Recent Match Report – Australia vs India 2nd Test 2020

Join us for updates, analysis and colour throughout the opening day of the second Test

Welcome to our live report of the third day of the Australia verses India Test series from Adelaide. Join us for updates, analysis and colour. You can find our traditional ball-by-ball commentary here

*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local.

11.30am: Tense opening hour

It has been an absorbing start to this Test with a bit of life in the pitch meaning a good battle between bat and ball. Matthew Wade, having played very well for an hour, has given his wicket away by lofting R Ashwin into the leg side where Ravindra Jadeja clung onto a superb catch despite almost colliding with Shubman Gill. In an interesting move from Ajinkya Rahane, who has replaced Virat Kohli as captain, he brought on Ashwin inside the first hour and there was some early turn on offer. Umesh Yadav hasn’t been quite as consistent as Jasprit Bumrah but two wickets is good reward for India and puts some pressure on Australia.

11.00am: Early strike for India

India have been rewarded for some good early bowling by removing Joe Burns for a duck. Jasprit Bumrah was especially challenging with the new ball and found a thin edge from Burns in his third over to make it back-to-back Boxing Day ducks for the opener. There is encouraging pace and carry in the pitch with signs that India can make it hard work. Matthew Wade has looked very confident, nailing a couple of sweet drives through the off side against Umesh Yadav.

10.15am: Remebering Deano

Here’s Dan Brettig from the MCG on how one of Australia’s greats will be honoured

Tributes to Dean Jones will take on many and varied dimensions during the Test. A whole bay of MCG seats has been handed over to a large image of Jones, while spectators have been encouraged to “zinc up” in homage to Jones’ habit of doing likewise when he played. Jones’ family will be present at the MCG for the match, with a teatime video tribute scheduled to take place at 3.24pm, recognising Jones’ baggy green cap number and also his highest first-class score of 324 against South Australia in a day/night Sheffield Shield match at the MCG in 1994-95.

10.05am: Australia bat first

The coin fell in Tim Paine’s favour and he was happy to bat first. Wonder of Ajinkya Rahane was happy he didn’t have to make the decision. If there is any early life, Jasprit Bumrah should be able to find it.

Here’s a bit more on India’s other debutant Mohammed Siraj

9.50am: Pitch report

Damien Fleming, on Channel Seven, says there is 11mm of grass on this pitch. That could interest the quick bowlers on both sides, but surely it’s a bat first day. It’s a clear, sunny, warm day. India need to put that Adelaide batting performance behind them as quickly as possible.

9.30am: Boxing Day at the G

Welcome, everyone, to one of the iconic days on the cricket calendar: Boxing Day at the MCG. For a long time it looked as though this wouldn’t happen so it’s great that the series has got here and that we’ll have 30,000 spectators. Just to recap where we are in this contest – India have to find a way to bounce back from being bundled out for their lowest Test score (36) in Adelaide a week ago. We already know they have made four changes in an attempt to do that – two of them enforced with the absence of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami – but it will be a mighty task. Australia are still without David Warner and have named an unchanged team. Not often you have both XIs confirmed 24 hours out from the game. The toss is half an hour away.

India will have two debutants: Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj. If you want to know a bit more about Gill, a hugely talented batsman, have a look at this piece below.