next three overs to finish the innings. He took six wickets for five runs across that period. And Australia has a lead of 155 on the first innings.
7.50am GMT
India bowled out for 105! Yadav has a big swing, edges to slip, and O’Keefe has six wickets. He has 6 for 35. Maligned, ignored, doubted, and yet he has come out here and struck blow after blow to put Australia in a commanding position in this first Test in India. What a stunning display. What a stunning session.
7.47am GMT
40th over: India 105-9 (Yadav 4, Ishant 2)
A couple of singles from Lyon’s over. He’s still turning it. Beating the bat. But the wickets are falling at the other end. Spare a moment to feel for Nathan ‘Nathan’.
7.46am GMT
39th over: India 103-9 (Yadav 3, Ishant 1)
The two pace bowlers at the pitch now, trying to salvage anything. A few late blows? Some sort of occupation?
7.44am GMT
Steven O’Keefe has his maiden five-wicket haul! Perhaps Jadeja thought there wasn’t much point hanging around, but perhaps the inescapable momentum of the situation has swept him away. He goes for another big shot, it looked like a replay of the Rahul dismissal for a minute the way it hung high in the air, but this time to the leg side, and Starc coming around at midwicket held the tricky chance. India nine down. What is happening.
7.39am GMT
38th over: India 101-8 (Jadeja 2, Yadav 2)
India’s hundred is up, if you’re looking for good news for the blue-hat team. A couple of singles, but Lyon is all over Umesh Yadav as comprehensively as he was over Jayant Yadav.
7.37am GMT
37th over: India 99-8 (Jadeja 1, Yadav 1)
Given out, but overturned. O’Keefe denied a five-for, after Nigel Llong gives Jadeja out caught behind essaying the sweep, but DRS shows the ball was all forearm, no glove. Still, five wickets down for five runs.
7.34am GMT
Matthew Wade has a stumping in India! If life was not bizarre enough, consider that sentence. Read it aloud. Roll it around in your mouth. Tell your neighbour on the bus. Matthew. Wade. Stumping. India. O’Keefe bowls a beauty, slight turn away but a perfect length that draws Jayant forward trying to defend. Lunging at the ball with the back toe trailing. The ball beats the bat, and Jayant’s back foot drags out of the crease by a fraction. Half a centimetre maybe. Wade has the bails off before there’s any attempt to get back, and the fieldsmen erupt.
7.30am GMT
36th over: India 97-7 (Jadeja 0, Jayant 2)
Lyon is ripping the ball now. Shredding it. There’s no one at cover, and Yadav slaps one through there against the turn. Aside from that he looks all at sea. Lyon swarms him, and there’s nearly a catch to bat pad from the last ball.
7.27am GMT
35th over: India 95-7 (Jadeja 0, Jayant 0)
Left-arm spinner to left-arm spinner. O’Keefe to Jadeja. Over the wicket to the left-hander with the bat. Knocks out a maiden.
7.26am GMT
34th over: India 95-7 (Jadeja 0, Jayant 0)
I scarcely know how to draw breath. Is there time? Four wickets for a single run. Lyon finishes off his over. Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav at the crease. Both excellent batsmen in the lower order, but all the work for them to do now. India yet to reach triple figures. Can they counter attack? Australia’s spinners suddenly looking dangerous.
7.21am GMT
INDIA LOSES FOUR FOR ONE! This is ridiculous. Lyon bowls to Ashwin, he presses forward at the ball, squeezes it down into his own boot, and then Handscomb the part-time wicketkeeper dives forward at short leg this time to snare another one just above the grass. What is happening?
7.19am GMT
33rd over: India 95-6 (Ashwin 1)
Amazing over for O’Keefe. Waited so long to get his chance for Australia, and now he’s produced what could be a match-turning over.
7.18am GMT
Three in an over for Steve O’Keefe! It is truly last drinks at the disco now, he’s reaching for the lasers, he’s screaming the words to Common People at the top of his lungs. They will never understand, what it means to live your life, with no meaning or control. Well, O’Keefe has control, he’s ripped the ball away from Saha’s bat, Matthew Wade drops the catch, but the ricochet comes off his gloves to Smith at slip.
