Geoff Lemon’s report from a day of ‘sugar rush’ Test cricket at the SCG is now live:

Fifteen wickets in the day, a half century for debutant Beau Webster, sensational Indian slip catching, four-should-have-been-five wickets for the unstoppable Scott Boland, early fireworks from Yashasvi Jaiswal and something audaciously delicious from Rishabh Pant. Throw in a mystery injury to Jasprit Bumrah, a dash to hospital in an SUV, and it was another memorable day in a memorable few weeks of cricket. With two days gone, the match, and the series, is still in the balance.

Australia started the day one wicket down, and never quite hit the accelerator on their innings. Only Smith and Webster passed 23, with Prasidh Krishna, playing his first match of the series, taking the crucial wickets of Smith and Webster when both had settled and were reaching for the velvet slippers. Australia failed to make the most of Bumrah’s absence on the field, and they won’t have been thrilled to see him return from hospital and spring back up the steps towards the Indian dressing room.

India’s second innings bounced between all out attack from Jaiswal and Pant to bewildering stonewalling from Jadeja and a rather sad dab to slip from Virat Kohli. Whether Pant’s firefighting fifty will be enough to take India over the line depends on whether they can eek out another 60 or so tomorrow, and whether Bumrah can take his rightful place, new ball at hand. We’ll be back to cover day three, play starts at 10.30 at the SCG, 11.30pm GMT. Bye!

With snow imminent here in Manchester, a wrap of the day to tide you over till Geoff’s report arrives. Thanks so much for your company through the night, bye!

Beau Webster, who made fifty on his debut, is caught by Isa Guha just before he walks off. “Its been a hell of a Test, going on fast forward. It’s a real tussle, we don’t really know what is a good score yet. We were happy to see the back of Pant.”

31st over: India 138-6 ( Jadeja 7, Washington 4) Webster misses out on his second Test wicket as Steve Smith at second slip dives infront of Khaweja at first, who was just shaping to take a relatively easy edge from Jadeja. Pie on the ground. Too tight together at slip, muses Adam Gilchrist (I think).

30th over: India 137-6 ( Jadeja 6, Washington 4) Boland continues to make the ball dart like a firefly at dusk. Washington alternates between being beaten and defending for his life. A couple of overs or so left till stumps.

“Morning Tanya. Simon McMAhon, hello. “Like early weekend starts, the freezing cold and dry January, low scoring Tests really are the best, eh?” Aye.

29th over: India 137-6 ( Jadeja 6, Washington 4) It’s now an hour since Jadeja has scored a run, putting pressure on his partner as well as rooting the scoreboard in concrete. But just as I type that, here comes a boundary! A drive that trickles past mid-on for four off Cummins.

28th over: India 130-6 ( Jadeja 2, Washington 1) Boland returns to his fielding position on the rope after another over of perfection to be greeted by a crowd bowing down in admiration. He now has 19 wickets at 14.21 this series, behind only Bumrah and Cummins.

27th over: India 129-5 ( Jadeja 2, Reddy 4) India have pretty much ground to a halt here – not sure about that as a tactic, even with stumps approaching. Cummins appeals for an lbw with such enthusiasm that he topples over and falls on his backside, continuing the appeal with a grin, proving Finer Things’ point (over 22).

26th over: India 128-5 ( Jadeja 2, Reddy 4) Three slips and a gully watch Jadeja play out a maiden from Boland.

25th over: India 126-5 ( Jadeja 2, Reddy 4) The tempo has changed completely with the wicket of Pant. A couple of watchful runs from Cummins’s over.

“As an Aussie watching and checking the blog I find it rather odd that Guardian Australia doesn’t have its own correspondent at the actual game?No offence intended.”

None taken SC! I’m sure Geoff or Angus are at the game, the lucky things, but they will be writing for the paper now so can’t do the second half of the OBO.

24th over: India 126-5 ( Jadeja 2, Reddy 2) Ntish Kumar suspiciously plays out five balls of an over from Boland.

“As we watch Pant blaze away, with stats about India’s fastest Test fifty being thrown around, it’s worth remembering that the great Kapil Dev once scored 89 off 55 balls in a Test against England in 1982! Albeit in a losing cause (like this Pant innings might be) but still.”

