3rd Test: Head and Smith's Centuries Dominate India on Day 2 (Lead)

Brisbane, Dec 15 (NationPress) Under bright skies at the Gabba, Travis Head and Steve Smith delivered impressive centuries, guiding Australia to a strong position against a lackluster India as the hosts finished day two of the third Test at 405/7 in 101 overs.

The duo formed a vital partnership of 241 runs off 303 balls for the fourth wicket, after coming together at 75/3. With Alex Carey contributing an unbeaten 45, Head and Smith ensured Australia enjoyed a remarkable day in control of the match.

While Smith scored 101, marked by 12 boundaries, achieving his first century since the second Ashes Test in June last year, Head excelled with a score of 152, featuring 18 boundaries, marking consecutive centuries in Tests against India.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah worked relentlessly to secure his 12th five-wicket haul, emerging as the standout player with figures of 5-72 in 25 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mohammed Siraj each claimed one wicket, while Akash Deep, despite posing challenges to Smith and Head initially, failed to take a wicket.

Overall, it was a forgettable day for India, who struggled against Head's dominance, with their lack of bowling depth and lack of strategic field placements once again under scrutiny.

After rain limited day one to just 13.2 overs, the crowd was treated to an exciting morning session of Test cricket. Bumrah made early breakthroughs by dismissing both openers in quick succession.

He first induced Usman Khawaja to edge a length delivery, which Rishabh Pant caught, marking Khawaja's dismissal for nine and making Pant the third Indian wicketkeeper with 150 Test dismissals.

Bumrah's persistent back-of-the-length deliveries forced Nathan McSweeney to edge to Virat Kohli at second slip. Smith, batting with a different approach, and Marnus Labuschagne began to settle in, although India managed to contain the scoring rate, even as Siraj left the field due to a left hamstring issue, returning later.

Labuschagne fell for 12 after an extravagant drive off a pitched delivery from Reddy, edging it to Kohli. Smith survived two close lbw appeals and remained cautious while Head aggressively punished anything loose, hitting four through extra cover off Nitish and Bumrah, though he was troubled by Akash Deep initially.

After the lunch break, Head showcased an array of impressive shots, further deflating India. Smith began with a fortunate edge for four off Bumrah, and Head ramped a delivery over slip for another boundary.

Despite Deep testing Smith with three challenging deliveries, including an unsuccessful review from India, Smith struck two beautiful boundaries. Head lofted and hammered Jadeja for two boundaries before reaching his fifty in just 71 balls.

India's strategy to bowl short backfired as Head scored three fours off Siraj, while Smith also reached his fifty. After driving Siraj over gully, Head continued his assault on Jadeja, leading to boundaries from both players off Reddy.

Even after Bumrah returned, Head remained unstoppable, hitting a drive through mid-on for four. Following Smith's punch through point for another boundary, Head secured his ninth Test century, marking yet another defining performance against India.

After tea, India managed to take some wickets, including those of Smith and Head, but Carey ensured that Australia surpassed the 400-run milestone, a crucial achievement given the rain forecast for the remaining days of the match.

Head kept scoring freely, driving Reddy for four and receiving a lifeline at 112 when Rohit Sharma dropped a catch at first slip. Taking advantage of India's loose bowling, Head and Smith capitalized with boundaries off Reddy, Siraj, and Jadeja until the second new ball was taken by India.

Despite the ball change, India's fortunes did not improve as Smith reached his 33rd Test century, ending an 18-month drought for a three-figure score in the longer format. However, shortly after, Bumrah found Smith's edge, which Rohit caught at first slip, dismissing him for 101.

Head went on to score 150, but Bumrah clawed India back into the match by taking the wicket of Mitchell Marsh, who edged to second slip, and then getting Head to nick behind to Pant.

Carey and Pat Cummins struck five boundaries together to form a 58-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Cummins edged to Pant off Siraj. Carey showcased his attacking prowess, paddling and slog-sweeping Jadeja for four and six, closing out a day that was entirely dominated by Australia.

Brief Scores: Australia 405/7 in 101 overs (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101; Jasprit Bumrah 5-72, Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-65) against India