7.15am GMT
Another one down! Rahane tries to work the ball to leg, it takes a thick edge behind point, and Handscomb snares a beauty. Rahane wants to see if it has carried, the umpires check it but that is taken well above the ground, diving away to the right, snared in one hand and scooped up from the turf. Brilliant.
7.11am GMT
Redemption for Warner! He removes the more dangerous of the batsmen, too, but this is a weird dismissal. It looks like Rahul has dislocated his shoulder in the shot. He hurt it playing a lofted drive earlier, but didn’t learn his lesson. Goes for the big shot over long-off, howls in anguish as his arm joint gives way, and the ball skews high in the air. Warner comes in from long-off to complete the very high catch, and celebrates with intensity.
7.08am GMT
32nd over: India 94-3 (Rahul 64, Rahane 13)
Dropped! Rahane is not having a good day, but he’s still there. Nathan Lyon gets one to bounce nicely, Rahane tries to turn it down leg, it beats his stroke and takes the glove. Warner at leg slip shoots his right hand up, and the ball hits the meat of his hand but ricochets away. Again, it was going quickly, but that one really needed to stick. Mark it down and come back to this moment if Rahane makes runs.
7.05am GMT
31st over: India 93-3 (Rahul 63, Rahane 13)
Starc. Rahul. Four. The doses from last over repeated, except this was the shot Rahul was trying to play last time. A cover drive that he gets every bit of and sends to the fence. Gets off strike with a cover nudge, and then Rahane decides that he likes what he sees from the over end and tries to emulate it. Does emulate it. Except for the hitting the ball part. He’s not comfortable with Starc’s pace, Rahane, he hops and jumps out the over.
7.01am GMT
30th over: India 88-3 (Rahul 58, Rahane 13)
Nathan ‘Nathan’ Lyon back on with his off-breaks, and sends down a maiden to Rahane, including a yelp-inducing inside edge that nearly carries to bat pad.
Bloke I used to work with got Michael Klinger's face tattooed on his thigh. Everyone get around @bkellerman29 and his unusual life choices. pic.twitter.com/Y2yQcmCSCS
6.55am GMT
29th over: India 88-3 (Rahul 58, Rahane 13)
Edged! Not in control, but Rahul sees Starc’s pace, decides to make the most of it, and drives with the angle across him from the left-arm over the wicket release point. It takes a thick edge through an empty part of the slips for four. Australia with one slip and a gully in. Then again two balls later, this getting a bit more of the bat and going square through gully. Not in control, but a profitable over.
6.52am GMT
28th over: India 80-3 (Rahul 50, Rahane 13)
A fast over from the left-armer O’Keefe, just a couple of singles, but one is driven down the ground for Rahul’s fifty.
6.50am GMT
27th over: India 77-3 (Rahul 48, Rahane 12)
Starc continues from the other end, still bowling quick. Got the breakthroughs before lunch and is still showing ferocity after it. Rahul manages to square drive a single, that’s good pace. Well into the 90 miles an hour range. Rahane continues to trash the Bannerman with a wild flail outside off stump. That would have been an easy dismissal in T20, but there’s no third man or deep backward square, so the cross-bat top edge falls safely behind the slip cordon.
6.44am GMT
26th over: India 74-3 (Rahul 47, Rahane 10)
Away we go, and finally Rahane gets something to hit. Steve O’keefe opens proceedings after lunch and... well, he barely even drops short. That was stump height at worst. But Rahane had a touch a width, only a fraction, and was able to force the cut shot through backward square. Rahane also ruins Rahul’s Bannerman attempt, dropping his ratio to 63%.
6.24am GMT
Thank you, Adam. Advantage Australia indeed. Who would have thought. But it may not last for very long, because India’s line-up bats forever. How many centuries do their bowlers have between them? Five? Six?
6.10am GMT
Advantage... Australia? Do I dare say that? After lasting only five balls this morning, bowled out for 260? Maybe it is. An engaging session comes to an end with the visitors making three crucial breakthroughs. Not least that of captain Kohli, nicking off second ball when the score was 44.