Thank you, Samir Chopra. I used to work for the Nightwatchman magazine and we published this great piece on Kapil Dev, not in a Test, but still showing how extraordinary he was, especially for the time.

23rd over: India 125-5 ( Jadeja 2, Reddy 1) The drinks break does its work again and the end of a wonderfully entertaining knock that – if the rest of the Indian lineup can scrape together another 80 or so – could be crucial.

21st over: India 111-4 ( Pant 48, Jadeja 2) Boland v Pant. Pant picks up a couple past point but plays swipes and misses at one, two , three in a row. Jadeja is content with his two from 17.

20th over: India 108-4 ( Pant 45, Jadeja 2) Pant loves the first ball of an over. Sweeps Webster up, up, and over the rope, well caught by the man in the blue shirt baking in the seventh (or so) row. Another lusty blow bring four more square. The SCG is alive with anticipation.

“ I can’t see this match going into a fifth day, maybe not even a fourth at thus rate.” Hello there John Starbuck! Reluctantly, I agree, I think I’ll be lucky to be doing my OBO shift on the fourth afternoon. I don’t want this series to end.

19th over: India 97-4 ( Pant 34, Jadeja 2) A magnificent over from Boland, which Jadeja somehow survives.

18th over: India 97-4 ( Pant 34, Jadeja 2) Pant-tastic! Runs the gamut from a sublime extra cover lofted drive to something dragged out of the dressing-up box as he falls over and almost rolls onto his stumps while pulling the ball over square leg. Also featuring a cut for four off Webster and a thick edge that bounces just before first slip. India’s lead passes 100.

16th over: India 78-4 ( Pant 17, Jadeja 0) A wicket maiden from Webster, who may have only bowled an over so Boland could change ends!

15th over: India 78-3 (Gill 13, Pant 17) Pant milks ten from Cummins over, without more than a tablespoon of risk, including a cheeky flick for four.

“Afternoon/morning Tanya,” Hello Gervase Greene!
”At the risk of being unpatriotic, I can’t help but regret the early departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal. When he’s in that sort of mood I could watch him bat all day (though I suspect there’ll be plenty more opportunities to do just that in the years ahead). What a Test! What a series!”

Agreed! He’s got to be the most exciting young batter in the world at the moment, beating even Harry Brook.

14th over: India 70-3 (Gill 13, Pant 9) India have just lost three for 17 so Pant comes in, walks out of his crease like a man who suddenly fancies a stroll to the corner shop and smashes Boland’s first ball for six. Completely fearless! His next scoring shot isn’t quite such a feat of engineering as he attempts a reverse ramp off balance and nearly falls over. Hitting Boland off his length, murmur the commentators, caught between horror and admiration, could be key.

13th over: India 59-2 (Gill 11, Kohli 6) A backfoot punch from Gill flies past the fielder to the rope. Cummins beats him later in the over, fancies an inside edge but none of his slips or keepers are on side. They’re correct. Ooof, there’s a peach which flies up and through Gill who smiles to himself. He hangs out his rod and fishes at the next. It’s hard going out there.

12th over: India 55-2 (Gill 7, Kohli 6) Kohli is immediately looking for sharp singles, not a hint of losing his spark at least between the wickets. I reckon that slip catch is going to give him some sparkle this afternoon. The crowd bubble with excitement as Boland runs in and here comes Kohli, who with rolling wrist pulls him over mid on for four.

11th over: India 48-2 (Gill 5, Kohli 1) They take DRINKS after a third Cummins maiden.

10th over: India 47-2 (Gill 5) The game swings to Australia, but can Kohli pull something big from what is surely his last Test innings at the SCG.

”It has been the most absorbing and entertaining test series but did Australia miss a trick with all the hype?” writes Nikhil Saini. “They took an unbeatable 2-1 lead with a match to play but still had to draw/win in Sydney to win the BGT. But with this spicy pitch and their below par batting all through this series India are still in with a chance to win this game. Remember what India did 2 years ago when Australia won on a rank turner in Indore ? They laid out a flat track in Ahmedabad. Result: Draw, Series: Won and India on their way to the WTC finals.”

