India vs Australia LIVE: Legends’ pitch warning… and sledging advice ahead of Day 3

Australia need a miracle to win the first Test with India leading by 218 with 10 wickets in hand in their second innings with three days to play in Perth.

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India made it to 0-172 from 57 overs at stumps on day two with Yashasvi Jaiswal (90) and KL Rahul (62) unbeaten in a superb opening stand that trumped the tourists whole first innings score.

The openers’ unbeaten stand was the highest opening partnership by an Indian opening stand since 1986, and just 21 runs short of the all-time mark of 193.

Jaiswal was the pick of the India batters on day two, smashing seven fours and two sixes, while Rahul fought hard with four fours in his gritty half century.

The pair batted for most of the day to put India in a commanding position and in the box seat for a 1-0 series lead heading into day three in Perth.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was full of praise for India’s dominant run on day two, but also feels that Australia could have provided an extra spark in the field as India held strong.

“Yesterday, I felt like it was an exhibition on how to play Australia,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket in the lead up to Day 3.

“Where is the David Warner, who’s getting them up (and) around from over to over? Who’s giving it a little bit of chirp out in the field?”

“He’s a young player (Jaiswal); I’m not seeing sledging is a must in the world game, but I didn’t see Australia have a pot once.”

But despite the precarious position the hosts now find themselves in, Australian great Adam Gilchrist said he wouldn’t write off Australia just yet after just three wickets fell on day two following 17 falling on the opening day.

“We can’t predict what is going to happen,” he said.

“This cricket pitch it just seemed to change completely. It was a venomous monster yesterday but relatively placid today.”

Vaughan warned even if Australia can bowl themselves back into the match, the pitch will make it very difficult to bat last on days four and five.

“Not as much pace and certainly not as much seam, but I think we saw in the last session when the ball got a little bit older and there was a little bit of reverse swing for Australia and the ball kept low,” Vaughan said.

“I don’t think that is a good sign for the Aussies. India dominating the game. You would expect them to bat out day three and then it will all be about how do Australia bat on a wearing pitch against the likes of Bumrah and co.

“And I’m sure there will be a little bit of spin to play, so India in a dominant position.”

The third day’s play also looms large as a massive opportunity for the out of form Virat Kohli who failed to fire in the first innings like so many others.

Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe believes the 36-year-old could cash in as much as any on a pitch that has flattened out significantly, and importantly, kick him back into form.

“He’s a real threat today Kohli … I think he wants a big innings this second innings,” O’Keeffe explained on Fox Cricket’s Test Match Daily.

“The wicket might just be right for batting today; it may get a little more difficult tomorrow, but Kohli bats today – and India intend you’ve think to bat all day if they can.”

MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs India first Test live scorecard

Earlier on Day 2, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana mopped up the Australian tail, despite a fighting partnership from Mitchell Starc (26) and Josh Hazlewood (7) not out.

Bumrah finished with stunning figures of 5 for 30 from 18 overs, including six maidens at an economy rate of 1.67.

Rana was the next best bowler with 3 for 48 from 15.2 overs with three maidens at 3.13 runs per over, including the final two scalps of Nathan Lyon and Starc.

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