Excellent captaincy from Smith got Starc back into the attack after a ropey start. He immediately sent a snorter across Pujara’s eyes, catching a glove on the way through. That gave him the look at Kohli, who wouldn’t resist an early drive, popping the catch into Smith’s waiting hands at first slip.
6.02am GMT
25th over: India 70-3 (Rahul 47, Rahane 6). Probably the last over? If they don’t rush. It’s Hazlewood versus Rahul. The batsman knows the drill here, he isn’t going to throw away his fine start. He is forced to play every delivery, and doesn’t leave the defensive pose. It’s an elegant pose, too. He’d be far better at yoga than me. Given how pretty he looks when batting, he’s probably better at most things than me, let’s be honest. Righto, that’s lunch.
5.59am GMT
24th over: India 70-3 (Rahul 47, Rahane 6). Much better from O’Keefe, his best over of the day. Bowling to struggling Rahane, it is a good match-up for the spinner. Bit of drift early in the over as he gives the ball a chance to spin. And spin it does with the penultimate ball, a huge puff of dust as the ball turns past Rahane’s edge. Wade takes the bails as well, but his foot is anchored. That excites any spinner. A maiden. More of those please, Sok.
Apparently it was an electricity junction box which blew up. "It happens" an official says. It's the heat. As you were.
5.56am GMT
23rd over: India 70-3 (Rahul 47, Rahane 6). Hazlewood right on Rahane early in the over, culminating in an inside edge into the on-side. Gets a single for it, but not convincing. He’s still scratchy out there, the Indian vice-captain. Rahul in far better shape, defending with the full face of the bat for the second half of the over. Well bowled, well played, good cricket.
5.52am GMT
22nd over: India 69-3 (Rahul 47, Rahane 5). How appropriate: Steve O’Keefe back on and there is a... Fire in the disco! For real: an actual fire. A speaker (I think?) burning at midwicket just outside the boundary rope. They are on it right away though, no interruption to play. On the field: four singles. Smith won’t like that. Singles annoy captains, especially when three of those were from misdirected deliveries.
O’ Keefe slipping down leg far too often for someone trying to keep one end tight. #IndvAus
5.46am GMT
21st over: India 65-3 (Rahul 45, Rahane 3). Hazlewood is straight back after Starc’s ropey over. Enjoying this from Smith. To be fair, didn’t quite work as well as his last change, Big Josh driven to the cover boundary first up. To be fair, it is a glorious shot. Rahul one of the best in the world to watch at the moment, especially through that part of the ground. Hazlewood back into his groove almost immediately. He’ll have probably two more overs at the hosts before the lunch break, due in 15 minutes.
5.43am GMT
20th over: India 60-3 (Rahul 40, Rahane 3). Singles through the posh side bookend this Lyon over. Between times, Lyon is confident enough to throw it up to Rahul; the batsman competent enough not to get sucked in. Proper Test cricket.
Simon Bogli on the email in some good areas. “Can Nathan “Nathan” Lyon be hyphenated in the style of Courtney Taylor-Taylor from the Dandy Warhols for the rest of the series? Nathan-Nathan Lyon will never be the outer’s favourite but the pop cultural types will dig it.”
5.40am GMT
19th over: India 58-3 (Rahul 39, Rahane 2). Rahane more comfortable against Starc on the small sample we have seen so far, pushing him into the off-side with some confidence. Kept to one thanks to an enthusiastic dive. Warner I think it was. Rahul, playing carefully in the previous over, needn’t do anything risky here either when Starc gifts him a half-volley. He doesn’t miss out. He grabs a couple more to end the over when the left-armer drifts onto the pads.
5.35am GMT
18th over: India 50-3 (Rahul 33, Rahane 1). Lyon, hard on his luck. Same as it ever was in this part of the world. For the second time in two overs he has Rahane thoroughly beaten, this time winning an inside edge into the pad-flap that so often goes to hand for other tweakers. Not Nath. It evades Warner’s hand at leg-slip; Rahane off the mark. Deserved better. Next ball: Rahul reverse sweeps him for four. Cop that. The 50 up for the hosts in the process.
