Head’s second consecutive century, Smith’s first in 25 innings, and their 200+ partnership helped Australia surpass the 400-run mark.
Travis Head picked up right where he left off in Adelaide, smashing a second straight century, this time turning it into a 150+ knock. Meanwhile, Steve Smith ended his prolonged century drought with a solid hundred. Their partnership laid the foundation for Alex Carey’s aggressive knock, which took Australia beyond 400.
Day two of the third Test also saw a standout performance from Jasprit Bumrah. Amidst Australia’s batting dominance, Bumrah shone with figures of 5 for 72. In just five innings this series, the Indian pacer has claimed 17 wickets.
After rain limited play to just 13.2 overs on day one, Sunday witnessed a full 87.4 overs, during which Australia scored 377 runs. By stumps, the hosts were 405 for 7.
On a pitch where Head had been dismissed on the first ball in his last three Test innings, he made amends with a stunning knock of 152 from 160 balls, hitting 18 fours. Smith, too, broke his century drought in style, scoring 101 off 190 balls, including 12 boundaries. This was his 33rd Test hundred, moving him past Steve Waugh (32 centuries). Among Australian players, only Ricky Ponting (41) has more centuries.
Smith’s record against India is particularly remarkable. Of his 33 Test hundreds, 10 have come against India, the most by any player against the team. England’s Joe Root also has 10 hundreds against India, though he took 55 innings compared to Smith’s 41. Across all formats, Smith now has 15 centuries against India, overtaking Ricky Ponting, who had 14.
The Head-Smith partnership for the fourth wicket yielded 241 runs off 302 balls, making it Australia’s fifth-highest stand against India in Tests.
India had started the day on a promising note. Bumrah struck early in back-to-back overs, dismissing both openers. Usman Khawaja edged to the keeper for 21 (off 54 balls), and debutant Nathan McSweeney fell to second slip for 9 (off 49 balls).
Bumrah’s sharp line and length were complemented by disciplined bowling from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. The third breakthrough came when Nitish Kumar Reddy induced a drive from Marnus Labuschagne (12 off 55), who was caught in the slips.
At 75 for 3, Australia seemed under pressure. But that was short-lived as Head and Smith took complete control, ensuring there was no trouble in the second session. Head reached his fifty in 71 balls, then accelerated, needing just 44 more deliveries to complete his ninth Test hundred.
Interestingly, Head became the first batsman in cricket history to score a century at the same venue where he had registered a ‘king pair’ (out for 0 on the first ball in both innings) earlier in the year. This was Head’s fourth century against India in the last 18 months, including a match-winning 163 in the WTC Final at The Oval and 137 in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Smith ended his 535-day wait for a Test century with a composed hundred in 185 balls. It was his eighth century in matches where Australia batted after losing the toss—more than anyone else. Smith surpassed Jacques Kallis (7) in this category.
After reaching his hundred, Smith didn’t last long, nicking one to the slips off Bumrah, who soon dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Head in the same over to complete his five-wicket haul.
Carey and Pat Cummins added a quick 58-run stand for the seventh wicket off 66 balls. Cummins eventually fell for 20, caught by Siraj, leaving Carey unbeaten on 45 off 47 balls with five fours and a six. Mitchell Starc remained not out on 7 as the day ended.
Brief Score:
Australia 1st Innings: (Overnight 28/0) 405/7 in 101 overs (Khawaja 21, McSweeney 9, Labuschagne 12, Smith 101, Head 152, Marsh 5, Carey 45*, Cummins 20, Starc 7*; Bumrah 25-7-72-5, Siraj 22.2-4-97-1, Akash 24.4-5-78-0, Nitish 13-1-65-1, Jadeja 16-2-76-0).
