Australia vs India, 2nd Test: 5 talking points from Day 3

#2. Indian tail-end fumbles yet again

Indian tail-enders couldn't resist the Australian attack

As it was mentioned in the talking-points for Day 1, the unique batting contests between Australian lower order and the Indian lower order continued to determine who stood on top at the end.

Australia were 251/6 on Day 1, after which the tail gathered 75 runs more before the innings ended. Interestingly, India were also 251/6 today as Virat Kohli fell, but the rest of the batsmen that followed could make only 32 runs before they caved in.

In a way, it can hence be said that it was the tailenders' batting that decided who advanced into the second innings with an air of domination. And Australia's Paine, Cummins, Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood did a better job than India's Pant, Shami, Ishant, Umesh and Bumrah.

Ishant and Shami in particular, fell for lame shots while Pant threw away his wicket, despite being a batsman who should have known how to utilise his time with the lower order. Their lack of responsibility resulted in India's end coming prematurely, the 43-runs lead giving the hosts a very healthy start to their second chance.