I just heard them say on comms that the SCG curator was trying to produce a more interesting pitch after criticisms. Someone, sorry I’m not good at identifying voices, said that every ball of this Test asks a question and the good batters thrive. I guess we will find out in the next couple of days….!

9th over: India 46-1(Jaiswal 22, Gill 2) A tricky maiden from Cummins, including a ball that wasn’t released as the wind suddenly gusts, the umpire grabs on to his hat and Jaiswal pulls away just as Cummins is about to release the ball.

8th over: India 46-1(Jaiswal 22, Gill 2) As super-subs go, Boland has to be top of the list. Cracking ball to Rahul and reward for a super first over. Gill comes in and flashes unconvincingly for four. If this partnership gets going it could be tricky for Australia with the fast outfield. But the slips lick their lips.

7th over: India 39-0 (Jaiswal 22, Rahul 11) Cummins swaps to Starc’s end. An appeal for lbw against Jaiswal but no-one really fancies it, including the bowler. A play and miss, two, from Rahul. Cummins smiles his Pat Cummins smile.

“How on earth,” taps Nick Gibson, “did NZ beat India and win the series……” And at home….that’s why we love Test cricket!

6th over: India 36-0 (Jaiswal 21, Rahul 10) Here comes the first change and it is Scott Boland with his unnerving ability to pick up wickets in his first over/first spell. He floats in on the crowd’s roaring admiration and sure enough Jaiswal is beaten by the first which stays low. The third flies off the pitch and somehow squeezes past Rahul. India survive.

This was Geoff’s great piece on Boland from day one:

5th over: India 33-0 (Jaiswal 20, Rahul 8) Rahul swivels to the last ball of Starc’s over and picks up India’s eighth boundary of this short innings with a tidy pull. Starc shakes his head.

4th over: India 22-0 (Jaiswal 18, Rahul 4) Jaiswal continues to seek those adrenalin-drenched boundaries, throwing the bat at Cummins but hitting mid air. Rahul it is who finds the rope, with a four posted neatly past mid on.

An email! Hello Sandip.

“Greetings from a comparatively dry Pacific NW where I am following Graun’s coverage of the BGT esp when the Willow feed goes phut when the clouds move in!

“With re: the 42nd over query about how is it okay with the physios and sundry staff retrieving balls for the fielding team. This situation raises many points, a few of them I highlight below.

“There is nothing in the law that specifically prevents such action and activity, meaning retrieving the ball, or hanging around.

“Umpires usually decide before the match starts what is permitted and what is not.

“Also, most fielders are now equipped with some tracker and their movement metrics provide how much effort they have put in and such stats. It therefore behooves the fielder not to include the jogs and walks in the metrics so as not to dilute the other high intensity runs and sprints. A few tens of metres during the retrieving balls therefore makes a difference.

“My pet peeve is those hangers-on fielding the said ball before it has crossed the agreed upon boundaries. Methinks this is when the umpires reckon will be penalising the batting team by ruling dead-ball as soon as the hangers-on have touched the ball. Better to award 4-runs for the boundary, and avoid diplomatic incidents, not to mention the enjoyment of the spectators who pay good dough to be in the stadium. This is most practical way. And no, I do not play an umpire on the telly, I umpire regional amateur matches.

“Hope this helps clarify the important and critical role played by those hangers-on.”

Thank you! Very helpful.

3rd over: India 17-0 (Jaiswal 17, Rahul 0) Better from Starc, who has found his radar and his run-up. Has Jaiswal beaten and then leaping like a jack in a box, hit in the guts by a shorter delivery. Just one from the over.

2nd over: India 16-0 (Jaiswal 16, Rahul 0) Cummins has had Rahul’s number, and Rahul certainly isn’t going for it in the Jaiswal manner, despite the long hair flowing cavallierly in his helmet. From feast to famine, Cummins starts with a maiden.

Hello Anna Talbot, sorry to pick your email up so late.
”My partner rematches Starc’s dismissing catch repeatedly and came up with this evidence. Can’t see any fingers under that ball myself.” I find these things so difficult to read, but can’t see any obvious problem and haven’t heard anyone moaning about it on commentary. Yet!

