Here’s Geoff’s report from Perth:

Australia has suffered an extraordinary day of punishment with bat and ball in Perth are now on the brink of a heavy and humiliating defeat.

Despite being without several of their key stars, India have been superb, recovering from their early skittling for 150 in the first innings on day one to dominate every session of the Test thereafter. Australia briefly revived after lunch to pinch four wickets but that was as good as it got for them.

India’s dominant display was led by a magnificent 161 by Yashasvi Jaiswal and a return to form for Virat Kohli who was unbeaten on 100. Wonderful support innings from KL Rahul (77), Devdutt Padikkal (25), Washington Sundar (25) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38) took them to 487 for 6 – a record total against Australia in Australia.

India then finished it in dramatic style with three wickets in four overs, Jasprit Bumrah turning Nathan McSweeney’s first Test into a nightmare (10 & 0) and then shooting-out Marnus Labsuchagbne (3) with the final ball of the day. In between, Mohammed Siraj found Pat Cummins’ (2) edge after the skipper bravely came out as nightwatchman.

Australia has finished the day in disarray at 12 for 3 needing 522 runs to win.

They face further humiliation tomorrow as a record home defeat looms. Hard questions will be asked about their casual preparations for this important series, their flat body language in the field, and their disappointing play in all facets of the second dig – negative batting, rusty bowling, sloppy fielding and dodgy leadership from the senior men.

It’s been painful to watch if you’re an Australian fan, glorious if you’re cheering Team India. But we go again tomorrow. Perhaps this strange Test has some twists left in it? For now we must call time and retreat with a stiff drink and much to think on. Thanks for your company today and stay tuned for Geoff Lemon’s match analysis coming soon.

Over and OUT!

5th over: Australia 12-2 (Khawaja 3, Labuschagne 3) Final over. But it’s from Jasprit Bumrah so anything could happen. First ball is angled in but Labuschagne fends it to cover. No run. Second ball is faster, straighter, lower and Labuschagne misses… this looks plum LBW. An awful non-shot by Labuschagne and it looks dead straight on middle but Marnus reviews it. Yep, it’s hitting top of middle.

4th over: Australia 12-2 (Khawaja 3, Labuschagne 3) Here comes Marnus, whose skipper surely indulges him too much. First he gets six bowling overs for India to gorge on, then he gets to sit in the stands while Captain Pat walks into the furnace. Anyway, he’s out there now. And after watching a couple and exchanging a few words with Siraj he thunks a three which pulls up short of the boundary.

3rd over: Australia 9-1 (Khawaja 3, Cummins 2) India have had their feet up for the best part of two days while Australia toiled in the sun. Unlike the Australians, their body language looks superb, lots of chatter, pats on the back and hand gesticulating. Cummins biffs one down the ground to get a single. Bumrah puts a rare bad ball down leg side and it runs for four

2nd over: Australia 4-1 (Khawaja 3, Cummins 1) Khawaja finally faces up but his over is from Mohammed Siraj. Sure enough he strokes three runs through covers. Now Cummins, showing the leadership his men so sorely need, faces up… almost gets an edge! Swing for Siraj. India have their tail up and the crowd are abuzz. The skipper taps a single to retain sgtrike to Bumrah. Captain v captain coming up.

1st over: Australia 0-1 (Khawaja 0, Cummins 0) Brave leadership from Cummins. No one wants to come out so he dons the pads and faces the music as nightwatchman. I;’m dirty on Khawaja, a 74-Test veteran, for letting McSweeney face that first over from the Indian captain, a bowler in the form of his life. Lamb to the slaughter.

1st over: Australia 0-0 (McSweeney 0, Khawaja 0) Bumrah goes wide on the first one. McSweeney watches it pass. Second one hits the channel but no need to play. TRhree card trick coming up. Watch out, Nathan…

Players are out and Nathan McSweeney is going to face up to Jasprit Bumrah. Brave lad but dubious senior leadership from Khawaja for mine. Here we go…

134th over: India 480-6 (Kohli 95, Nitish 37) Nitish takes a single from Lyon’s first to get Kohli on strike. The decibel levels rise at Perth Stadium. Cummins and Lyons confer and the crowd jeer. Lyon delivers a scooting delivery that shaves Kohli’s laces. Smiles all round as this Perth pitch continues to bamboozle everyone. The King takes a single. Next man in Jasprit Bumrah is removing his pads, a sure sign India will wait for Kohli’s to and then declare to give themselves a hot half hour at the Aussies.

