Steve Smith scored his first century in Australia in over three years but India’s bowlers sparked another batting collapse for the hosts before its batsmen made a solid start to reach 96-2 by the end of the second day of the third cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Smith’s 131, his first century since the 2019 Ashes and Australia’s first this series, helped lift the hosts to 338 but Australia will be disappointed to have not scored more given its final eight wickets fell for 130 runs with India spinner Ravi Jadeja taking 4-62 and completing a spectacular run out to dismiss Smith and end the innings.

India made a good start to its innings reaching 70 without loss before Australia’s pace attack responded by removing both openers in the final session.

At stumps, captain Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on five with Cheteshwar Pujara on nine, trailing Australia by 242 runs with eight first-innings wickets remaining.

Having resumed Friday at 166-2, Australia was well-placed to take a stranglehold on the match after it had won the toss and elected to bat.

Marnus Labuschagne made 91 off 196 balls, and shared a century stand with Smith to see Australia past 200 runs for the first time in five innings this series, before he edged the impressive Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane at slip with Australia at 206-3.

Jadeja then had Matthew Wade (13) playing a poor shot to be caught in the deep, before Jasprit Bumrah (2-66) trapped Cameron Green lbw with the last ball before lunch.

After lunch, captain Tim Paine (1) and Pat Cummins (0) were both bowled cheaply leaving Australia at 278-7.

Smith then reached his 27th hundred in 76 Tests with a leg glance for three runs off Navdeep Saini in the 98th over. The former captain was far more effusive in his celebration than usual reflecting the relief at having scored his first century in 15 innings spanning four series.

Smith’s eighth 100 against India came in 259 minutes off 201 balls, with 13 boundaries, and was the first against India in a home Test since David Warner’s quickfire century at the SCG in 2015.

It was also Smith’s first century in Australia since December 2017 in a drawn Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Also read- Australia 338 all out; India 26-0 at tea, day 2 of 3rd test

Starc scored 24 off 30 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before holing out from debutant Saini (2-65).

Nathan Lyon was also out for a duck, trapped by Jadeja to reduce the hosts to 315-9.

Smith’s was the last wicket to fall, run out spectacularly by Jadeja with a direct hit from deep square leg, as he was chasing quick runs with Josh Hazelwood.

India opened its innings briskly with second-gamer Gill especially looking comfortable at the crease.

Hazlewood made the lone breakthrough for the hosts in the 27th over to remove Sharma caught and bowled for 26, leaving India at 70-1.

Gill reached his maiden half century off 100 balls, with eight boundaries, before Cummins found the opener’s edge and had Gill caught by Green at gully the next ball.

Pujara and Rahane both survived some near misses in the final overs as Australia bowled a perilous line and length searching for a late wicket to tilt the match in their favor going into the third day.

On Thursday, Will Pucovski set the tone with a flourishing 62 on debut, before Labuschagne and Smith took over as Australia’s batting lineup finally clicked against India on a rain-interrupted opening day.

The four-match Border-Gavaskar trophy series is level at 1-1. The holder India is hoping to secure it with a victory in Sydney and Australia needing to win the series to reclaim it.

Australia won the opening day-night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne last week.

Steve Smith scored his first century since the 2019 Ashes series and helped cushion Australia from another batting collapse as it was all out for 338 before India reached 26 without loss at tea on the second day of the third cricket test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Smith’s 131 was Australia’s first century of the series and a vital innings in the context of the match, and possibly the series, as the hosts squandered the strong foundation laid by its top-order batsmen.

Having resumed Friday at 166-2, Australia’s batting frailties were again exposed as it lost its final eight wickets for 130 runs as India’s bowlers, led by Ravi Jadeja’s 4-62, fought back.

Also read: Australia plans no changes for 2nd cricket test vs India

India’s openers then survived to tea unscathed with Shubman Gill on 14 and Rohit Sharma on 11.

Like his fabled performances in the 2019 Ashes, Smith again proved masterful and combined with Marnus Labuschagne for a century partnership in the morning session after the hosts resumed on Friday at 166-2.

After Labuschagne (91) fell narrowly short of his fifth test century as part of a 100-run partnership with Smith, the latter took on the familiar role of leading Australia’s batting against a disciplined Indian bowling attack which rallied strongly.

Smith reached his 27th hundred in 76 tests with a leg glance for three runs off Navdeep Saini in the 98th over. The former captain was far more effusive in his celebration than usual reflecting the relief at having scored his first century in 15 innings spanning four series.