1st over: India 16-0 (Jaiswal 16, Rahul 0) Starc is roared in, long legs, rhythmic run, shy smile. Jaiswal leans back and flies into his second ball, which has a touch of width, sending it flying to the rope over backward point. The next is dragged down as Jaiswal whips the ball at nose height for a second four. And a third – this time along the ground behind point. Starc beats him with his fifth and WOW – there comes the fourth boundary! Whipped with regal wrists and awesome power through cover. On comms they say Australia won’t want to chase anything more than 200 here. Cummins stares behind his big bad sunglasses.

50th over: Australia 176-9 (Lyon 6, Boland 5) Apologies, my middle of the night brain forgot to change the email address on the page from Angus’ – do drop me a line at tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com. Lyon and Boland mine a precious three runs from Prasidh’s over

49th over: Australia 173-9 (Lyon 1, Boland 4)

“Morning Tanya”. Good very early morning to you Brian Withington

”Although it doesn’t appear in his Wiki entry I can confirm that perhaps the most formative (English) summer in Beau Webster’s cricket career was in 2016, when he was the overseas player for our local Knowle & Dorridge CC in the Birmingham League. In that capacity he was following in the bowling marks of the likes of no lesser than Allan Donald. No I don’t know how they afford it either, but the club bar is open 365 days a year and is probably still serving as I type at 3:30 am.”

Thank you for that excellent bit of knowledge! And what a smashing innings it was too – he got a very fond round of applause from the SCG as he trudged off. Lyon picks off three from Ntish Kumar Reddy’s over as Australia creep closer to parity.

48th over: Australia 170-9 (Lyon 1, Boland 4) The end of a terrific innings on debut and India’s second string are more than holding the fort for Bumrah. Boland picks up four with a nudge off his ankles.

47th over: Australia 166-8 (Webster 57, Lyon 1) No hat-trick as Lyon squeezes a single off his first ball and, as Webster returns the favour, survives the last three balls.

46th over: Australia 164-7 (Webster 56, Starc 1) Can Starc continue the Cummins holding role? Siraj roars in and Starc’s inside edge darts between his boots

44th over: Australia 155-6 (Webster 52, Cummins 6) Thanks Angus, great stuff. What drama! Bumrah driven to hospital from an underground car park , a fifty on debut, the first of the match, for debutant Beau Webster. This series keeps on giving, and here comes a switch with Siraj for Prasidh. A neat maiden, beating Cummins with the last ball.

43rd over: Australia 155-6 (Webster 52, Cummins 6) Wonderful achievement for Beau Webster. He has Australia just 30 runs adrift of India’s first innings total.

Time for a cool change in the form of Tanya Aldred who will steer you home to stumps. Thanks for your company and emails today and enjoy the rest of day two!

Matt Burtt has an interesting observation:

I’m wondering how long it’s been OK for teams to station a bunch of their hangers-on around the boundary, beyond the rope of course, to retrieve and return the ball for the fielding team? It’s been happening so much in the current series and while I see it’s value in reducing the need for fielders to run for ‘no reason’ but far out - a casual jog out to the boundary and back surely wouldn’t kill any of them...

They also serve drinks and snakes, Matt. Vital to stay hydrated/ sugared.

42nd over: Australia 147-6 (Webster 48, Cummins 5) Cummins gets on his toes to cut Krishna’s first ball for a single. Webster cops a searing bouncer next ball, a spring-loaded delivery that demands evasive action. Still plenty of life and lift in this SCG green top. Webster drives on the run to get within a run of a maiden half century.

That’ll be drinks. Time for another snifter of doggerel from Gavin Robertson (“not the cricketer”) inspired by the spate of just-below waist-height balls leading to “personal mishaps” in this Test…

The boy stood on the burning deck,
The crew were playing cricket,
The ball rolled up his trouser leg,
And hit his middle wicket

41st over: Australia 147-6 (Webster 48, Cummins 3) An update on Jasprit Bumrah: India’s captain and strike bowler has just been spotted in training gear and leaving the ground in a car, reportedly for scans. That’s very bad news for India fans. Beau Webster celebrates by cover driving Jadeja for a lovely four. Australia trail by 38 runs.

