Centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith put Australia on top against India as they posted 405-7 on the second day of the third Test despite Jasprit Bumrah’s late burst at the Gabba.
Australia resumed 28-0 in Brisbane after rain shortened the opening day to just 13.2 overs, with the Indian seamer making an early breakthrough by dismissing Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9) while Nitish Kumar Reddy (1-65) dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (12) to leave them 75-3.
But Head (152) and Smith (101) then combined for a powerful 241-run fourth-wicket partnership to power Australia to 316-3 before Bumrah (5-72) struck in the evening session to dismiss both.
Alex Carey (45 not out) and Mitchell Starc (7 not out) survived a late blitz to send the hosts safely to stumps after captain Pat Cummins (20) fell to Mohammed Siraj (1-97).
The five-match series is level at 1-1 with Australia winning in Adelaide in the afternoon after India won the opener in Perth.
Head and Smith at odds with India’s seafarers
India’s Jasprit Bumrah (centre) takes his 12th five-wicket in Tests on the second day of the third Test against Australia.
The pitch at the Gabba offered plenty of relief to India’s seamer under overcast skies early on Sunday and saw Khawaja caught behind the early wickets of Bumrah.
McSweeney followed shortly after with just nine from his 49-ball innings when he bowled Bumrah to Virat Kohli at second slip as Australia slipped to 38-2 in the 19th over.
Smith and Labuschagne steadied the ship but Reddy lured Australia for 3 with a wide delivery that brought Kohli back into the game as he slipped the catch once again.
Smith and Head then bundled Australia to 75-3 with the latter first reaching his half-century off 71 balls before setting up his ninth Test with a low full toss off Bumrah.
Bumrah celebrates the wicket of the Australian centurion
Smith had not scored a century in 26 innings, the last on the 2023 Ashes tour, but played smartly to reach his 33rd Test hundred off 185 balls after a fine leg-spinner to Akash Deep (0-78) for one.
Smith was later caught by skipper Rohit Sharma, but he departed to a standing ovation from the Gabba crowd.
Mitch Marsh (5) hit Bumrah for the fourth and three balls to Kohli, later the India pacer also caught Head behind to complete his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Carey and Cummins helped Australia pass 400 before the captain hit a wide ball down the fourth line from Siraj to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
India’s Test tour of Australia
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