Recent Match Report: 2nd Test of Australia vs. India 2020

Join us for updates, analysis, and color throughout the opening day of the second test

Welcome to our live report from the third day of India’s test series on Adelaide’s Australian verses. Join us for updates, analysis and color. You can find our traditional ball-to-ball commentary here

* The most recent entry will appear at the top. Please refresh the page for the latest updates. All hours are local.

11.30am: Tense opening hours

It has been an absorbing start to this test with some life on the pitch which means a good battle between bat and ball. Matthew Wade, after playing very well for an hour, has yielded his wicket by raising R Ashwin to the side of his leg, where Ravindra Jadeja clung to a magnificent catch despite almost colliding with Shubman Gill. In an interesting play by Ajinkya Rahane, who has replaced Virat Kohli as captain, he attacked Ashwin in the first hour and there was some initial offer. Umesh Yadav has not been as consistent as Jasprit Bumrah, but two hatches are a good reward for India and pressure Australia.

11.00 am: Early strike for India

India has been rewarded with a good early bowling alley by eliminating Joe Burns for a duck. Jasprit Bumrah was especially hard on the new ball and found a thin edge of Burns in his third envelope to turn him into consecutive Boxing Day ducks for the opening. There is an encouraging pace and rhythm on the playing field with signs that India can make it difficult. Matthew Wade looked very confident and got a couple of sweet records on the opposite side of Umesh Yadav.

10.15am: Remember Dean

Here’s Dan Brettig, from MCG, on how one of Australia’s greats will be honored

Tributes to Dean Jones will take on many, many dimensions during the rehearsal. An entire bay of MCG seats has been handed over to a large image of Jones, while spectators have been encouraged to “get done” in homage to Jones ’habit of doing the same when he played. Jones ‘family will be present at the MCG for the match, with a tribute video scheduled for 3:24 p.m., which will recognize Jones’ large number of green cap and also his highest score of 324 against South Australia in a day / match Sheffield Shield at the MCG in 1994-95.

10.05am: Australia’s first bat

The coin fell in favor of Tim Paine and was happy to hit first. The wonder of Ajinkya Rahane was glad he had not made the decision. If there is any early life, Jasprit Bumrah should be able to find it.

Here’s a little more about India’s other debutant, Mohammed Siraj

9.50 am: Report of the plot

Damien Fleming, on channel seven, says there is 11mm of grass on this playing field. This might be of interest to the fast bowlers on both sides, but it is surely the first day a bat. It is a clear, sunny and warm day. India must leave behind Adelaide’s batting performance as quickly as possible.

9.30am: Boxing Day at G

Welcome everyone to one of the iconic days of the cricket calendar: Boxing Day at the MCG. For a long time it seemed like this wouldn’t happen, so it’s great that the series gets here and that we have 30,000 viewers. Just to sum up where we are in this contest: India needs to find a way to recover from its lowest test score (36) in Adelaide a week ago. We already know that they have made four changes in an attempt to do so, two of them forced in the absence of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, but it will be a powerful task. Australia continues without David Warner and has named a team unchanged. You don’t often have the two XIs confirmed within 24 hours of the match. The launch is half an hour away.

India will have two newcomers: Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj. If you want to know a little more about Gill, a very talented hitter, check out this piece below.