India get taste of their own medicine as Australia spin into modest lead | Geoff Lemon

Australia did what was required to stay in the series with a devastating display of spin bowling, but normal service could yet resume at Indore

For a day, at least, the tables turned. To this point Australia’s tour of India had been marked for the visitors by two batting collapses under the scrutiny of spin: one when the first Test was almost gone, the next when the second Test was very much in their keeping. To begin the third match in Indore, though, with one last chance to stay in the series, the Australians found themselves able to out-India India.

A couple of early wickets, a pitch as even-tempered as post-midnight Gary Busey, and suddenly there were shivers running through the home side instead of their unfortunate guests. The first nine wickets fell to spin until a mad run-out on 109. The Australian reply also met difficulty, but reached stumps with six wickets in hand and a lead of 47 that could be worth far more than it sounds.