133rd over: India 478-6 (Kohli 94, Nitish 36) Labuschagne returns, this time bowling spin. He has 0-20 from five overs. Kohli takes a single to get himself is one stroke from a century. There’s a replay for a stumping but Nitish has his foot firmly grounded. And now he grounds it even more firmly, stepping down and thundering it down the ground for SIX. He goes again on the fifth but doesn’t middle it. Marnus is barking orders to his fielders trying to bleed time but it’s only prolonging the agony. Eleven from the over.

132nd over: India 467-6 (Kohli 93, Nitish 27) Kohli has averaged just 22 from his last six Tests. But Australia’s bowlers have played him back into form today and a famous century is now in the offing. Nitish takes a single from Lyon to get Kohli on strike. Fifty partnership is up for these two. Make that 54 as Kohli reverse sweeps fine for another FOUR. Kohli is in the 90s but he looks anything but nervous. He cuts for a single. Nitish gets him back on strike with ease and Kohli swats down the ground for another run. Big over coming up.

131st over: India 459-6 (Kohli 87, Nitish 25) Things are about to get worse for Australia. Marnus Labuschagne is back on to bowl. As if Australia could humiliate themselves even more. Sure enough his first ball is short and wide and results in a bye. His second is an absolute buffet ball and Kohli swipes it to the boundary for FOUR. And now Kohli goes again, stepping down and carting Marnus to the mid-on boundary for FOUR. The crowd are roaring the King on as the lead rattles past 500. Labuschagne gives him width on the final ball and Kohli takes two. Eleven runs from an abysmal over.

130th over: India 447-6 (Kohli 77, Nitish 25) After four, four, four in the last over, this one from Lyon starts with SIX! Beautifully dispatched down the ground by Kohli with one knee on the deck. There’s a lot of waving going on in the Indian dugout. Are thery about to declare or are they cheering on Kohli to a century?

129th over: India 440-6 (Kohli 76, Ntish 24) A tired Bison rumbles in for a 12th over and after giving up two leg byes and a single he manages to convince his captain to challenge an LBW decision. Computer says no. It’s on a seventh stump line Terrible review, Australia. BANG! goes Nitish for a magnificent FOUR in front of square. CRASH goes Nitish to the next one, this time through covers. WALLOP goes Nitish to the last, this time it’s a pull shot that rattles into the rope. That’s 15 from the over and India lead by 486.

128th over: India 425-6 (Kohli 70, Ntish 11) Thanks Jonathan – great call as always. Nathan Lyon has the grim task of trying to extract Virat Kohli before the great man notches his 30th Test century. ‘The King’ curreently has 70 from 121 deliveries and Australia have notched 50 extras in an innings for the first time since 2001.

127th over: India 423-6 (Kohli 68, Ntish 10)
Matthew Hayden is about to re-enter the commentary box and I think that’s my cue. As Haydos once said “the game stands on the coalface of anticipated change” and that makes about as much sense as Australia’s performance this innings. To go out with a bang, Ntish hits a whopping six as I hand back to Angus.

125th over: India 406-5 (Kohli 66, Washington 27) More overthrows from the Australians, which reflects the sloppiness and lethargy that’s been evident for two days now. Marsh is toiling hard but this pair is picking him off with ease. Once again, only the slow outfield denies Washington a boundary.

122^nd over: India 396-5 (Kohli 62, Washington 20) A glorious cover drive to kick things off from Kohli, straight from the textbook. Starc keeps tempting him outside off stump and the champ is more than happy to take him on.

121^st over: India 390-5 (Kohli 56, Washington 20) Washington’s dancing and chopping but Lyon’s bowling well and keeping him in check. The spinner deserves a few breaks.

121^st over: India 389-5 (Kohli 55, Washington 20) This pitch is acting very peculiarly now. Starc’s fourth delivery rolls straight along the ground. Shades of the MCG in the early 1980s. One thing’s for sure – this ain’t a pitch to be chasing 450 plus on.

