With a score of 405/7 at the stumps on Day 2 of the third Test in Brisbane, Australia put themselves in a strong position against India, with Alex Carey (45*) and Mitchell Starc (7*) on the crease.
Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney were eliminated early on Day 2 by Jasprit Bumrah, who registered the bowling figures of 5/72. Nitish Kumar Reddy also claimed a wicket in the opening session after dismissing Marnus Labuschagne. But after that, Steve Smith (101) and Travis Head (152) put up a 241-run stand for the 4th wicket.
Despite Bumrah’s brilliance, India’s on-field strategy fell short as Head delivered another game-changing performance with a 152-run knock. The third test proved to be a more important match for Smith, reaching three figures in test cricket for the first time in twenty-five innings.
Smith, along with Joe Root, now has the joint highest number of Test hundreds (10) against India. Meanwhile, Sir Vivian Richards and Sir Garfield Sobers, who are in third place on the list, have 8 centuries each.
Travis Head, with his iconic century in the ODI World Cup final and two more in the current series, has been India’s since the last WTC final, where he scored a century. In the last one year, no player has scored more runs against India than Head in any format.
Smith’s hundred was excellent as well; before he gained the courage to go for his strokes, he chose to grind out the first half of his innings. Smith returned to his exaggerated shuffle around the stumps, changing his stance for the third time in as many Test matches, and it paid off handsomely.
Akash Deep is one bowler who should consider himself unlucky because he consistently beat Smith’s outside edge throughout his inning.
Australia 405 for 7 (Head 152, Smith 101, Carey 45*, Bumrah 5-72)
