India strike thrice in riveting session of play before Lunch

India strike thrice in riveting session of play before Lunch

India struck thrice in an engrossing and extended opening session on the second day of the Brisbane Test with Jasprit Bumrah extending his mastery over Australia's openers. The hosts added 76 runs at a lowly run-rate of 2.56 as veteran Steve Smith battled through the attritional period of play after going back to an old technique that had served him well.

Jasprit Bumrah operated on the fuller side of the good length band between six and eight metres, forcing Australia's openers to come forward but the length was still not full enough to drive. He beat Khawaja on the inside edge and then twice on the outside edge in his very first over, before striking with the first ball of his next as Khawaja tentatively poked at a ball in the fourth-stump channel.

Bumrah's spell was a masterclass, forcing Khawaja to edge twice and then dismissing him for 3 runs. Nathan McSweeney, who had gotten away on the opening day, was dismissed for 4 runs after edging a ball that straightened against the angle to second slip.

Steve Smith walked out to join Marnus Labuschagne with his exaggerated back and across trigger, backing his eye to keep away the straight balls. The pair survived the remnants of the opening burst to get a look at India's third and fourth seamers. Labuschagne did a good job leaving the ball on length and trusting the bounce on the surface, while Smith worked himself into a semblance of batting rhythm against Nitish Reddy.

India ensured those runs took nearly 15 overs to be conceded, with the pair adding 37 runs but losing Labuschagne to a full and wide delivery outside the off-stump. Virat Kohli expertly took the edge at second slip, moving to his right.

Brief scores: Australia 104/3 (Steve Smith 25*)