40th over: Australia 140-6 (Webster 43, Cummins 1) Krishna returns for a 12th over. He now has 2-31 his best Test figures. Pat Cummins would make a prize scalp for the 28-year-old quick whose career has been curtailed by lower leg and back injuries. Webster and Cummins each take a single from the over.

39th over: Australia 138-6 (Webster 42, Cummins 0) Pat Cummins is in the middle with his team reeling at six down and still 47 runs behind. Does he slow things down and crawl to the total? Or does he attack and make a statement? With Ravindra Jadeja back into the attack there’s no choice but to play fast. His second over yields one run.

38th over: Australia 137-5 (Webster 41, Carey 21) That’s a loose one! Krishna’s second ball has sprayed wide of batter and ‘keeper and skidded away for four byes. He makes amends by skinning Carey on the fourth. Perfect length, straightening on impact and just missing the top of off stump.

37th over: Australia 133-5 (Webster 41, Carey 21) Glorious shot by Carey! Siraj pitched it up and Carey smoked it through covers for four. He’s in good form with bat and gloves, striking 21 and 36 in Perth, 15 in Adelaide, 70 and 20 not out in Brisbane and 31 and 2 in Melbourne. He’s now in the twenties and has Australia 52 runs in arrears.

36th over: Australia 124-5 (Webster 37, Carey 16) Jasprit Bumrah has been off the field for four overs now. Injury niggle? Outfit change? Or something dodgy at the lunch buffet? We’ll keep you informed. Carey takes a leg bye from Krishna’s second and Webster stands tall and swivels a pull shot for a a single from the fourth. Krishna is into his 10th over now and is showing signs of tiring as Carey works another easy single.

35th over: Australia 121-5 (Webster 36, Carey 15) Ouch! Carey cops one in the nethers. He’s still upright, which was more than Rishabh Pant could claim after copping a multitude of low balls on day one. Mohammed Siraj’s eyes are gleaming but Australia’s ‘keeper hobbles a single to get off strike. This partnership is starting to blossom and has advanced Australia’s total by 25 runs.

34th over: Australia 119-5 (Webster 36, Carey 14) Another wallop by Webster. This one gets him three runs through point from Krishna’s first ball and makes him Australia’s top scorer. Krishna is still getting lift and zip from this pitch even with a softer ball. Webster tries to swat the fifth ball down Driver Avenue but it’s an air swing.

33rd over: Australia 117-5 (Webster 34, Carey 14) Siraj steams in and puts in the slot for Webster to straight drive. He opens the face to guide it safely through gully for a single. Carey knows a quicker route, stepping out and cleaving through cover for FOUR.

32nd over: Australia 112-5 (Webster 32, Carey 10) Webster works Krishna square for a single as Australia continue at a healthy clip of 3.6 per over. This partnership needs to prosper though as it’s only bowlers to come, despite Pat Cummins now being ranked the No 4 allrounder in the world.

31st over: Australia 111-5 (Webster 32, Carey 10) Bumrah is into his 10th over and has 2-27. The wicket of Labuschagne took him to 32 wickets for the series – the most for an Indian bowler in a Test series in Australia. Carey doesn’t bow to that feat. Instead he cuts the fifth delivery through gully for FOUR. Australia trail by 74 runs.

30th over: Australia 105-5 (Webster 32, Carey 4) Here we go again. Prasidh Krishna, who took the big wicket of Steve Smith in his last over, has the first after lunch to Beau Webster who resumes on 28. Krishna gets his fifth ball to leap but Webster gets a neat revenge next ball, skipping across to slam it down the ground for four. Go Beau!

Players are taking the field for the second session but the dismissal of Steve Smith before lunch moved Pananjady Swathi to poetry during the break:

Always glad to see Smith go
He puts on such an ugly show
Shuffling all over the place
With complete lack of grace
I’d rather watch the grass grow ‎

Thanks Pananjady. A lovely piece of doggerel.

Steve Smith might have been made to wait for his milestone, left stranded on 9995 Test runs when he nicked Krishna just before lunch, but India’s new captain Jasprit Bumrah made a little history of his own this morning.