5.30am GMT
17th over: India 45-3 (Rahul 29, Rahane 0). Starc to Rahul, who has a different role to play now. Defending, leaving and getting under the short one. Starc has picked up a yard here as well. As you do after picking up the best player on the planet the over before.
5.25am GMT
16th over: India 45-3 (Rahul 29, Rahane 0). Lyon holds up his end of the deal here, rushing through his set of six while ripping it as hard as he can. Gets one to bite back at the new man Rahane, just keeping it out with a combination of bat and pad.
Starc's double wicket maiden has brought Australia right back into the game #WinViz #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xpOYynyR98
5.23am GMT
15th over: India 44-3 (Rahul 28, Rahane 0). What scenes they were. I’ve never seen Starc so elated as when that catch was pouched by his captain. Let’s give him some more credit for that tactical move. Hazlewood on before after Starc struggled to begin. He dried it up, gave them not a thing. Got the breakthrough. Starc back on, fired up, and produces that pearler to Pujura. Opportunity created to get an early look at Kohli, and no mistake made. Starc’s first delivery to Rahane is fast as well, kept out. All happening, as WM Lawry would say.
Virat's first duck since August 2014 against England at Old Trafford
5.18am GMT
KOHLI IS OUT FOR NOTHING! SECOND BALL! Oh, what a bowling change by Steve Smith! It’s not a special delivery by Starc, just angling across the skipper, he’s had a crack at it to try to get his account going, but only succeeded in getting a thick edge to Smith at slip. India floundering! Game on!
5.15am GMT
Australia in the game! A beauty from Starc! Ripped across Pujara at pace, screaming off the track. He was committed to playing, and grabbed his glove. Oh, and they’re up and about the tourists! They know how clutch that was. Kohli. Here we go...
5.14am GMT
14th over: India 44-1 (Rahul 28, Pujara 6). Rahul and Pujara both showing Lyon respect here. I still reckon it won’t be long before they take him on aggressively, ala the tour game. Or the opening Test of the 2013 series in this country. Anyway, it’s regard for now. An inside edge from Pujara in there as well. Good bowling.
5.11am GMT
13th over: India 42-1 (Rahul 27, Pujara 5). Hazlewood delivering to Pujara in a fashion that will make his captain very happy. It’s a maiden. No risk-free way of scoring off him at the moment. It’s why he is an automatic selection in this Australian XI right now.
5.07am GMT
12th over: India 42-1 (Rahul 27, Pujara 5). Nathan “Nathan” Lyon to replace Sokka from the grandstand end. His first trundle. The Lyon story could be fascinating over the next few days. They need him to deliver in ways that he simply hasn’t in Asia before, averaging 43 in this part of the world. Decent turn to begin, Rahul forced late on the opening delivery. But the response is wonderful, leaping onto the front foot to thrashing the Aussie offie through the covers. That’s a risky shot for some against the spin, but not Rahul. Class. Dropping his length back a fraction, Lyon is successful in pinning the Indian opener to the crease for the rest of his opening over.
Hazlewood digging a trench early on in his spell - 14 of his 18 deliveries have been length balls outside off stump #INDvAUS
5.02am GMT
11th over: India 38-1 (Rahul 23, Pujara 5). The first time Hazlewood misdirects in this spell, Pujara jumps on it, clipping through midwicket for his first boundary of the day. Sure enough, the quick is back on the mark thereafter, defending and leaving the Indian no.3’s only credible option.
Anup Dhere has also jumped in on the crowd chatter. “The Pune stadium has to bear some brunt for the low attendance. This the start of summer and most of the stands in the stadium are uncovered. It will be brutal to sit in those stands after around 11 am.” Fair point. There’s the grandstand... but that’s it. Those uncovered seats square of the wicket look brutal. Waca-esque, if you like.
4.57am GMT
10th over: India 34-1 (Rahul 23, Pujara 1). Sok to Che. Pushing. Pushing. Turning. Rahul takes a different approach: smashing O’Keefe into the crowd down the ground. Used his feet in classical fashion to meet the delivery as it’s pitched. Wonderful stroke. But do we have an injury? Has Rahul thrown his shoulder out after swinging so hard? It looks that way, the physio coming out for a look. It prompts the umpires to call on the drinks after 9.4 overs. But he’s alright, a bit of the old magic spray and back to the crease for the two remaining deliveries. And sure enough, after having his fun, Rahul is happy enough to defend both of them.
