BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — India’s top order has also had its problems to start the series, only passing 70 for the second wicket in the side’s second innings in its big win at Perth.
Australia has had similar struggles against Jasprit Bumrah, with McSweeney, Khawaja, and Smith all yet to post half-centuries.
Bumrah, meanwhile, got through 30 minutes of bowling while Rohit Sharma showed signs he could open the batting. After dealing with a minor groin injury in Adelaide, Bumrah completed a full workout Thursday.
The 31-year-old Bumrah has taken 12 wickets at an average of 11.25 for the series, claiming McSweeney’s wicket three times, as well as Smith and Khawaja twice each.
Out-of-form India captain Rohit Sharma, who returned to Adelaide after paternity leave — his wife gave birth to a son on Nov. 15, the couple’s second child — spent time facing the new ball in the nets on Thursday after batting at No. 6 in Adelaide.
Sharma made scores of 3 and 6 in India’s lopsided loss in Adelaide, and has gone above 20 just twice in his past 12 test innings.
Ravi Shastri, who played 80 tests for India and previously coached the team, said Friday that Sharma should return to the top of the order.
“That’s where he’s been at his best over the last eight or nine years,” Shastri told local media. “It’s not that he’s going to set the world on fire — he could — but that’s the place that’s best for him. To lead from the front.”
Shastri said he believes whoever wins the Brisbane test will go on to clinch the series. The fourth test is set for the Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning Dec. 26, and the final test in Sydney from Jan. 3.
“It is important that India gets their judgment right here, because 1-1 in the series, this is the moving test match,” Shastri said.
On Friday, Josh Hazlewood was cleared to return from a side strain that forced him to miss the Adelaide match. Fellow fast bowler Scott Boland made way for Hazlewood in the only Australian change for Brisbane.