120^th over: India 388-5 (Kohli 54, Washington 20) This has been Kohli’s 31^st test half century, to go with his 29 tons. He and Washington have put on 67 and steadied the ship after the Indians were starting to look a bit shaky.

119^th over: India 387-5 (Kohli 53, Washington 20) This has been a real slog for Starc, with figures of 1/104. He looks absolutely knackered.

118^th over: India 385-5 (Kohli 52, Washington 19) Lyon has the less than convincing Washington poking and dabbing but the Aussie just can’t take a trick.

116^th over: India 377-5 (Kohli 49, Washington 14) This pitch is turning viciously at times now. Lyon v Kohli is an intriguing battle but Lyon just can’t buy any luck.

115^th over: India 375-5 (Kohli 47, Washington 14) India lead by 421 and no team has ever chased that much to win a test match. No pressure at all lads. A couple of tired bouncers from Cummins to complete the over.

114^th over: India 375-5 (Kohli 47, Washington 14) Some excellent, albeit unrewarded bowling from Lyon, who also concedes four byes after a violently turning ball bamboozles both batter and keeper.

113^th over: India 368-5 (Kohli 45, Washington 14) Four more byes, though it’s hard to apportion blame to keeper Carey. Some wild bowling from the Australian skipper, who then concedes four more courtesy of an inside edge.

111^th over: India 359-5 (Kohli 40, Washington 14) Largely uneventful over from Cummins as play resumes, shadows loom and India look to build lead.

A teatime shoutout to some of our loyal readers, including Paul Moody, who’s living it up in Kampot in Southern Cambodia and Simon Land. Both, to their credit, concur with my thoughts on the commentary of the Big ‘Dos. Also to Finbar Anslow who’s in beautiful Piedmont, where it’s currently 2 degrees. I’m sensing a bit of schadenfreude from our overseas readers at the current plight of the Aussie team.

109th over: India 358-5 (Kohli 40, Washington 13) Hazlewood hits one of those Perth cracks that are beginning to open up. Jasprit Bumrah would be licking his lips watching that. Good tight bowling from the Aussie, who has been a standout.

108th over: India 358-5 (Kohli 40, Washington 13) India’s lead is now 402 and they’re just ticking along until the tea break. Australia has a period of optimism about an hour ago, but the visitors have consolidated. Ominously, Kohli has regained his confidence and touch.

107th over: India 355-5 (Kohli 38, Washington 12) Head is punted, Hazlewood re-enters the attack and Kohli flicks a sublime stroke through mid-wicket. Only the slow outfield denies him the boundary he deserves. One of the shots of the day from a man who has found his form and looks very comfortable right now.

106th over: India 352-5 (Kohli 35, Washington 12) A “pandemic” is how Matt Hayden describes the Indian loss to New Zealand. He’s doing to the English language what he did to a bunch of Zimbabwean famers two decades ago.

104th over: India 350-5 (Kohli 34, Washington 11) More Head and more of the same. Easy singles for both batters. Any momentum Australia had seems to have gone.

103rd over: India 347-5 (Kohli 33, Washington 9) Lyon to Kohli is an intriguing little subplot. Kohli rolls his wrists and slog sweeps him for four, not usually a shot that’s in his repertoire.

103rd over: India 343-5 (Kohli 29, Washington 9) Travis Head trundles in and the Indian pair handle him with ease, including a lofted six over mid-wicket from Sundar. A bit odd that Head is bowling with a relatively new ball here.

101st over: India 334-5 (Kohli 27, Washington 2) A contemptuous slash from Kohli over point that clears the rope and imperils the security guard. It’s a risky caper working on the boundary when Kohli has his eye in.

100th over: India 326-5 (Kohli 20, Washington 1) India lead by 372. In the history of test cricket there’s been four successful second innings run chases over 400. South Africa did it across the road at the Waca in 2008 but it would be some sort of effort given the current form of the Australian top order.

99th over: India 325-5 (Kohli 19, Washington 1) Starc returns and elicits some half chances, including a poky nothing shot from Kohli which just falls short of Smith, as well as a couple of shambolic, semi run out chances.