There’s an update from the terrible collision in last night’s Big Bash game. Cameron Bancroft has suffered a broken nose and a broken shoulder and is unlikely to play again in the BBL14 tournament. Daniel Sams will be sidelined for at least 12 days after he and Bancroft were both diagnosed with concussions. We wish both well in their recovery.

29th over: Australia 101-5 (Webster 28, Carey 4) Last over before lunch. Siraj, always hungry, bends his back at Webster. It’s a tall order given the allrounder is 200cm and the big Tasmanian flicks a single to fine leg. And now Carey dines out before lunch! Siraj put it wide and full and Carey pounced, crashing it to the rope. Handsome way to get off the mark. That will be lunch on day two.

28th over: Australia 96-5 (Webster 27, Carey 0) Prasidh welcomes Alex Carey to the crease with a snorting delivery that springs from the pitch like a mongoose at a cobra. Carey recovers but won’t chance his hand in the penultimate over before lunch. Wicket maiden for Prasidh. He took some punishment from Smith but got him in the end.

27th over: Australia 96-4 (Smith 33, Webster 27) India turn to spin. Ravindra Jadeja, the world’s No 1 allrounder, has been thrown the ball. Webster calmly paddles him over his left shoulder for two then pushes to square leg for another deuce. Runs flowing. Australia trail by 89 runs.

26th over: Australia 92-4 (Smith 33, Webster 23) Webster punches for FOUR! Nitish gave him space outside off and the 200cm allrounder got on his toes to whack it to the rope. Gets a single on the next to take the partnership to 45. Impressive debut so far for the man from Snug south of Hobart. He took two fine slips catches yesterday and has now steered Australia out of a crisis. Now Smith gets in the action, hot stepping to the pitch of the fifth and driving for FOUR. And he goes at the last ball too, cutting a short wide one to the fence. A 13-run over.

25th over: Australia 79-4 (Smith 25, Webster 18) Siraj to Smith. Heatmiser v Snowmiser. The big quick has his face smeared in zinc warpaint as usual. Smith, impish and twitchy, dances around the first few. Siraj retrieves the second, threatens to shy at the stumps. Smith laughs in his face. More comedy as the umpire fields a yellow balloon and puts it between his teeth to burst it. The crowd are enjoying this day two contest.

24th over: Australia 79-4 (Smith 25, Webster 18) Shout for lbw by Reddy but it’s down leg side and India don’t review. Smith pockets a single off his left hip. Webster plays out the rest. Australia trail by 106 runs.

Tony Hughes emails to remind us “it’s been 24 years since we saw Colin Miller take a wicket while sporting blue hair at the SCG.” Happy 24th Funky! Tony reckons Colin – a medium-pace/ off-spinning hybrid Tasmanian like Beau Webster – was also involved in the nascent American Cricket League. “They were so lacking in professionals, he could have faced himself at one point as he was contracted to more than one franchise!”

23rd over: Australia 78-4 (Smith 24, Webster 18) Smith cuts for FOUR! Siraj, back for a second spell, sent down a loosener and Smith rocked back and crashed it to the rope. Great batting. Smith looks sharp today. That shot brings up 5000 Test runs in Australia.

22nd over: Australia 73-4 (Smith 20, Webster 18) Bowling change from India. Allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has the ball for his first spell of the Test. Reddy got a golden duck yesterday, edging to Boland to Smith first ball, so will be keen to make amends. Webster takes his second ball for a single. Smith takes another from the last.

21st over: Australia 71-4 (Smith 19, Webster 18) Webster continues to thrive at Test level, taking Krishna for two and then a couple of singles. Krishna is going at four an over and might need a spell to settle the nerves. This partnership is now worth 32.

The emails are coming in from all quarters: Poland. Naples. Bangalore. Now Scandinavia. Julian Menz has pout everything on hold to write in from Sweden: “I have masses to do tomorrow including taking my daughter skiing (in Sweden here cricket is croquet), but can’t help myself I love love top-class Test cricket, and am glued to the OBO. The local pistes will just have to wait till after lunch!

No one is waiting at the SCG, Julian. Plenty of pistes people at the Doug Walters Bar already.

