Minefield, ‘rank turner’: India collapse on farcical pitch

Ahead of day one of many third Test, the place Australia can be with out captain Pat Cummins, we have a look at the urgent questions going through coach Andrew McDonald and his crew.

4:00PM INDIA FIVE DOWN BY DRINKS ON DAY ONE ON HELLISH PITCH

Now it’s India’s flip to break down, with Australia taking 5 wickets within the first hour of play.

In extraordinary scenes at Indore, Matthew Kuhnemann has three wickets and Nathan Lyon two with India 5-45.

The pitch is already a rank turner and as completely happy Australia can be with their bowling efficiency, it is going to be their flip to bat on it quickly.

The 5 wickets have all fallen within the house of half an hour of play, and for simply 17 runs.

Test greats Matthew Hayden and Ravi Shastri have each criticised the method of the Indian batsmen, evaluating their reckless shot-selection to Australia’s chaotic collapse within the second Test.

Hayden and Shastri mentioned as poor because the pitch is, batters must discover a solution to get themselves in on the pitch.

But total, Hayden is scathing on the pitch.

“I’ve got a problem with this pitch. No way in the world a spin bowler should come on in the sixth over,” Hayden mentioned on Fox Cricket.

“That’s massive turn. That’s the kind of turn you’d expect day three. You’ve got to give the batters a chance. “We’re judging players on their performances in Test cricket. Day one, day two should be about batting.

“It shouldn’t be keeping low, turning a mile on day one. Forget about the result, it shouldn’t be that way in Test match cricket.”

3:53PM ALARMING SCENES AS PITCH CREATES DAY ONE HAVOC IN INDORE

The microscope is on curators and the BCCI after alarming indicators from the Indore pitch on day one.

Not even midway by means of the primary session and the ball is already turning sideways and barely bouncing in an ominous signal for a way lengthy this Test will final.

Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann each have two wickets every, with India reeling at 4-44.

Dangerman Ravi Jadeja is the most recent Indian again within the sheds, after Lyon had him caught sharply by Kuhnemann, only one ball after the batsman survived a DRS resolution.

It could be social gathering time for Australia besides additionally they must bat on this deck they usually must bat final within the match after dropping the toss.

Journalists and followers have exploded on twitter in regards to the high quality of the pitch.

It’s been rapidly identified that this Test was meant to be staged in Dharamsala however was moved on the final second as a result of that floor allegedly wasn’t Test match prepared.

It’s tough to see the way it might have been worse than this.

3:36 KUHNEMANN MAKES IT TWO IN TWO OVERS, LYON STRIKES

Queensland spin rookie Matthew Kuhnemann has made it two wickets in two overs to place Australia on high early within the third Test.

Kuhnemann has dismissed each Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to depart India 2-34.

Then Nathan Lyon got here into the assault licking his lips on the mega activate provide.

Lyon continued his good report over Indian wall, Cheteshwar Pujara, bowling him for 1 to depart India 3-36.

Gill edged Kuhnemann to first slip, with Steve Smith taking an excellent catch.

Smith opened up about his degenerative again situation earlier than the Test, after he was criticised for not with the ability to get low sufficient to take some key possibilities within the opening two Tests.

But Smith made no mistake with this one, additional credit score to him after an inspiring bowling change.

Kuhnemann has 2-2 from two overs.

The wicket appears to be like completely dire. Lyon’s supply had little or no bounce, whereas within the earlier over keeper Alex Carey wore one on the helmet from a excessive bouncing ball.

3:27PM KUHNEMANN GETS ‘HUGE TURN’ TO SAVE AUSTRALIA’S BLUSHES

Australian captain Steve Smith has redeemed himself after his crew butchered two evaluations within the first over of the Test, with an impressed bowling change bringing a few key Indian wicket.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was introduced into the assault after a morning of agony for Australia.

Mitchell Starc ought to have had Indian captain Rohit Sharma out twice within the very first over – together with the primary ball of the Test.

But it hasn’t harm Australia as a lot because it might, with Kuhnemann coming into the assault and getting Rohit for 12.

India is 1-32 after Kuhnemann got here on and began turning it sq..

In ominous indicators for the size of this Test match, Kuhnemann was extracting enormous flip and received Rohit out stumped.

In his 36-ball keep on the crease, Rohit was out thrice after which finally tried to cost Kuhnemann solely to provide you with skinny air.