Vijay-Rahul have batted together 13 times now. Highest partnership is 52. Nowhere near good enough for an ambitious team. #IndvAus
4.52am GMT
9th over: India 27-1 (Rahul 17, Pujara 0). Hazlewood to Rahul. Important contest as well. The right-arm quick went for 1.99 runs an over against Pakistan over the summer. He looks the perfect weapon for Smith here. Worth remembering that he was man of the series in the West Indies a couple of years ago in conditions that weren’t enormously different to what we’ll see over the next five weeks. The length he bowls just seems to work. As it does in this over, beating Rahul outside the line with a carbon-copy of the ball that won Vijay’s edge just moments before. And he does it again two balls later! Squared up a treat. This is brilliant. Then to finish: Rahul deep in the crease nearly chops on. All over it, the big boy from Bendemeer. What they would give for a second breakthrough here.
4.47am GMT
8th over: India 27-1 (Rahul 17, Pujara 0). Nice contest emerging between O’Keefe and Rahul, after the former forced an error from the latter in the previous over. The bowler mixes up his speeds early in the over, but a single is taken behind point. Strong footwork. Leg before shout to Pujara’s second ball... but it is declined. Plenty of bat in that, to be fair. Umpire Kettleborough knows the deal.
Mandar Golatgaonkarreason in on the email discussing crowd numbers. “Can also be attributed to ‘result day’ of local elections, which generated massive interest in all over Maharashtra.” Good point. Thanks for noting it. Let’s see if they stream in to watch Virat bat later on.
It’s not pretty or fashionable but Steven Smith would do well to ask himself: What would Dhoni do? Dry runs, control the pace. #IndvAus
4.43am GMT
And it’s worked! The quintessential Hazlewood over and wicket, immediately into his happy place just short of a length. That pressure prompts a prod from Vijay to the last ball of the over, just holding its line enough to clip the edge. What a lovely piece of bowling.
7th over: India 26-1 (Rahul 16, Pujara 0).
4.40am GMT
6th over: India 25-0 (Vijay 10, Rahul 15). That long-off sweeper brought into the game to begin the over, Vijay making room to take a single down there. Easy. O’Keefe prompts the first false stroke we’ve seen from Rahul, trying to also go through cover by only getting an inside edge. Good bowling. He has that dangerous slider in his kit bag much the same way as Jadeja. Four consecutive singles all told. Not strictly what Smith wants of his left-arm spinner after giving him the new ball. Has to start racking up some maidens.
Oh, and it is Hazlewood to replace Starc.
4.35am GMT
5th over: India 21-0 (Vijay 8, Rahul 13). Starc is wasting the new ball a bit here. No real issues for Vijay, leaving thrice outside the off-stump without needing to consider any other alternative. He lets a bouncer pass by to the next. Frustrated, Starc goes back to Plan A: hit the stumps. It probably would have done so, but the delivery is met by a beautiful clip by Vijay, timed into the midwicket rope. Lovely batting. A single to point means he’ll retain the strike as well. I wonder if that’ll be enough for Smith to make a quick change and throw the ball over to Hazlewood at the broadcast end next time around?
4.29am GMT
4th over: India 16-0 (Vijay 3, Rahul 13). Vijay finds that man at long-off again for one. Wonder if Smith will consider shutting that down, make them go after the spin early? Rahul gets a chance to score later in the set to a poor delivery, tickling fine and making no mistake, profiting by four. Good start for the locals.
Renshaw feeling nauseous which is why he remains in dressing room. No word yet on his likely return to the fray #INDvAUS
4.25am GMT
3rd over: India 11-0 (Vijay 2, Rahul 9). Glorious Rahul cover drive to start the over. Gee he’s a wonderful player to watch. Overpitched by Starc, but the batsman makes that look easy. Sure enough: a terrible shot next ball, wafting at one well outside the off-stump. Lucky not to edge at this early stage. He’s defending and watching for the remainder, Starc slowly working int