20th over: Australia 66-4 (Smith 18, Webster 13) Smith needs 20 runs for 10,000. Bumrah stands in the way, right arm flexed and fizzing them down at 138kph. Smith is batting a foot outside his crease then stepping out and across to negate the wicked angles Bumrah is getting from this pitch and keep lbw out of the equation. It’s ungainly and unorthodox but who’s to argue when it’s got him 9980 Test runs? A maiden.

19th over: Australia 66-4 (Smith 18, Webster 13) Beau Webster clubs another couple of runs through midwicket from Krishna. The big Tasmanian has looked good for his baker’s dozen so far. He needs plenty more if Australia are to overhaul India’s 185 today. Can he and Steve Smith go on with it?

Ross McGillivray writes in with an early contender for word of year: “Labuschagne (Verb). To walk off slowly trying to convince yourself and spectators that what just happened didn’t really happen.

I like it Ross. Drop the boffins at Macquarie a line.

18th over: Australia 64-4 (Smith 18, Webster 11) Bumrah and Smith duel. And again Bumrah gets the ball to swing back a mile. Strewth, this Sydney pitch is full of vim. Smith fends a single and Webster does likewise to leave Australia trailing by 121 runs.

17th over: Australia 62-4 (Smith 17, Webster 10) Krishna – not the major deity in Hinduism worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu but the fast bowler from Karnataka – returns. Smith whacked him for six and four from his last two balls. Krishna does better on the first five here. Not so good on the sixth which Webster wallops for FOUR.

Colum Fordham is tuning from pretty/ gritty Naples.

Really ought to be in bed but can’t take my eyes off this spicy contest and, like the last few overs yesterday evening, the Indian quicks are giving the Aussies a tough time. As they have to if India are to square the series.
Great to see Konstas’ fearless reaction to Bumrah and Siraj’s wonderful pace bowling. India have to set more aggressive fields if they want to maximise the opportunity created by Marnus’ wicket
Great to have the OBO for company.

Great to have you aboard, Colum! “Spicy” is the word. Or should I say Speziato!

16th over: Australia 58-4 (Smith 17, Webster 6) Webster flicks for FOUR. That’s 14 from three balls for Australia and the first boundary for Australia’s debutant allrounder. It goes to his head a little on the next one as he fends one into covers and sets off, only to be sharply sent back by Smith. Strewth! Bumrah gets his fifth ball to jag back viciously. That one started on a fifth stump line and sailed over the leg bail!

15th over: Australia 53-4 (Smith 17, Webster 1) Australia struggling in Sydney. Smith has Prasidh Krishna at his throat again. Krishna is in his third Test for India, just two wickets at 65 from them so far. But he’s tall, hungry and fast, sending them down at almost 140kph. Smith doesn’t care. He leans back and casually pulls him square for SIX! Now he goes the other way, leaning into the final ball and lifting it over the offside ring for FOUR. Smith now needs 21 runs to reach 10,000 Test runs.

14th over: Australia 43-4 (Smith 7, Webster 1) Webster edges! He went hard at Siraj and the ball skewed off the cue tip and landed just short of third slip. Close! Now the big allrounder from Snug fends one into the covers and gets off the mark in Test cricket. Siraj has the ball swinging harder than Austin Powers. He beats Smith with the fourth but Australia’s No 4 gets revenge on the next, driving down the ground for three.

13th over: Australia 39-4 (Smith 4, Webster 0) Australia spiralling at the SCG! Beau Webster is out in the middle for his first Test innings. But first new boy Prasidh Krishna is steaming in at Steve Smith. His first ball explodes off the pitch and rears at Smith, cannoning into his hands. That was nasty! Smith, a little unnerved, leaves the rest.

11th over: Australia 35-2 (Konstas 23, Smith 4) Konstas ramps Bumrah! That one was right out of the middle and it flew over slips and bounced twice before hitting the rope. The crowd roar. Kid Dynamite is away here. Bumrah sees him coming on the second, puts it wide. Konstas won’t back down. he swipes at the the third, gets hit in the ribs. Has another heave at the fourth but doesn’t connect, instead top edging over the infield for a run. Smith steps away to the last and gets four byes to fine leg. An eventful over!

