Travis Head (60 not out) and Steve Smith built on the decent platform built by David Warner as they finished the afternoon session of the World Test Championship final against India on 170 for 3.
Australia, who had commenced the second session on 73 for 3, suffered an early dent when Marnus Labuschagne was cleaned up by Mohammed Shami. Shami, who was perhaps guilty of bowling a tad short earlier, was rewarded for bowling full and extracting enough seam movement to sneak one through Labuschagne’s defence. At that juncture, with the score reading 76 for 3, India would have believed they were in the ascendancy.
However, Head played a counter-attacking innings to steer his side to safer waters. He brought out the drives, flicks and the occasional slash to rattle the pace duo of Shami and Mohammed Siraj. The pace pair didn’t exactly help their cause by bowling both sides of the wicket. He reached his half-century off just 61 deliveries by cracking Shardul Thakur through the covers. Incidentally, in this WTC cycle, Head has played important knocks against England and South Africa, on tracks that were offering assistance to the pace bowlers. He also has the highest strike-rate in that period.
Smith, who started cautiously, then opened up his shoulders by playing the square-drive and flick off Shardul as the duo took the side to the break. Earlier, in the opening session, on a track that offered enough assistance for the pacemen, Australia perhaps would have been the happier of the two sides after being sent in to bat.
India’s bowlers immediately found movement off the seam to trouble Usman Khawaja and Warner. Siraj found some reward for consistently using the three-quarter seam as Khawaja nicked one behind. Warner, his batting partner, then decided to play with a degree of freedom to put some pressure back on the Indian bowlers. Warner took a toll on Umesh Yadav’s bowling with crunching cuts and punches. In fact, in his second over, Umesh ended up giving away 16 runs, as the pressure valve was released. On the brink of lunch, Shardul lifted India’s spirits as Warner was dismissed via a strangle down the leg-side.
Although Shardul generated some swing in the second session, the track seemed to have eased out. India need to strike quickly in the final session. Otherwise, it would be a long day in the field for the Indian players.
Brief scores: Australia 170/3 (Travis Head 60* David Warner 43; Mohammed Shami 1-30) v India.