Also read:India could make up to 5 changes for 2nd test vs Australia

It was Smith's first century in Australia since December 2017 in a drawn test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Smith’s eighth 100 against India came in 259 minutes off 201 balls, with 13 boundaries, and was the first against India in a home test since David Warner’s quickfire century at the SCG in 2015.

Earlier Friday, Labuschagne made 91 off 196 balls, and shared a century stand with Smith to see Australia past 200 runs for the first time in five innings this series, before he edged the impressive Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane at slip.

Also read:Stakes high, tension builds for Australia vs India 3rd Test

Jadeja then had Matthew Wade (13) playing a poor shot to be caught in the deep, before Jasprit Bumrah (2-66) trapped Cameron Green lbw with the last ball before lunch.

After lunch, captain Tim Paine (1) and Pat Cummins (0) were both bowled cheaply leaving Australia at 278-7.

Starc scored 24 off 30 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before holing out from debutant Saini (2-65).

Nathan Lyon was also out for a duck, trapped by Jadeja to reduce the hosts to 315-9.

Also read: Australia 166-2 after rainy 1st day of 3rd Test vs India

Smith’s was the last wicket to fall, run out spectacularly by Jadeja at deep square leg, as he was chasing a quick runs with Josh Hazelwood.

On Thursday, Will Pucovski set the tone with a flourishing 62 on debut, before Labuschagne and Smith took over as Australia’s batting lineup finally clicked against India on a rain-interrupted opening day after Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

The four-match Border-Gavaskar trophy series is level at 1-1. The holder India is hoping to secure it with a victory in Sydney and Australia needing to win the series to reclaim it.

Australia won the opening day-night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne last week.

Also read:India gets its 1st test match win in Australia since 2008

Will Pucovski set the tone with a flourishing 62 on debut and Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith took over as Australia’s batting lineup finally clicked against India, reaching 166-2 on a rain-interrupted opening day of the third Test.

Labuschagne posted an unbeaten 67 and shared partnerships of 100 with Pucovski and 60 with Smith (31 not out) after going to the crease in the fourth over.

With the series tied 1-1 at the halfway point, Australia won the toss and elected to bat Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

It gave Pucovski an immediate taste of Test cricket as the 22-year-old opener started the innings with veteran David Warner, who has been sidelined for more than a month with a groin strain.

Warner lasted only eight balls and scored five runs, and appeared slightly tentative taking a quick run, before he chased a full and wide ball from Mohammed Siraj and was caught at first slip with the total at 6.

Australia hasn’t posted a total above 200 so far in the series and Warner’s early dismissal could have spelled more trouble, but 22-year-old Pucovski appeared assured and his innings should set a platform for a decent first-innings total.

Also read: Stakes high, tension builds for Australia vs India 3rd Test

He had withdrawn from Test selection calculations in the previous two seasons because of personal issues and also struggled with concussion, but he put that behind him to anchor a 100-run second-wicket stand with Labuschagne — Australia’s biggest partnership so far in the series.

He was on 14 when play was suspended after 7.1 overs because of rain, beginning a lengthy delay that resulted in 35 overs being lost across the day.

The Australians resumed at 21-1 after the break and continued playing their shots, and at times Pucovski was lucky to still be at the crease.

He had three reprieves on his way to 50, a milestone he passed in the over before tea with consecutive boundaries against Navdeep Saini — the first two balls in Test cricket for the Indian fast bowler.

Also read: India on cusp of winning 2nd Test against Australia at MCG

He survived a pair of dropped catches from wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant on 26 and 32 and a missed chance for a run out on 39 before running out of luck when he was trapped lbw by Saini for 62 in the 35th over, giving the Indian paceman his first Test wicket.

Smith had a high score of 8 and a total of 10 runs in the first two Tests but a change in his grip and more attacking attitude, particularly against the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin, saw him returning to form.

“I was positive. I wanted to put him under a little bit of pressure, which I probably haven’t done so far in this series,” Smith said. “Nice to get one away and sort of free things up a little bit.

Also read: India could make up to 5 changes for 2nd test vs Australia

“It was a good day for Australia. I thought (Pucovski) played exceptionally well early. Marnus played well. Hopefully we can build on that tomorrow.”

Ashwin went wicketless — although he had Pucovski dropped off his bowling — and returned 0-56 from 17 overs. Saini had 1-32 from seven overs. Siraj also had a chance put down by Pant and returned 1-46, while Jasprit Bumrah returned 0-30 from 14 overs.

The Border-Gavaskar trophy is still up for grabs, with holder India hoping to secure it with a victory in Sydney and Australia needing to win the series to reclaim it.