10th over: Australia 26-2 (Konstas 18, Smith 4) Siraj has it swinging! That one left Konstas late and drew OOOOHs from the slips cordon. Konstas, standing tall with lip twitching, watches two scramble seam deliveries pass through. He’s waiting on a wide one and Siraj delivers on the fifth, allowing a glance to fine leg. Australia trail by 159.

9th over: Australia 25-2 (Konstas 17, Smith 4) Konstas cracks a four! We saw that shot in Melbourne, stepping down to Bumnrah and driving down the ground. He swats at the next one too, bottom edges to fine leg.

8th over: Australia 16-2 (Konstas 12, Smith 4) Steve Smith has arrived. He walked out needing 38 runs to reach 10,000 Test runs and a quick single from Bumrah made it 37. He now squares up to Siraj and punches down the ground for three. Fast start for Smudge! And a painful one for Siraj who has split a finger trying to stop that drive. Blood on the wicket. And now almost a run-out! Konstas clipped it off his hip and Smith set off but Konstas sent him back. Smith had to sprawl to make his ground. A direct hit would’ve had him. Konstas gets another run, swiping wide through gully.

7th over: Australia 15-1 (Konstas 11, Labuschagne 2) Bounce for Bumrah! Labuschagne does well to keep it down. He’s undone by the next one. Huge appeal but no upraised finger from the umpire. India seem very confident and will send it upstairs for review…

6th over: Australia 15-1 (Konstas 11, Labuschagne 2) Konstas is beaten! Lovely outswinger by Siraj. It’s a set-up for the wobble seam delivery on middle and leg next. Konstas keeps it out. Fourth ball is a wide and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant lands on the ball in his tumble to stop byes. He can’t stop that one! Konstas cracks another swinging ball through covers for two.

5th over: Australia 11-1 (Konstas 9, Labuschagne 2) Here comes Jasprit Bumrah. Marnus Labuschagne on strike. He blocks the first and steps out to the second, driving for two. Positive start for Marnus. Bumrah gets him edging the next. The day one bounce is still there in spades on this SCG pitch. Bumrah is up to 135kph as he hunts a 32nd wicket for the series.

4th over: Australia 11-1 (Konstas 9, Labuschagne 0) Runs from the first ball! Siraj strayed to the pads and Konstas clipped him square for two. That will settle the nerves – if this kid has any. Straight balls meet a straight bat on the next two. India are chirpy this morning, none more vocal than Virat Kohli at first slip. Konstas, with that Elvis lip curl, blocks one, leaves one. We’re away!

Players are on the field and we are about to get under way. Australia’s Sam Konstas will face India’s Mohammed Siraj from the Paddington end.

This is the 112th Test between these great cricket nations. Australia have won 47, India 33 and there have been 30 draws. There has also been one tie and one of the heroes of that 1986 thriller was Dean Jones whose innings of 210 in the 45C heat of Madras/ Chennai has gone down in history as one of the bravest of all-time.

Shannon Gill has this fascinating feature about Deano.

We had over 47,000 fans in the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday and the queues are snaking in again today, particularly with the promise of Sam Konstas batting today.

I’m not sure India share Australia’s love affair with the Sundance Kid from Kogarah. Whether it’s batting like a boy in the backyard, chirping in the field or playing to the crowd, the 19-year-old is getting under their skin as only a lippy teenage boy can.

Here’s how Konstas got his innings started yesterday. The stones on this kid…

Please feel free to shoot me an email during the day’s play. There were some strong opinions piling into the InBox yesterday from all four corners of the globe about the validity of Steve Smith’s catch of Virat Kohli, the stability of Rishabh Pant’s hector protector and whether Usman Khawaja’s last-over stalling or Sam Konstas’s lip service was responsible for Jasprit Bumrah getting his back up and conjuring that jaffa that cost Australia their first wicket.

And while you’re online, please donate to The McGrath Foundation in this Pink Test.

Day one was an arm wrestle that almost dissolved into a barroom brawl. Here’s how that dramatic final minute unfolded…

For those who came in late, here’s how Geoff Lemon saw day one…