(Photo: Cricket.com.au Facebook)
India came into the third test in Indore, having already successfully retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia came into the test hungry to salvage something after a terrible defeat in the second test.
Both sides made some changes, with the Aussies bringing in Mitchell Starc and Cam Green, after the pair successfully recovered from finger injuries sustained in the test series against South Africa. Pat Cummins (personal reasons) and Matthew Renshaw (omitted) were the ones to miss out.
For the hosts, Shubman Gill and Umesh Yadav came into the side for KL. Rahul and Mohammed Shami.
India won the toss and elected to bat on a dry sand bowl in the city of Indore. Drama unfolded immediately, with Rohit Sharma proven to be dismissed twice in the first over, however Australia failed to review the incorrect decisions.
Australia was relieved moments later as Sharma ran past a Matthew Kuhnemann delivery and Alex Carey took the bails, to send the Indian captain back to the dressing rooms for 12. Carnage superseded, as that wicket sparked a loss of 4-11 to leave the hosts reeling at 5-45.
Unfortunately, they were never able to recover from a bad start, being dismissed for 109 in just 33 overs.
It was the response of a quality team, after a heartbreaking loss in the second test for the Aussies. The spinners did the damage, as Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon combined for 8-51 which included a maiden "five fa" for Kuhnemann.
After the early loss of newfound opener, Travis Head for nine, Steve Smith’s men set about building a first innings lead. With the help of a gritty innings by Usman Khawaja (60), as well as cameos from Marnus Labuschagne (31) and Smith (26), the Aussies were able to reach 196, with a vital lead of 88 runs.
Steve Smith's (left) leadership was first class in stepping up for Pat Cummins in the third test. Smith takes a remarkable catch to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara.
(Photo by AP/Surjeet Yadav)
The game was moving at a rapid speed, as India came out to bat in their second innings early on day two.
On an extremely difficult pitch for batting, the first innings lead would potentially prove vital for the Australians' chance of working their way back into the series.
The Indians dug deep in their second innings, with a patient knock by veteran batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara (59) keeping them in the game. For the Aussies, Lyon produced one of the greatest spin bowling performances you will ever see, taking an impressive 8-64 off almost 24 overs.
This would leave the Aussies needing just 76 runs for victory on a pitch becoming increasingly difficult to bat on. An anxiety filled chase was sure to follow, with the collapse in Delhi still firmly engrained in the minds of the Australian faithful.
A nervous chase followed. With India being the best team in the world in spinning conditions, the side's belief of victory would never waver.
On a day where it looked like a wicket could fall any ball, the tension and difficulty of chasing a small total was immense.
Rohit Sharma’s men dared to dream after dismissing Khawaja with the second ball of the day. A tense half-an-hour followed, as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin looked likely to take the wickets of the batsman with every ball.
Fortunately, the Aussies were able to absorb the tough period and cruise to victory with the loss of just one wicket. Travis Head finished unbeaten on an almost run a ball 49, while Labuschagne finished 28 not out.
Australia will take great confidence into the fourth and final test, as it looks to tie the series at two apiece, while the hosts go back to the drawing board with plenty of work to do.
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