Australia Takes Control as Head and Smith Shine on Day 2 of Third Test
Cricket fans witnessed another thrilling day at the Gabba as Australia established dominance over India during the second day of the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Under the bright Brisbane skies, the Australian batting lineup, led by Travis Head who smashed 152 runs, and Steve Smith, who returned to form with 101, propelled Australia to 405 runs for the loss of 7 wickets by the end of the day's play on December 15, 2024.
Having slipped from 316 for 3 to 327 for 6, Australia looked to stabilize their innings with some valuable partnerships. Alex Carey and Pat Cummins stepped up at this juncture, with Carey remaining not out at 45 and Cummins contributing 20 runs before getting out to Mohammed Siraj.
The match had begun with India winning the toss and electing to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of the early moisture. This decision initially seemed sound as the Indian bowlers made early breakthroughs, including the key wickets of Australian opener Usman Khawaja, who fell early for just 21 runs.
Day 2 began with the pressure on the Indian bowlers, especially after rain had caused the previous day to be called off without loss of wickets. With hopes riding on Jasprit Bumrah to continue his excellent form, he delivered yet another outstanding performance, claiming five wickets for 72 runs. This feat marked his 12th five-wicket haul, reinforcing his status as India's premier fast bowler.
Head's aggressive batting was pivotal; he struck 18 fours en route to his century and built on his recent form from the second Test. Smith, alongside him, played with precision and resilience, offering calmness at the crease and showcasing his experience. During the post-match conference, Smith praised Head's recent performances, stating, "Travis is consistently performing well… He has got an unbelievable eye and the areas off which he scores, it's tough to put fielders in those positions.”
The Indian strategy of bowling to Head seemed ineffective as he quickly got settled and began to dismantle the Indian attacks. Even from Bumrah's well-delivered balls, Head found ways to score. Despite Bumrah's individual brilliance, the lack of support from other bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, who struggled with hamstring issues, added to India's challenges.
Between the partnerships, one cannot forget Akash Deep. Although he couldn’t claim any wickets, his bowling was commendable, and he earned accolades from Smith for his ability to create movement and trouble the batsmen. Smith stated, “I thought Akash bowled really nicely… he was getting the ball to move with pretty significant movement.” Deep’s first experience against the strong Australian batting lineup proved to be valuable, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it.
On Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s part, the captaincy appeared lackluster at times, especially as Australia began asserting their batting dominance. With misconceptions about player positions and field placements, there were moments when the Indian fielders seemed unable to close off scoring opportunities. Consequently, as the day progressed, Australia surged past the 400-run mark, raising concerns for India about the chase they would face.
Australia's total was only heightened by Head’s remarkable innings, which allowed Smith, who himself battled back from challenges at the crease, to focus on building his innings with fewer risks. The ability to rotate the strike and maintain runs before the declaration became more of a reality illustrated Australia’s aggressive batting approach.
Once Head departed after his remarkable innings, India seemed to regain some semblance of control, taking the final wicket of the day against Cummins. Nevertheless, Australia’s position was well established, leaving India hoping for miracle spells on Day 3.
With rain rumored for upcoming days, the question now arises whether Australia can capitalize on their solid foundation to declare or press for runs, or if India manages to stage a comeback and restrict their total within feasible bounds. The forecast might challenge their strategies as they seek victory or evade defeat.
Indeed, as the players returned to the dressing rooms, all eyes turned toward the weather, the outcome of this match hanging delicately between the teams. Speculation around declarations started, yet the looming rain reminded everyone of the unpredictable nature of Test cricket.
Tomorrow promises early action as play will commence at 9:50 AM local time, with anticipation high for what lies ahead. How will India respond after such challenges? Will the Australian batters force the last few nails of victory, or will India fight back to solidify their position as formidable contenders? Only time will tell.
