AUS Stumbles in Third Test Draw; Indian Bowlers Expose Weaknesses

Australia displayed commendable effort in the third Test, engaging in a competitive match despite inclement weather forecasts threatening day five. After a rain-shortened first session, Australia returned post-lunch aiming to aggressively score runs, ultimately setting India a target of 275 runs within 54 overs. However, rain intervened shortly after the fourth innings commenced, leading to the match ending in a draw.

Nevertheless, it was evident that Australia’s approach during their second innings inadvertently benefited India. While Australia maintained they were attempting to play aggressively, their batting woes were glaring as their specialist batsmen faced dismissals amidst a flurry of wickets. Usman Khawaja, for instance, was dismissed yet again by Jasprit Bumrah, who capitalised on Khawaja's struggles, leaving him in a vulnerable position. Marnus Labuschagne similarly failed to adapt to Bumrah’s new-ball bounce, while Nathan McSweeney and Mitchell Marsh also fell victim to poor shot selection.

The collapse to 33 for 5 raised concerns regarding Australia’s batting resilience, with the players’ lack of consistency leaving questions about their future performances. Notably, the underwhelming contributions of key players such as Khawaja and Smith heightened scrutiny on Australia’s batting order ahead of the next Test. Meanwhile, India’s bowlers, particularly Bumrah, gained confidence from the event, with the match ending on a positive note for them and uncertainty looming for Australia as they headed to Melbourne.