Aus plunge into deep trouble
Australia blew a strong start with yet another top order batting collapse in Sydney Saturday, leaving themselves a mountain to climb to stay in the fourth and final Test against India.
When play was abandoned half an hour early due to rain, they were 236 for six, still 386 behind with Peter Handscomb (28) and Pat Cummins (25) fighting a rearguard action after some soft dismissals plunged the hosts into deep trouble.
Australia went to lunch at 122 for one but meekly surrendered soon afterwards, losing three wickets for 24 runs, with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav doing the damage. Yadav ended with 3-71 and Jadeja 2-62.
While aggressive rookie opener Marcus Harris blazed a career-best 79, senior players Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and skipper Tim Paine all failed to deliver when needed most.
"I got a start and a few of us got a start but none of us went on to get a big score so it's pretty simple to work out what went wrong," said Harris.
"We're a young group and we're trying to work it out and think on our feet but we're playing against the number one side in the world, so it's not like it's an easy thing to do."
Despite the task ahead, Harris remained optimistic.
"Obviously 600 is a big score to chase down or get a close deficit, but I think the more time we can occupy the crease, you never know what can happen."
India took a stranglehold on the match over the first two days, compiling 622 for seven declared on the back of centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant.
They lead 2-1 after wins in Adelaide and Melbourne and are fast closing in on a historic first-ever series win since they first toured Australia in 1947-48.
On a day when the Sydney Cricket Ground was a sea of pink to mark a breast cancer awareness initiative, Khawaja was dismissed for 27 after mistiming a shot off Yadav.
At the other end, Harris quickly found a groove and went to lunch on 77. However, he added just two more before chopping a Jadeja delivery onto his stumps.
So far, none of Australia's batsmen has reached three figures over the four Tests, with Harris' 79 the highest anyone has scored. In contrast, India have had a field day, compiling five centuries.
SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: First innings 622-7 decl
AUSTRALIA: First innings 236 for 6 (Harris 79, Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 38, Head 20, Handscomb 28 not out, Cummins 25 not out; Jadeja 2-62, Yadav 3-71)
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