Published: Dec 30, 2018, 04:46 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 30, 2018, 04:45 AM (IST)
So there we have it. With the win, India have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they cannot lose the series from here. They sign off 2018 with a win, which means they have won four overseas Tests this year – 1 each in South Africa and England and two here. Thank you for joining us in this historic Test for India and we hope you liked our coverage. Join us for the final Test of the series and the first of 2019. Until then, A Very Happy New Year to all.
Bumrah: It is a great feeling. Be it the Boxing day, be it the any other day, I always wanted to play Test cricket and I made my debut against South Africa in January this year. I made my (ODI) debut against Australia in 2016, so to play Test cricket here was a big deal for me. I am really happy to contribute to the team’s success. My aim is to always focus on consistency. We train very hard and we are used to bowling a lot of overs in Ranji Cricket, so the body is doing well. My focus is on the next Test now. It was always a dream to play Test cricket and I was really happy when I debuted in South Africa. I started learning slowly, in England it was a different experience. Coming to Australia has been a different experience as well. The start has been good, and hopefully, I will keep getting better.
Jasprit Bumrah has been adjudged Player of the Match.
Virat Kohli: We are not gonna stop here. This will give us more confidence and we play more positively in Sydney.We want to win last Test match as well, if an opportunity comes our way. We don’t want to be complacent. It’s good thing that I don’t read any comment. We were pretty clear that we will bat third on this pitch as pitch was only getting worse. Jasprit has been brilliant for us, The three seamers have broken a record for the highest number of wickets in a calendar year. Jasprit was unlucky not top get wickets in Perth. Team management calmed him down and he won us the test match. Agarwal was amazing. His composure was outstanding. Pujara was outstanding too. It is all about taking pride in your roles which are given. We have to play good cricket to be in the position right now. We have never been in this position and now is the time to express even more.
Tim Paine: It’s a bit disappointing. With inexperience batting line-up you are bound to have an innings like we did in the first innings. The guys are working really hard and we have a huge challenge ahead of us in Sydney. The conditions will be different in Sydney. The pitch was very good. After watching the wicket for 2 days I knew pitch will crumble. Pat has been superb all series. We all know what quality he has. He has been fantastic for us. We want more guys to perform like him. It’s been an interesting year, a difficult t year. In the next few months, some World Class players will be available. We have to work really hard to win the new year Test.
With the win, India have ensured that they will at least not lose the series. First time since the tour of 2003-04.
INDIA WIN: It’s all over, ladies and gentlemen. Ishant Sharma picks up the last wicket to bowl Australia out for 261. Ishant drops it short and Nathan Lyon featheres a pull to Rishabh Pant. India win the match by 137 runs. It took them four and a half overs to wrap things up. More importantly, they have secured a 2-1 lead with one match to go. This is also India’s 150th Test win. Great effort.
WICKET: Edged and taken. It’s the big wicket of Cummins as Pujara holds on to an excellent catch in the slips. Peach of a delivery from Bumrah, moves away just a little after pitching. Cummins goes after a braveheart effort. Australia 261/9, India one wicket away from a 2-1 lead in the series. Nine wickets for Bumrah in this match so far.
And as expected, we have play post lunch. The rain has cleared and Ishant Sharma has bowled the first over of the day. India will be releived. Shifting the focus back to cricket from weather, India would want to get these 2 wickets quickly. Australia 261/8.
– 11 overs have been lost today, but that can always be made up for by extending play towards the end, like yesterday. We should get the game underway post lunch. It’s stil very gloomy at the MCG but Michael Clarke says hardly does it rain the entire day in Melbourne. So yes, it’s just a matter of time.
UPDATE: First session washed out. Will India regret not enforcing the following on?
Official: Early lunch at 12.15pm local time.
That’s 22 minutes away. Plus 40 more minutes. So, by my calculation, play won’t start until 1pm local time. That’s 7.3am IST. #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 30, 2018
– 50 minutes have passed, and we haven’t had play yet. It’s still raining at the MCG but the forecast for the afternoon looks a lot more promising. For those Indian fans who are worried, don’t. It is inevitable that at some point today, we will have play. Stay with us.
UPDATE: Just when we were about five minutes away from start of play, the covers are back on again. This is slightly frustrating for India who were just gearing to get out there. On the contrary, Australia would love seeing this delay. Then again, the foreacast is not that bad. We will eventually have play, just not sure when. It has gotten heavier alright though.
For those waking up early 5 AM on a Sunday in India, well, we have some good news.
Umbrellas down. Covers coming off!. Wakey wakey! #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 29, 2018
– We’ll have a delayed start, ladies and gentlemen. The covers are on and the umpires are out in the middle. Again, these are expected to be passing showers.
Update: The covers are back on, although these are the light covers. There’s light rain at the MCG, but it’s gotten really dark. The flood lights are on and the Indians just got done with their drills. Despite everthing, we should get some cricket today.
– Now, onto the biggest factor in the match. The weather at the MCG. There is rain expected, but as was yesterday. But we did not lose a single ball. At the moment, it’s overcast the at G. The covers are off at the moment but there is rain on the horizon. It seems to be one of those stop-start day. India need to get these wickets quickly.
The covers are off at the MCG but there is a few more showers on the radar … #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ng4htJNnC9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2018
TRENDING NOW
A very good morning to all. Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the final day of this third Test match of the series. India are two wickets away from winning the Boxing Day Test and securing a 2-1 series lead. However, they’ve been needing these two wickets from quite some time though. Pat Cummins has been resisting India with a sublime half-century to keep India at bay and ensure that this Test went into its final day.
