Australia v India Test LIVE updates: Aussies chase wickets as India builds match-winning lead

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  • Australia’s grunt arrives a day too late in Nagpur
  • How things went yesterday
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Australia’s grunt arrives a day too late in Nagpur

For a rare occasion in his Test career, stump microphones captured Pat Cummins grunting in delivery stride during the final session of day two in Nagpur.

It was the guttural, striving sound of an Australian captain trying to drag his side back into the contest against India after a dire start to the match, and in terms of effort in genuine adversity, Cummins’ team have had few better days since he replaced Tim Paine.

Pat Cummins defeated Rohit Sharma with the second new ball.Credit:AP

Temperatures hovering around 35C and a superbly composed century by India’s captain Rohit Sharma forestalled a rush of wickets, but in the cut and thrust of each session between two high class teams, this was Test cricket very near to its best.

A late partnership from the left-arm spin pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, taking advantage of Australian fatigue in the closing 90 minutes of play, finally allowed India to wriggle clear. Steve Smith, who grassed three difficult chances all up, dropped Jadeja from the day’s penultimate ball.

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How things went yesterday

Nagpur: Australian cricket has a new spin sensation after Todd Murphy answered his country’s call with a stellar performance on debut, but the visitors face a mammoth task after India strengthened their hand in the first Test on Friday.

The hosts are firm favourites after Rohit Sharma’s near flawless century but the Echuca-born off-spinner provided them hope they can pull off something special over the weekend in the “Orange City”.

Todd Murphy celebrates taking the wicket of Virat Kohli on the way to a five-wicket haul.Credit:Getty Images

Murphy became only the 16th Australian man to take five wickets in his debut Test innings with the ball and the first in the baggy green to do so on the subcontinent since Nathan Lyon in Sri Lanka 12 years ago.

“It’s been a pretty special couple of days and to top it off with a five-wicket haul on debut is more than I ever hope for, and it is going to be something that I’ll look back on for the rest of my life and be proud of,” Murphy said.

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Good afternoon

G’day everyone and welcome to the live blog for day three of the first Test between Australia and India in Nagpur.

The Australians start the day in a tough situation as they need to take the last three wickets as quickly as possible as India already leads by 144 runs with Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja both past 50 and in exceptional form.

Please feel free to leave a comment anytime and enjoy the day to come.

Play is due to start at 3pm AEDT.

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