Two runs off the first over of the day
Jaiswal is on strike for the first ball, which is nestled in the hands of Josh Hazlewood. First ball, a shorter one which is squeezed off for a quick single.
It’s followed by three consecutive dot balls… but on the third, Hazlewood beats Rahul! That’s dangerous. Nearly got the edge there. He angles the next one through to gully and the ball is fumbled, so there’s another run.
And Jaiswal defends ball number six, nice and safely. So that’s two off the first over of the day.
India 0-174, lead by 220 runs
First ball incoming
We’re not far away, folks. Players are just now walking out onto Optus Stadium for the start of day three – and apparently the temperature has already nudged past 30C. Yikes.
Brettig: Aussies are a ‘long way behind’
Watch: Day two unpacked with Tom Decent
If Bumrah’s bowling is the sublime of the Perth Test, Labuschagne’s is the ridiculous
If Jasprit Bumrah’s opening-day demolition of Australia’s batting brought the sublime to this Test match, then the sight of Marnus Labuschagne trying to bounce out India’s openers, before tea on day two, was the ridiculous.
Talk about Labuschagne’s potential bowling role, including the short-ball tactic at speeds in the mid-130km/h range, had been a minor theme of the lead-up to this series.
Marnus Labuschagne bending his back.Credit: Getty Images
It told much of Australian hesitance about over-bowling Mitch Marsh, and perhaps their regret about the back trouble that had befallen Cameron Green. Labuschagne appears unconcerned about giving himself a similar injury from bending his back.
But the vast scale of Australia’s humbling, from a point where they had India 6-73 on the first afternoon, made Labuschagne the kind of option Pat Cummins was compelled to turn to, if only for two overs (including the final over before stumps).
Read the rest of Dan Brettig’s analysis here.
Poll: Have your say
The forecast: It’s certainly not cold
As a wise man (Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty) once said: man, it’s a hot one.
Hello and welcome
Hello cricket fans. Welcome back. I am Vince Rugari, and it is my honour and duty to be manning today’s blog for day three of the first Test against India in Perth.
I’ll be honest, I thought there was a semi-decent chance I wouldn’t be needed today, such was the way day one went down, with 17 wickets falling. But there were only three yesterday, and they were all Aussie, and now India will resume their second innings on 0-172, leading by 218 runs. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (90 not out) and KL Rahul (62 not out) are at the crease and will be eager to pile on a little bit more pain, and probably a lot more runs before they have another crack at the Australian line-up.
I am watching this one from the Ashfield bureau but Dan Brettig and Tom Decent are over there in Westralia and will be chipping in with regular takes for the blog.
Strap in, settle down. Let’s cook.
These blokes aren’t done yet.Credit: AP