98th over: India 324-5 (Kohli 17, Washington 1) Some nice turn and flight from Lyon. The Australians were dragging their feet earlier today but look energised and sharp again. India’s top scorer from the first dig is yet to bat however so they have plenty of depth.

97th over: India 321-5 (Kohli 16, Washington 0) Excellent over from Cummins after a tardy start. The Australians have 4-46 in this session so kudos to them after all looked lost.

96th over: India 321-4 (Kohli 16, Jurel 1) Nathan Lyon enters the attack and strikes immediately. Wickets on the first ball of both sessions keeping Australians off the ledge here.

95th over: India 320-3 (Kohli 16, Pant 1) As is his way, Pant charges his first ball from Marsh. Another sloppy Cummins delivery slips by Carey for four byes. Time for drinks and I’ll be doing the same. India now 366 runs the better.

93rd over: India 312-2 (Jaiswal 161 Kohli 15) Another sumptuous straight drive from Kohli. Cummins, who’s really struggling in this innings, needs to sort his length out. Jaiswal then pounds him through the covers for four. “Gotta say, they’re pretty decent batting conditions,” says Haydos, as the score reaches 2-312.

92nd over: India 301-2 (Jaiswal 155 Kohli 10) Hayden masters the art of saying the bleedin’ obvious, and then repeating it thrice hourly. India, meanwhile, lead by nearly 350 runs. Kohli is seeing them well today, and will be desperate to cash in. A wild swing and a miss from Jaiswal is one of the few blemishes in an otherwise superb knock.

91st over: India 299-2 (Jaiswal 155 Kohli 9) Pat Cummins is into the attack and Big Haydos is into the commentary box, which doesn’t always sit well with this columnist. Lovely cover drive from Kohli nets him three. Yaiswal slashes at a ball outside leg and that goes down as a missed chance by Carey, albeit an extremely difficult one. Such is this test match for the Aussies.

90th over: India 292-2 (Jaiswal 151 Kohli 6) Mitch Marsh returns after his injury concerns. Marsh still looks a bit proppy, and hasn’t done a lot of bowling in recent times. It’s a big ask to take on these two in such circumstances, in these conditions. Kohli flicks him off his pads for an easy single and Jaiswal follows suit.

89th over: India 288-2 (Jaiswal 150 Kohli 4) Some glorious straight drives in the previous over from Jaiswal but he’s a lot more watchful here, with Hazlewood right on target.

87th over: India 278-2 (Jaiswal 143, Kohli 1) Jaiswal is so compact, so utterly unfazed by opening after his first innings duck. Hazlewood continues to nag away, and he’s been the best of Australia’s bowlers by far today. But the baby faced Indian knows exactly what to leave, what to have a crack at and when to rotate the strike. Kohli is off the mark with a quick single and a rousing cheer.

86th over: India 276-2 (Jaiswal 142, Kohli 0) Young Jaiswal is not perturbed by losing his partner, and is fast approaching 150. Kohli persists with batting outside his crease but isn’t the imperious figure of yore. A tight over from Starc who was far too loose earlier today.

85th over: India 275-2 (Jaiswal 141, Kohli 0) Excellent start for Australia but they’re still 325 runs and eight wickets adrift mind you. A circumspect start by Kohli who needs to fill his boots here. He slashes at one outside off and is less than convincing.

84th over: India 275-2 (Jaiswal 141, Kohli 0) What a start for Australia and what a tussle we have now: Hazlewood v Kohli, The Hoff v The King. The volume has risen significantly now at Optus Stadium but Kohli is watchful to the first four. He flashes at the final ball but the fielder stops any runs. Great start to the new session.

Something to contemplate over lunch courtesy of Gervase Greene in balmy Sydney…

A fabulous ton by young Jaiswal, but I couldn’t help noticing when he removed his gloves to acknowledge the crowd that he was sporting a watch on his left wrist. Perhaps he is timing his centuries to the minute - he is fast getting used to making them - but is it perhaps some canny product placement by (I think) a tech-company based in California?

84th over: India 275-1 (Jaiswal 141, Padikkal 25) Starc’s first ball is wide and short and Padikkal slashes it to the rope for FOUR. The big quick responds with gusto, hitting the pitch a little harder and beating the edge. Starc throws down a yorker but Padikkal brings down the bat in time. And now he steps out cover drives elegantly for three. That makes it 103 runs added for the session and India in front by a whopping 321 runs.