Bizarre innings from the Indian champion who has been so good this sequence.

“Good move by the Australian captain Steve Smith,” Indian nice Sunil Gavaskar mentioned of Smith’s resolution to deliver on Kuhnemann.

3:14PM AUSSIES IN HORROR START AFTER FAILING TO REVIEW FIRST BALL NICK

First-ball specialist Mitchell Starc ought to have struck once more … solely Australia didn’t take the evaluate.

In a horror second to begin the third Test, Australia declined to go upstairs for an enormous pontificate the skin of Rohit Sharma’s bat on the very first supply of the Test match, earlier than additionally failing to evaluate one other shout that ought to have been out lbw.

As unhealthy as Australia’s reviewing was, it was stunning umpiring.

Particularly the nick ought to have been an apparent resolution.

Replays confirmed Steve Smith and Starc’s worst nightmare, that there was a thick edge and Rohit ought to have been on his means.

“Oh my goodness me. They’ll be horrified. Absolutely horrified,” Matthew Hayden mentioned in Fox Cricket commentary.

“It was all over our ears up here. The woes continue.”

It is an enormous blow for Australia after dropping the toss. Rohit has been India’s finest batsman this sequence.

Rohit instantly shot a glance again to the slips cordon after nicking the ball, which ought to have been one other indication to the umpire together with the loud noise.

Starc additionally trapped Rohit lbw however Smith declined to not go upstairs.

On a day when wickets could possibly be laborious to come back by, it was a crushing double blow.

Starc famously received a wicket on the primary ball of the final Ashes sequence.

2:30PM SELECTORS TO BRUSH BOLAND DESPITE CHAPPELL PLEAS

Steve Smith has misplaced the toss and Australia can be pressured to bowl first within the third Test in Indore.

It is theoretically an enormous blow to Australia’s possibilities, with India profitable the primary two Tests inside three days after dropping the toss. Now they get the prospect to dictate by batting first and getting one of the best of the situations.

Australian cricket nice and former selector Greg Chappell had pleaded for Scott Boland to play the third Test, however selectors have caught with three spinners for the third Test in Indore.

Chappell’s argument was Australia ought to play to its strengths and favour quick bowling over going spin heavy, like India. But it might seem that argument has been ignored by selectors who consider within the spin triple risk of Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy.

Mitchell Starc returns for the primary time within the sequence instead of captain Pat Cummins, who has returned to Australia for household causes.

Cameron Green is in for David Warner and his concussion sub Matthew Renshaw, pushing Travis Head to open the batting.

Smith is the Australian captain.

India has made two adjustments with Shubman Gill coming in to open the batting as a substitute of KL Rahul, and Umesh Yadav coming in as a tempo alternative for Mohammad Shami.

Australia has caught with three spinners and one specialist paceman for the third Test at Indore.

Mitchell Starc replaces Pat Cummins and Cameron Green is available in for Matthew Renshaw, who was a concussion sub for David Warner.

Steve Smith is captain.

Cummins has returned house to be along with his mom who’s terminally sick. Warner fractured his elbow within the second Test.

The Indore sq. has crimson and black clay wicker’s however that is being performed on the latter.

Indore is scorching even presently of the 12 months and the black clay is laid over the crimson soil to assist it preserve collectively for longer.

Australia is anticipating the identical situations that noticed India’s spinners tie them in knots within the first two Tests.

The facet has been determined to get Green in because the all rounder frees up choice.

“It certainly helps with Greeny available giving us two genuinely quick options,” Smith mentioned. “It provides us the flexibility to play three if we need to, the floor appears to be like fairly much like the final couple of Tests. I dare say we’re going to see a number of spin bowled within the Test match. It’s definitely an choice for us.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann

1. HOW WILL STEVE SMITH HANDLE THE CAPTAINCY?

The unhappy return of Pat Cummins’ to Australia to be along with his sick mom has opened the door for Smith to take the reins as skipper for the third time since being appointed vice-captain. Smith averages 67.73 with the bat when captaining Australia in Tests, versus 55.33 when he doesn’t have the ‘c’ subsequent to his title. And it was in India in 2017 that Smith had arguably his best abroad tour as captain. Australia fell brief ultimately, however Smith piloted the crew to a well-known win in Pune in addition to smashing three centuries. Smith made some begins within the first Test however struggled by his lofty requirements within the second Test. Will the accountability of management spur him onto the match-defining rating Australia so desperately wants?

