Bumrah bags five but Head, Smith centuries flatten India

Australia 405-7 at stumps on day two of third Test

FE Team | Published: December 16, 2024 00:50:44

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec 15 (AFP): Twin century-makers Travis Head and Steve Smith put on a magnificent fourth-wicket partnership as Australia reached a commanding 405-7 at stumps on day two of the third Test against India on Sunday.
Head scored a blistering 152 and Smith a gritty 101 at the Gabba in Brisbane to put Australia in a strong position to go 2-1 up in the five-Test series.
With rain forecast over the next three days, India seem to have virtually no chance of winning the match and can only realistically hope for a draw.
After all but 13.2 overs of the first day were washed out on Saturday, India started strongly with three wickets in the first hour.
But Head and Smith batted India out of the game despite a superb spell from pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (5-72) after tea with the second new ball.
"The way he can put the bowlers under pressure from the outset is incredible," Smith said of Head, who smacked a sparkling 140 in a big Australia win in the second Test.
"It's nice to get into a partnership with him. The scoreboard moves so quickly."
At the close of play, Alex Carey was on 45 and Mitchell Starc was on seven.
Head, who hadn't scored a run in his previous three innings at the Gabba, looked to be playing on a different surface to his teammates.
While the other Australian batsmen struggled, Head came out firing, smashing an increasingly demoralised Indian attack to all parts of the ground.
The visitors bowled a lot straighter to Head than they did in Adelaide in the second Test but he was watchful early and punished any loose deliveries.
He brought up his century off 115 balls and his 150 off 157, hitting 18 fours in the process. Smith's innings was in stark contrast to Head's.
He looked badly out of touch early, playing and missing multiple times and was lucky to survive several lbw shouts.
But as his innings progressed he looked more and more confident, playing with far more fluidity once he passed 50.
He brought up his 33rd Test century and his first in 18 months to a rapturous reception from the big Gabba crowd.