India vs Australia: Head and Smith score centuries in third Test at The Gabba | Cricket news

Australia stage a middle-order fight to pass 400 against India on day two of the third Test in Brisbane.

Steve Smith snapped out of a slump in form with a century drought and Travis Head smashed another big century as Australia posted 405 for seven on day two of the third Test against India in Brisbane.

Smith shook off questions about his place in the team with a hard-earned 101, while Head cruised to a reckless 152 to the delight of most of the 34,227-strong crowd at the Gabba on Sunday.

“It was great to get in, I feel good,” said Smith, who scored his 33rd Test century and first since Lord’s in the 2023 Ashes.

“I’ve missed some time now, so it’s good to get three figures again.”

It took Jasprit Bumrah to salvage something from a tough day for India, as the pace spearhead took three wickets after tea to end the day with his 12th five-wicket haul.

Taking control of the new ball, Smith edged Rohit in the slips to break a 241-run partnership with Head before removing all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (5) and Head in quick succession.

But Bumrah’s bravery has also quickly amplified India’s heavy reliance on their star player.

Recalled pacer Akash Deb and spinner Ravindra Jadeja were wicketless, while seamer Mohammed Siraj spent time out of the field after grabbing his hamstring while bowling in the morning.

Alex Carey was unbeaten in the 45th over, and Mitchell Starc was in the 7th over at stumps, having pushed Australia past 400 runs.

Tough wicket

The day belonged to Head and Smith, with the former backing up his match-winning 140th in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide and the latter scoring his 10th century against India.

Hitting deep for one of his own, Smith ended his longest streak without a hundred, bringing the Gabba fans to their feet. The 35-year-old gave the Australian team an icy look and kissed his helmet crest.

Head rallied to three figures, Bumrah hit a full toss for three in the final minutes before tea to bring up his ninth Test century, then flew past for 150 in nearly a run off the ball.

“It’s nice to get out there and start over, build a nice partnership and be able to contribute on this day,” Head said.

“It’s a beautiful wicket… It was tough, they bowled well.”

Siraj was rewarded late when Australia skipper Pat Cummins trailed by 20 minutes but looked well short of his best.

Head and Smith batted throughout the entire middle session, exposing the hard work India had put in in the morning.

Rohit Sharma’s men shared the points until lunch, taking the early wicket after bowling just 13.2 overs on the rain-hit first day.

Australia resumed the 28th over without loss and Bumrah scored with his seventh ball of the morning after Usman Khawaja fell behind in the opener for 21. He then removed Nathan McSweeney for nine in the next over.

Siraj, who was booed in Adelaide for bidding farewell to Head, continued to cause mischief as he walked past smitten batsman Marnus Labuschagne and switched the bails.

Labuschagne brought them back defiantly but were soon caught in the slips for 12 by Virat Kohli after a loose drive into bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy.

With rain forecast for the last three days, India appear to have no chance of winning the match and can only realistically hope for a draw.