Australia’s listless time in the field as the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy slips away from the hosts showed no sign of abating early on Day 3.
Resuming on 0/172 with a lead of 218, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul cruised to a 200-run opening partnership, just India’s second-ever such stand in Australia, before Rahul finally edged a catch behind off Mitchell Starc for 77.
However, there was no stopping Jaiswal, with the 22-year old rising star bringing up a spectacular century in imperious fashion, via a ramp off a Josh Hazlewood bouncer that carried all the way to the fine leg boundary padding for six.
“That is six, and that is a hundred – the fourth Test match century for a young man who arrived in Australia with a huge reputation!” proclaimed Australian great Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.
“Zero in the first innings – but my word, he’s concentrated hard and batted beautifully,” added Indian legend and former coach Ravi Shastri.
Jaiswal’s duck-century combo, having fallen for nought in the first innings, leaves him in rare air among Indians in Australia: the only other to achieve the feat is the great Sunil Gavaskar, way back in December 1977 at the MCG.
Concerningly for Australia, all of Jaiswal’s three previous centuries have reached at least 170, with two – both against England – turned into double-centuries.
‘Where’s the David Warner?’ Vaughan questions gun-shy Aussies
As Jaiswal’s confidence grew on Day 2, Australia’s bowlers, Mitchell Starc in particular, began to cop some cheeky sledging from the 22-year old, with the left-arm quick dismissed as bowling ‘too slow’.
For former England captain Michael Vaughan, the contrast between Jaiswal’s attitude and that of the Australians was stark, with the hosts questioned for not giving the ‘little bit of chirp’ that for years was a staple of Australian teams.
“Where is the David Warner, who’s getting them up from over to over?” Vaughan asked on Fox Cricket before play on Day 3.
“Who’s giving it a little bit of chirp out in the field?
“He’s [Jaiswal] a young player. I’m not saying sledging is a must in the world game, but I didn’t see Australia have a pot once.”
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