3 minute read

Australia enter day three of the Boxing Day Test leading by 310 runs, with India on the ropes following a chaotic run-out that triggered a collapse at the MCG.

Australia can take another step towards grabbing a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar series by skittling India's lengthy lower order.

Cruising at 2-153 just 30 minutes before stumps on day two, India lost 3-7 following a calamitous mix-up between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The tourists will begin on Saturday at 5-164, still trailing Australia by 310 runs.

India opted to drop No.3 Shubman Gill for the Boxing Day Test, bringing in spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar.

It meant Ravindra Jadeja batted at No.6, although the star veteran has made four Test centuries and caused Australia pain over the years.

Sundar is also more than handy with the bat, but having three allrounders batting from six-to-eight is a major gamble when only Jaiswal and KL Rahul from India's top order have been in form.

India will retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy if they pull off an extraordinary comeback victory in Melbourne.

Australia need to prevent the tourists from winning one of the last two Tests in this series, while claiming at least one themselves to regain the trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

Star veteran Steve Smith scored 140 in Australia's 474, but his innings was overshadowed by the debut brilliance of teenager Sam Konstas.

Konstas might have made only 60, but the way he attacked Jasprit Bumrah - the world's No.1-ranked bowler - with ramp shots made sure the knock will sit alongside some of the most memorable at the MCG.

"I don't think much fazes the young kid (Konstas)," Smith said.

"We saw him reverse ramping Boomer and I was having a heart attack up in the box.

"If that's the future, maybe it's time for me to finish.

"But you've got to have some serious courage to do what he did."