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Centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith put Australia on top against India as they posted 405-7 on the second day of the third Test despite Jasprit Bumrah’s late charge at the Gabba.
Australia went on to 28-0 in Brisbane after rain shortened the opening day to just 13.2 overs, with the Indian seamer making early breakthroughs against Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9), while Nitish Kumar Reddy (1-65) dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne (12) to leave them on 75-3.
But Head (152) and Smith (101) then combined for a mighty 241-run fourth-wicket partnership, boosting Australia to 316-3 before Bumrah (5-72) struck in the evening session to dismiss them both.
Alex Carey (45 not out) and Mitchell Starc (7no) survived the late onslaught to take the hosts safely to stumps after captain Pat Cummins (20) fell to Mohammed Siraj (1-97).
The five-match series is level at 1-1 with Australia winning the day-night in Adelaide after India won the first game in Perth.
Head and Smith defy the Indian seam
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, (centre) took his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests against Australia on the second day of the third Test
The Gabba pitch offered plenty of help to the Indian seamers under partly cloudy skies early on Sunday and saw Khawaja caught behind the early wicket of Bumrah.
McSweeney followed soon after, making just nine from his 49-ball attack as Bumrah was at the second wicket of Virat Kohli as Australia slumped to 38-2 in the 19th over.
Smith and Labuschagne steadied the ship, but Reddy tricked the Australian No.3 with a wide shot that brought Kohli back into the game when he took another catch at slip.
Smith and Head then held Australia to 75-3, the latter first reaching his half-century off 71 balls before posting his ninth Test hundred off a low full toss from Bumrah.
Bumrah celebrates the victory of the Australian centurion Head
Smith did not make a century in 26 innings, the last during the 2023 Ashes tour, but played reasonably to reach his 33rd Test hundred off 185 balls after hitting Akash Deep (0-78) at fine leg for one.
In the follow-up, Smith was caught at the slip cordon by skipper Rohit Sharma but walked off to a standing ovation from the Gabba crowd.
Mitch Marsh (5) edged to Kohli for Bumrah’s fourth and three balls later, the India pacer also had Head caught behind to complete his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Carey and Cummins helped Australia pass 400 before the captain hit a wide fourth-line delivery from Siraj to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
India’s Test tour of Australia
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