83rd over: India 268-1 (Jaiswal 141, Padikkal 17) We’ll get two overs before this session is done. Can Australia go to lunch with another wicket? Hazlewood thinks so. His first ball is fast and straight and it leaps at Padikkal awkwardly. Better by the Bendemeer Bullet! Next delivery has Padakkal similarly bamboozled. He’s elected to come around the wicket and the angle is troubling young Padikkal who Hazlewood dismissed for a duck in the first dig. He gets away from strike with a single as Cummins fumbles at mid-on.

82nd over: India 267-1 (Jaiswal 141, Padikkal 18) Starc is on… but so is Jaiswal. On fire! Big Mitch threw down a loosener and Jaiswal stepped out and drove it downtown. Great shot young man! That’s deflating for Australia. They are trying to snare a second wicket to expose Virat Kohli in the precious minutes before lunch and Starc, who gushed 11 from his first over today, has gift-wrapped another boundary to a batter who doesn’t require any favours today. Fourth ball is over 140kph and Jaiswal nudges it through the cordon and McSweeney dives to save the boundary. Good fielding by the debutant. Final ball is a corker yorker but Jaiswal somehow keeps it out.

81st over: India 263-1 (Jaiswal 137, Padikkal 17) Josh Hazlewood gets first use of the new ball. The Hoff is coming over the wicket trying to exploit the off stump line that got Padikkal’s wicket in the first innings. First ball is a peach but second is a rotten tomato. It flies down leg and Carey can’t get a glove on it. Four byes. Oh no, another legside ball, even wider than the first, and it’s way beyond Carey. Another four byes. That’s very uncharacteristic by the reliably straight-shooting Hazlewood and it’ll make for a cranky ‘keeper over the lunch break.

80th over: India 255-1 (Jaiswal 137, Padikkal 17) It’s the final over before the new ball is available and Travis Head is hunting his 13th Test wicket. Jaiswal taps a single and Padikkal does the same. Jaiswal eases two to deep backward point and Padikkal hands the strike back with a well-timed drop shot. Another single makes it six from the over. India are officially 301 runs in front with nine wickets in hand. That’s a tough sentence to read let alone type. Is it a death sentence for Australia in this first Test?

79th over: India 247-1 (Jaiswal 133, Padikkal 15) Lyon resumes and Padikkal rolls the wrists nicely to find two more. That’s it for now though.

78th over: India 247-1 (Jaiswal 133, Padikkal 13) Marnus madness is over for now and Travis Head has been given a bowl. This got one yesterday and it cost eight runs but he’s the fastest route to the new ball right now so what the hell. And Jaiswal says the same, slapping two from last after five dots. That wasn’t far from the hands of short cover.

77th over: India 245-1 (Jaiswal 131, Padikkal 13) Nathan Lyon is playing his 130th Test and chasing his 531st wicket. He has done his job for Australia so far, slowing the run rate. Padikkal plays out a maiden.

76th over: India 240-1 (Jaiswal 131, Padikkal 13) Labuschagne pesters his way into a second over as Australia try to hustle through overs and get to the new ball. With this partnership at 39 and the lead edging toward 300, they desperately need something. But not that. Marnus sends down a full toss and Padikkal gives it what it deserves and slaps it to the rope. Labuschagne follows it up with another short wide one down the legside. Final delivery is straighter and Padikkal works it off his hip for a run. India now lead by 291. Yeesh.

75th over: India 239-1 (Jaiswal 130, Padikkal 8) Normal service resumes with Lyon into his 17th over. He has 0-36 and is not finding much from the footmarks so far. Jaiswal strokes a single and Padikkal does likewise. There’s a cut shot played to the fourth but it can’t get past the fielder. Next one succeeds – three singles from the over.

74th over: India 236-1 (Jaiswal 128, Padikkal 7) I’ve received a neatly timed email from Jeremy Henderson who writes:

Around 20 minutes into each session, Marnus starts on at Pat Cummins, “Let me bowl, let me bowl, let me bowl, etc...” After 30 minutes of this, Pat responds “If you shut the hell up, I’ll give you an over before the break”. (We’ve all dealt with annoying kids).

