Geoff Lemon’s report from a day of ‘sugar rush’ Test cricket at the SCG is now live:
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Fifteen wickets in the day, a half century for debutant Beau Webster, sensational Indian slip catching, four-should-have-been-five wickets for the unstoppable Scott Boland, early fireworks from Yashasvi Jaiswal and something audaciously delicious from Rishabh Pant. Throw in a mystery injury to Jasprit Bumrah, a dash to hospital in an SUV, and it was another memorable day in a memorable few weeks of cricket. With two days gone, the match, and the series, is still in the balance.
Australia started the day one wicket down, and never quite hit the accelerator on their innings. Only Smith and Webster passed 23, with Prasidh Krishna, playing his first match of the series, taking the crucial wickets of Smith and Webster when both had settled and were reaching for the velvet slippers. Australia failed to make the most of Bumrah’s absence on the field, and they won’t have been thrilled to see him return from hospital and spring back up the steps towards the Indian dressing room.
India’s second innings bounced between all out attack from Jaiswal and Pant to bewildering stonewalling from Jadeja and a rather sad dab to slip from Virat Kohli. Whether Pant’s firefighting fifty will be enough to take India over the line depends on whether they can eek out another 60 or so tomorrow, and whether Bumrah can take his rightful place, new ball at hand. We’ll be back to cover day three, play starts at 10.30 at the SCG, 11.30pm GMT. Bye!
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