India vs Australia 3rd Test: Head dominates Indian attack with back-to-back hundred, puts Australia on top

Australia’s Travis Head, left, fist bumps with batting partner Steve Smith after scoring runs during play on day two of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Dec.15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

India’s nemesis Travis Head smashed his second hundred in as many games to help Australia gain a distinct advantage in the third Test on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Australia, who were put under pressure by India in the morning session, gathered 130 runs in the afternoon without the loss of a wicket.

Head (103 batting off 118) made the difference in Adelaide and his successive hundred took the hosts to 234 for three at tea on day two. Returning to form, Steve Smith (65 batting off 149) stood solid at the other end as the duo shared an unbeaten 159-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah managed to get an early breakthrough for the side as the play resumed on the second day with the crucial wicket of opener Usman Khawaja.

Nathan McSweeney edged the bowl towards slip, Virat Kohli made a comfortable catch, and Bumrah registered his second wicket of the test match.

Labuschagne and Smith set about settling the innings, but with both players well below their best heading into the Test, the scoring rate was slow against the disciplined Indian attack.

Labuschagne faced 55 balls on his way to making 12 when he uncharacteristically went for an expansive drive off Nitish Kumar Reddy, only to get a thick edge to Kohli, who took a sharp catch at second slip.

(With inputs from The Hindu’s K.C. Vijaya Kumar from the stadium)