"Have you ever seen such a despondent team of Australian cricketers, resorting to those tactics?" - Gilchrist highlights hosts' negative strategies

Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was far from pleased with Pat Cummins and company's approach on Day 3 of the first Border-Gavaskar Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. India ran the hosts ragged the entire innings, which resulted in some unorthodox tactics being used towards the end of the day's play.

Cummins was out of ideas as KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal put on 201 runs for the opening wicket before Virat Kohli joined in to pile on the misery. India were making a mockery of the bowling attack when they ramped up the scoring, largely assisted by a cameo from debutant, Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Towards the end, Australia were restored to using Marnus Labuschagne as a leg-spinner, and bowling on the line outside the leg-stump consistently as Kohli was nearing his ton. The hosts were looking to delay the inevitable declaration and avoid the possibility of having to bat during the dreaded final phase of the day.

The on-field umpires had issued a warning, while the broadcasters also highlighted the negative bowling being on show.

"Have you ever seen such a despondent team of Australian cricketers, resorting to those tactics? What are deemed negative, illegal tactics really by the rulebook?" Gilchrist said on Fox Sports (via Yahoo Sports)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said:

“I’ve not seen that. I’m looking at this Australian side, they’re a terrific side, and for whatever reason they bowl out India for 150, then only bat well enough to only get 104, and then with the ball in hand they had periods where they bowled nicely but that last half an hour is something I’ve not seen in Australia. Every boundary rider was on the fence, Labuschagne’s bowling around the wicket, he’s bowling negatively."

Australia's attempts did not succeed as Kohli used the negative bowling line to sweep his way to the elusive 30th Test ton. The subsequent declaration also meant that India had a shot at the Australian batters before the day's close.

The visitors made the most of the opportunity as the hosts were reduced to 12-3 at Stumps on Day 3.

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Labuschagne finished with 6.3-0-38-0 in Australia's second outing with the ball

Marnus Labuschagne made his case to be considered as a potential fifth-choice bowler with his recent seam-up exploits. He unleashed a barrage of bouncers on Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in his first spell to keep them relatively quiet but was smashed all over the ground by Virat Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy the second time around.

Labuschagne was dismissed for 3 after being trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah, which officially ended the proceedings on Day 3 in Perth.