Australia v India day three LIVE updates: SCG thriller to decide Border-Gavaskar series
India have given no guarantee that Jasprit Bumrah will bowl on Sunday in the final innings of the fifth Test at the SCG as Australian coach Andrew McDonald called out the tourists for “intimidating” teenager Sam Konstas while he was batting on day one.
Bumrah’s fitness is under a cloud heading into the final chapter of a thrilling Border-Gavaskar series, but a swashbuckling innings from Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant helped revive the tourists on a seesawing day two in Sydney.
Bumrah, the most influential fast bowler of the series with 32 wickets at an average of 13.1, left the SCG for scans midway through the middle session on day two. India said Bumrah is battling back spasms and would take medical guidance on whether he would bowl if required on day three.
Jasprit Bumrah and Sam Konstas.Credit: Getty Images
India were reeling at 3-59 in their second innings when Virat Kohli (6) perished – in probably his final Test appearance in Australia – before a potentially series-defining, counter-attacking cameo from Pant (61 off 33 balls) lifted the visitors to 6-141 at stumps.
Only five teams in history, all Australian, have chased more than 200 to win a Test in the fourth innings at the SCG.
There has been no shortage of tension in this series, highlighted on day one by Bumrah and Kohli getting in the face of Konstas, at the non-striker’s end, when Usman Khawaja was dismissed on the final ball of play.
Words were also directed at Konstas when he was out for 23, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the slips by Mohammed Siraj. The fact no Indian players were spoken to by match referee Andy Pycroft was questioned by McDonald at a post-play press conference.
Read the full report here.