2. WILL AUSTRALIA’S BATSMEN PLAY THE SWEEP SHOT?

It’s not simple to vary a sport plan mid-series, however Australia’s batters should tweak their method from the dismal second Test failure in Delhi which surrendered the sequence to India. A cavalcade of irresponsible sweep pictures contributed to one of the embarrassing collapses in Australian Test match cricket, and spin twins Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin gained’t be letting up within the third Test at Indore. However, Cameron Green has not dominated out using the sweep shot, if situations enable – given it was the signature shot within the good 77 he made towards Sri Lanka in Galle final 12 months.

3. WHERE IS THE FUTURE FOR TRAVIS HEAD?

The assumption is Head will revert again to his middle-order position after this sequence, however is it assured? With David Warner’s Test match future below a cloud there isn’t a apparent successor on the high of the order ought to selectors determine to make a change. England nice Michael Vaughan feels Head may have success batting in his common place at No.5 as a result of the Duke’s ball in England will cease swinging after 30 overs. However, unleashing the freewheeling Head on the high of the order will surely ship a message to Baz Ball that Australia is able to combat hearth with hearth. Watching how Head handles the following two Tests opening the batting can be intriguing.

4. CAN MITCHELL STARC PERFORM WITH A SORE FINGER?

The large left-armer must push by means of the ache barrier in Indore, with the center finger on his bowling hand nonetheless not completely snug within the launch of the ball. But Australia desperately wants Starc again within the assault and as large a loss as Cummins is, the addition of Starc would possibly give the assault a brand new edge. Starc’s capacity to get tailenders out is with out peer, and that’s what Australia has didn’t do within the first two Tests with Axar Patel operating away with matchwinning innings coming in at No.8. Starc can also be rated the most effective exponents of reverse swing within the fashionable period and his footmarks can create further bother for Indian batsmen when Nathan Lyon comes onto bowl. Starc is Australia’s finest subcontinental fast and will make an enormous distinction if his finger permits.

5. BOLAND OR A THIRD SPINNER?

Test doyen Greg Chappell wrote a powerful newspaper column, adamant Australia erred tactically by not backing in Scott Boland for the second Test in Delhi. Chappell argues Australia needs to be enjoying to its energy – quick bowling – moderately than making an attempt to get sucked into the spin sport India is enjoying with extra expert operators. Boland saved issues extraordinarily tight within the first Test however didn’t take a wicket. In the second Test selectors felt they wanted so as to add the left-arm number of spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, however that left them with just one quick bowler. Cameron Green’s return definitely makes it much less dangerous for Australia to play three spinners, however is it the correct name? If Boland was introduced again, the following query is who drops out – Kuhnemann or spectacular rookie, Todd Murphy? With Nathan Lyon and Travis Head within the facet, Murphy’s off-spin is likely to be extra dispensable, however it might be an enormous name given how excellent the 22-year-old was on debut in Nagpur.

6. CAN PETER HANDSCOMB BOOK HIMSELF AN ASHES TRIP?

Selectors may need initially introduced Handscomb again as an Indian specialist, however his return to the squad might change into extra everlasting if he finishes off the final two Tests with a bang. Handscomb has an OK report in England, his nation of delivery, and the flexibility he brings to the squad along with his expertise as a back-up wicketkeeper can’t be underestimated. To his credit score, Handscomb appears to be like to have returned to Test cricket a extra full batsman, and his temperament, health ranges and fielding talents are all top notch. Hard to consider a greater middle-order back-up choice for the Ashes, though Josh Inglis has simply scored a century in Sheffield Shield cricket and possibly deserves inclusion as a specialist No.2 keeper.

7. WHAT’S THIS TEAM REALLY MADE OF?

The third Test is an enormous Test for the fibre of this Australian dressing room. The chips are down, the squad has been decimated, however but the tour is just half over. There is a lot to play for. Australia can cement qualification for a rematch towards India within the World Test Championship with a draw or a win within the remaining two Tests. Momentum can also be an enormous factor in cricket, and Australia desperately must reclaim its mojo within the final Test cricket they’ll play earlier than the massive winter in England. Staying within the combat is the massive problem.

Originally revealed as Australia v India third Test: Live stream, scores, updates, scoreboard, begin time and groups