Also read: Australia plans no changes for 2nd cricket test vs India

Australia won the opening day-night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne last week.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Jon Lewis of England as the batting coach of the national team for the home series against West indies and the tour of New Zealand. 

Lewis is expected to reach Dhaka ahead of the National Team’s preliminary ODI squad’s camp begining on January 10.

Also read: After 20 years, Bangladesh still finding its feet in Test cricket

The 50-year-old former English county opening batsman has been in coaching since 2007 and has recent experience of working with England’s ODI side as its batting coach. 

Also read: International cricket set to return with WI tour of BD in January

He has also been in the same role for the Sri Lanka team in 2018-2019.

In a first-class career spanning 17 years from 1989 to 2006, Lewis scored over 10,000 runs for Durham and Essex in the English County Championship. 

Also read: Akram Khan: Bangladesh shouldn't take West Indies lightly

He also captained both teams. Lewis, an ECB Level-4 coach, was Durham’s Head Coach from 2013 to 2018. 

The West Indies team will arrive here on Jan 10 to play three ODIs and two Tests while the Bangladesh team will depart for New Zealand in the last week of February to play three ODIs and three T20s.   

Also read: Batting consultant Craig McMillan declines to join

The series is tied at the halfway point. Australia and India have been surpassed by New Zealand atop the Test Cricket rankings.

There’s quarantine and travel restrictions. There’s tension.

Australia captain Tim Paine let it be known on the eve of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground that the gloves are off. Rumors about the India squad’s discontent with hotel restrictions and reluctance to travel to Brisbane for the fourth Test have opened up a little bit of acrimony.

“It’s boiling away, there’s some stuff starting to happen, a bit of chat starting to happen,” Paine said Wednesday. “This Test is going to be fascinating not just from a cricket point of view.

“There’s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface with unnamed sources coming out from their camp saying where they want to play the fourth Test and where they don’t want to go. I think it’s starting to grind a few people.”

India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane declined comment on the issue, saying only that the quarantine conditions that got tougher this week were “a challenge” and he’d leave it to team management to make decisions on the schedule.

“We are just focusing on tomorrow’s game, we’re not complaining or anything,” Rahane said. “We just want to start well.”

Australia’s eight-wicket win in a day-night Test in Adelaide to open this series and India’s equalizing eight-wicket win in Melbourne were played in good spirits.

India’s standing as the financial powerhouse of the sport meant speculation about the squad’s apparent reluctance to play what could be a series-deciding Test at the Gabba, where Australia hasn’t lost a test since 1988, was taken seriously by Paine’s lineup.

It caused a “bit of uncertainty,” Paine said. ”Because when you hear things like that coming, particularly from India who we know hold a lot of power in world cricket, it’s likely that it could happen.

Also read: West Indies series: Bangladesh ODI, Test teams announced

“So for us we just want to be really clear on this Test match.”

There’ll be changes to both lineups for the SCG.

Rohit Sharma will replace opener Mayank Agarwal after showing no signs of discomfort from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the limited-overs portion of the tour and the first two Tests. He’ll also be deputy to Rahane, whose gritty century guided India to victory in Melbourne.

“We all are really excited to have him back, especially his experience at the highest level,” Rahane said. “He is batting really well in the nets.

“The last couple of series he has been playing as an opener so you will definitely see him at the top.”

India also made enforced changes to its bowling attack, with 28-year-old right-arm fast bowler Navdeep Saini selected for a Test debut to support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who took five wickets on Test debut last week. Saini replaces Umesh Yadav, who joined fellow fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma on the injured list. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to have an influence on a wicket that takes turn.

Also read: West Indies series: Mashrafe left out

Australia’s bowling attack is settled, but the batting department is due for an overhaul.

Paine indicated David Warner was ready to return from a groin injury. He could be partnered at the top of the Australian order by 22-year-old Will Pucovski, who has passed concussion protocols and looms as a strong contender to make his Test debut in Sydney after Joe Burns was dropped.

That could also mean a change to the middle-order, with Matthew Wade — a makeshift opener in Adelaide and Melbourne — either batting lower or being dropped, or Travis Head losing his spot at No. 5.

Australia can regain Test cricket’s top ranking with a series win, and India needs a 3-1 win to move to No. 1. New Zealand took No. 1 spot for the first time on Wednesday by completing consecutive sweeps of West Indies and Pakistan at home.

Also read: Shakib: It'll be tough to repeat old form

Despite the high stakes, there’s no chance of the match being a sellout. The state government has insisted the crowd capacity has be lowered to 25% at the SCG — and all fans must wear masks — because of a recent COVID-19 outbreak in parts of Sydney.

Lineups:

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

Australia (from): David Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (captain), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.