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Australia remove Kohli, put brakes on India's batters
Scott Bailey, AAP • January 3rd, 2025 5:30 pm
Photo: Cri Aust
Australia are threatening to strangle India into submission at the SCG, with the tourists losing Virat Kohli and going to tea on day one struggling at 4-107.
Needing a win in the series finale to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India continued to find it hard going in the second session on Friday.
The tourists added only 50 runs 25 overs, while also losing Kohli when he again edged a ball outside off stump to be caught for 17 off Scott Boland.
Kohli has now been caught behind the wicket in all seven of his innings this summer, with his lack of runs a major reason why India are down 2-1 in the series.
His dismissal left Rishabh Pant (32) and Ravindra Jadeja (11) at the wicket, with both having been handed lives when dropped by Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon respectively.
This Test is still in its early stages, but India may eventually need to force the issue in Sydney with rain forecast for the final two days.
Friday has been much more about survival, on a day when captain Rohit Sharma was axed.
After stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss, things appeared immediately ominous for India when Pat Cummins beat the bat three times in the second over.
KL Rahul clipped Mitchell Starc straight to Sam Konstas at square leg on four, before Boland angled one across Yashavi Jaiswal and drew his edge on 10.
India looked as if they were going to slump to 3-17 when Kohli edged Boland's next delivery, and Smith went low and scooped the ball up to Marnus Labuschagne in the gully.
But third umpire Joel Wilson ruled the ball had touched the ground on the way, saving Kohli from a golden duck.
Shubman Gill was then caught at slip on the last ball before lunch when he charged Nathan Lyon and edged him on 12, leaving the tourists at 3-57.
Debutant Beau Webster (3-l) was in the action early by taking the catch to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
He has been watchful since, playing 14 straight dot balls just before the break with Australia debutant Beau Webster bowling a stump-to-stump line.
A series win over India would hand Australia back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and mean Pat Cummins' side hold every bilateral Test series trophy available to them.
A win at the SCG would also be enough to ensure qualification for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's in June.
After lunch, Rishabh and Jadeja both wore multiple body blows, with the former taking the worst - on his grille - when he failed to duck a Mitchell Starc bouncer.
The only hint of attack came when Rishabh charged down the wicket and hit debutant Beau Webster back over his head for six just before tea.
Webster has otherwise been particularly effective, sending down eight overs of stump-to-stump bowling for figures of 0-10.
The Tasmanian also took fine catches to remove both Jaiswal and Kohli, with the second a good snare low to his right.
A series win over India would hand Australia back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and mean Pat Cummins' side hold every bilateral Test series trophy available to them.
Victory at the SCG would also be enough to ensure Australia's qualification for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's in June.
