Agency :
India failed to drive home the advantage of a good start as Australia bowled them out for 408 on day two, thanks to Josh Hazlewood’s 5 for 68 on debut, and then reached 221 for 4 at stumps after Umesh Yadav’s triple strike kept India’s hopes of taking a first-innings lead alive.
India started on Thursday from a strong position of 311 for 4 but could add just 97 runs more as Australia bowlers corrected their mistakes from the previous day to make use of the lively Gabba track. Other than Hazlewood, Lyon once again impressed with a spell of 3 for 105.
Australia then replied positively, scoring at 4.25 runs in the 52 overs they faced before bad light forced stumps.
Standing in for injured captain Michael Clarke, Steven Smith followed up his unbeaten innings of 162 and 52 in the first Test win last week with 65 not out and was accompanied by Mitchell Marsh at the other end on 7 not out.
Nine wickets fell in the first two sessions after India resumed at a commanding 311 for 4. The Australians took the six wickets for 97 runs to dismiss India before lunch, courtesy paceman Hazlewood’s fifer and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin equaling an Australian record with six catches.
Ajinkya Rahane could add just six runs to his overnight 75 not out before becoming Hazlewood’s third victim. Rohit Sharma paid for poking at a Shane Watson delivery well outside his off-stump and the resultant edge was brilliantly caught in the slips by skipper Smith.