Sure enough, Marnus has the ball. And sure enough, his first ball is horrible – short, wide and annoying. Labuschagne goes short again but this time it’s straight. Padikkal is beaten by the third but Marnus goes short and wide again. And again. And again.

73rd over: India 234-1 (Jaiswal 127, Padikkal 7) Slapshot by Jaiswal and that’s FOUR! He’d been circumspect against Lyon until then but boy he broke the shackles in style, getting low and forward and sweeping beautifully to the boundary rope. Jaiswal takes two runs to backward square and a single to close out another profitable over. This partnership is at 33.

72nd over: India 227-1 (Jaiswal 120, Padikkal 7) Close… but no donut! Cummins bent his back and zeroed a ball at the bum fluff on Jaiswal’s top lip. The youngster went to fend over slips and Smith’s goalkeeping leap was just short of snaring the catch. It runs away for a single but good aggressive bowling from the Australian captain.

71st over: India 224-1 (Jaiswal 117, Padikkal 7) Nathan Lyon begins his 15th over with 0-28. Jaiswal taps a single from the first. Devdutt Padikkal – who stands a handsome 6ft 3in – uses his height and reach to smother five well-pitched balls without score. Tight bowling by the old man from Young.

70th over: India 223-1 (Jaiswal 116, Padikkal 7) Pat Cummins returns and Jaiswal tucks him away for a single. It’s high noon here in Perth and temperatures are rising into the 30s. Cummins is wicketless so far and Padikkal clips him backward of square where substitute fielder Josh Inglis has to chase hard to save a boundary. Three runs means this partnership is already at 22 from 42 deliveries.

69th over: India 220-1 (Jaiswal 115, Padikkal 5) The GOAT is on. Nathan Lyon wheels in for his first over of the day and the 14th of this innings. And straight away he’s on the button. Jaiswal plays forward and back but doesn’t do anything silly. It’s a maiden.

68th over: India 220-1 (Jaiswal 115, Padikkal 5) Almost a catch! Jaiswal attacked Cummins’ first ball and it flew out to the rope but Head was standing too far infield and it cleared him easily and bounced over the boundary rope for FOUR. Jaiswal is entering T20 mode. With Nathan Lyon warming up on the rope, we might see fireworks before lunch here. Will Jaiswal go bezerk and try to beat his IPL record of fifty in 13 deliveries?

67th over: India 216-1 (Jaiswal 111, Padikkal 5) Inswinger by Starc and Jaiswal has to hustle to keep it out. In fact he squirts it for a single and gets a rueful grin from Starc. India now lead by 262 runs and King Kohli is padded up and coming in next.

66th over: India 214-1 (Jaiswal 110, Padikkal 4) After 10 runs from that last Starc over, Pat Cummins has injected himself into the attack. He starts this spell with 0-44 from 13 overs. Can he find a crack and bring Virat Kohli to the crease? Devdutt Padikkal is the new batter. He is off his ‘pair’ and strokes a single through backward point to get his younger partner back on strike. Jaiswal has 110 and is seeking his second double-century after the magnificent 214 not out he stroked against England earlier this year.

65th over: India 212-1 (Jaiswal 110, Padikkal 3) Bang! Jaiswal threw his hands at Starc’s first ball and flashed it down to the third man boundary for FOUR. Superb batting. This is Jaiswal’s 15th Test and he already has four centuries, eight fifties and a century in the high-fifties. Nor is Yashasvi Jaiswal solely a Test star. In 2023 he scored the fastest fifty in IPL cricket (13 balls!) for Rajasthan Royals and that same season became their youngest centurion at 21 years and 123 days in 2023, with a superb 124. What a star!

64th over: India 202-1 (Jaiswal 103, Padikkal 0) Now that’s cocky! Jaiswal, still giddy from ramp shotting Mitchell Starc over the fine leg boundary to bring up his ton, tries it again from Hazlewood. This one doesn’t come off but strewth, that’s bold batting by the young gun who famously slept in tents and sold pani puri to earn pocket money en route to his dream of representing India.

