Aus v Ind 3rd Test Day 1: Australia have the better of rain shortened day

Will Pucovski (62) and Marnus Labuschagne (67 n.o.) ensured that Australia had the better of the rain-affected first day’s play of the third Test against India, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

On a rain-hit day, India struggled to keep the run-flow in check as Australia hit back confidently after winning the toss.

Leading the charge for Australia was much hyped debutant Will Pucovski (62: 110b, 4x4) who profited from some good fortune. India's wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant dropped him twice. David Warner, Pucovski's partner, fell early to Mohammed Siraj.

Thereafter, Pucovski riding on his good luck, added 100 runs for the second wicket with number three Marnus Labuschange (67 n.o.: 149b, 8x4). This was Australia's century partnership of the series.

Pucovski fell to fellow debutant Navdeep Saini. Then Steve Smith (31 n.o.) joined forces with Labuschange to take Australia to 166 for two. Australia was decidedly a lot more aggressive than the previous Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The only two wicket-takers for India were Siraj (1-46) and Saini (1-32).

Match Summary - Australia v India, 3rd Test Day 1, Sydney Cricket Ground, Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia 1st Innings: 166-2

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (David Warner-3.3 ov), 2-106 (Will Pucovski-34.2 ov)

India: Still to bat

Close of Play – Australia are 166-2

Scorecard

?? Will Pucovski fifty
?? Marnus Labuschagne fifty
?? Just two wickets lost

Australia looked ?? on the first day in Sydney.#AUSvIND SCORECARD ?? https://t.co/Zuk24dsH1t pic.twitter.com/AFNlAnWGSo

— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2021

 

Playing XIs

Australia: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (captain & wicket-keeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini

 

Match Details

Start Time: 23:30

Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Officials: Paul Reiffel, Paul Wilson, Bruce Oxenford, Claire Polosak, David Boon

©Cricket World 2021