Head-Smith nullify Bumrah's brilliance as Australia seize control at Gabba

Australia v India, third Test, Scorecard

India might have dominated the first hour of the day, dismissing Australia's top three but little went their way after that as Australia closed Day 2 with 405 runs, still three wickets in hand.

The dangerous pair of Travis Head and Steve Smith ensured the hosts dug their selves out of the hole they had fallen in. The duo went on to score centuries as Australia dominated the second day's play despite a lone wolf display from Jasprit Bumrah with the ball.

The Indian pace spearhead had removed both the Australian openers before Marnus Labuschagne was removed by Nitish Kumar Reddy, but Australia's fourth-wicket stand meant the hosts took control of Day 2 in Brisbane.

Smith-Head power the innings

The duo took their time to settle the innings, playing smart cricket as India bowlers toiled uselessly. Neither fast bowling nor spin was effective against the pair. Jasprit Bumrah's early dominance fizzled out and none of the other bowlers could create any openings. Both batters raced to their respective fifties.

Just before the end of the second session, Head brought up his ninth Test century, his second successive in the ongoing series. And Smith, who was content to play second fiddle to Head at the beginning came into his own and registered his 33rd Test ton in the third session.

It was the Australian talisman's 10th hundred against India in the longest format, tying him alongside Joe Root for most Test centuries against them.

The massive 241-run stand was finally broken by Bumrah not long after the second new ball was taken. It was Bumrah's third wicket of match, a sharp catch at first slip by India captain Rohit Sharma, dimissing Smith for 101.

Bumrah's brilliance

With the Australian middle-order duo settled in middle, having stitched together 231 runs for the fourth wicket, Bumrah got rid of both batters against the run play.

The 31-year-old went on to claim Mitchell Marsh to complete his five-wicket haul, his second in the ongoing series.

Earlier, Khawaja had fell after he nicked one to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Bumrah, who then claimed fellow opener Nathan McSweeney, inducing his outside edge that was safely grasped by Virat Kohli in the cordon.

Both batters fell in the extra scheduled time added to the morning session to make up for a rain-marred Saturday.

Day 1 washed out after little cricket

On Day 1, after losing the toss and being put in to bat, Australia moved to 28/0 before weather forced day one's abandonment, though early thoughts of Australia pressing on during early Sunday play were quelled by canny India fast bowling.

After struggling to find an ideal line on day one, Akash Deep asked more questions of his opposition, helping Bumrah in pressure-building morning.

Mohammed Siraj too posed challenges for Australia's batters, though there are concerns for the quick, who limped off with a hamstring injury early in his 11th over.

The story so far

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