63rd over: India 201-0 (Jaiswal 102, Rahul 77) Starc strides in for his 15th over and Rahul takes a single and Jaiswal cuts hard for another. A scampered single and an overthrow bring up India’s 200. That seems fitting. Australia have been sloppy in the field, missing run-outs and leaking singles. Another two to the total. India lead by 245.

62nd over: India 191-0 (Jaiswal 95, Rahul 74) Hazlewood enters his 13th over with the typically miserly figures of 0-15. Jaiswal edges the second ball short of slips. No run. Hazlewood digs the next one into the youngsters ribs and he gets tangled keeping it out. Good bowling by the Hoff. But that’s great batting by Jaiswal – he has leaned back and lifted Hazlewood over slips for…. SIX! That’s his century and what a shot to bring it up!

61st over: India 191-0 (Jaiswal 95, Rahul 74) India have carted 17 runs from the first three overs – not the start Australia were looking for. Can Starc atone for the 11-run over last time around that took his figures to 54-0 from 13 overs? He leaks a single from the fourth ball as Rahul drops and runs for an easy single. A leg bye from the fifth means this pair have equalled the greatest opening stand for India against Australia.

60th over: India 189-0 (Jaiswal 95, Rahul 73) Here comes Hazlewood. A maiden would be so valuable for Australia now, anything to slow the progress of India’s fast march to a 250-lead and fire a shot for a home side on the back foot. Four dots becomes five thanks to a diving save by McSweeney at a wide third. That atones for his error in the Starc over. Rahul squashes the maiden on the last, stepping out and cover driving for three.

59th over: India 185-0 (Jaiswal 95, Rahul 70) Starc is driven by Rahul and that’s FOUR! Beautiful shot by the wicketkeeper-batter from Karnataka. Starc was a touch full and Rahul stepped out and smashed it to the rope. And now he drives again! This one doesn’t have the heft to go all the way but it’s three more runs and it takes Rahul to 70. And now Jaiswal brutalises Starc, chipping over slips for another boundary. Great batting India! Starc strikes back with the fifth, zipping it through a little quicker and beating the young man. Jaiswal takes another swing at the last but it’s a swish.

58th over: India 174-0 (Jaiswal 91, Rahul 63) Josh Hazlewood rumbles in to Jaiswal and it’s a sharp single to get us under way! That’ll test the hamstrings. Great intent from India. Yesterday was a masterclass in running between wickets as the Indian pair – a right-hand, left-hand combination – rotated the strike and never let the Australian bowlers turn the screws on one individual. Rahul is beaten by Hazlewood’s fourth ball as he pushes nervy hands at a perfectly pitched ball. Misfield by debutant McSweeney lets Rahul off the hook with an easy single.

Here we go, folks. India’s batting pair are taking the field and Pat Cummins is leading his men out to encouraging cheers. We have had record-breaking 30,000-plus crowds for days one and two and there are high hopes for another on a beautiful Perth day. Australia have 20 overs until the new ball is available. Can they put a dent in Jaiswal and Rahul with the old Kookaburra first and then crash through the rest with a fresh cherry? We’re about to find out…

Much is being made of the Australian’s poor body language in the field yesterday – heads down, hands on hips, infrequent pats on the bum and curiously stilted tongues. A few commentators are asking who is responsible for revving up this Australia side now that gee-up man David Warner has retired. Which personality is best placed to light a fire under the Aussies when things are going awry, you reckon?

Conditions are hot and dry in Perth and this mercurial pitch – a bowler’s paradise on day one, batting nirvana on day two – looks a lighter shade of pale today. The green tinge of the opening day has gone and cracks are starting to open. Can Pat Cummins’ men exploit those fractures and crack India’s batting wide open? Two Australian openers have radically different outlooks on how day three will pan out. Matt Hayden forecasts a frenzy of wickets in this opening session. Greg Blewett predicts a hard day’s slog in the field for Australia. Either way, Australia are in strife – 218 runs behind already with an entire Indian batting side to dismiss.

All this week we’re remembering Phillip Hughes, Australian Test cricketer #408, who passed away this week 10 years ago. Jonathan Horn has penned this beautiful tribute…

Geoff Lemon aka the Keanu Reeves of Cricket covered day two with customary aplomb. Here’s how he saw the second day’s action in Perth…