Paul Dickson: can someone please explain why the start and close are half an hour earlier than usual?

So it better suits India TV schedules, Paul. The Ashes will revert to 11:00 BST starts.

Maiden. No real scares for Australia in the four balls against the new nut.

India have a little over 15 minutes to try and make it count before stumps. The good news for Rohit Sharma's side is that they'll still have a pretty new ball to work with first thing tomorrow as well.

New ball takenpublished at 80.3 overs

80.3 overs

Aus 301-3

After a couple of deliveries with the old ball, India take the new cherry.

There is a roar of excitement from the India fans but Steve Smith gets forward to defend from Mohammed Shami.

The second new ball is now available. Mohammed Shami is back on so you'd imagine it won't be long until it is taken.

Looks like he'll begin with the old one, though.

How did that miss!? Travis Head tries to get after another short ball, gets an bottom edge but the ball just goes over the top of the stumps.

Mohammed Siraj is down on his haunches, he can't believe he hasn't dragged that on.

Justin Langer
Former Australia batter on Test Match Special

Travis Head has been unflappable. He has been aggressive and played with freedom.

He has being doing this for the last two years.

Aus 300-3published at 79.1 overs

79.1 overs

Smith 86, Head 128

Mohammed Siraj is back again and bowling some more bumpers.

Travis Head still doesn't look comfortable against it and somehow sends an attempted pull shot into the off side.

It brings him a single though and that brings up the 300 for Australia.

Steve Smith gets four as he charges Ravindra Jadeja. It's a bit of a wild swipe but it's effective. Four more.

He's now closing in on another Test century.

Shardul Thakur gets through a maiden to Steve Smith. There is a bit of hopping about the crease from the Australian but that is nothing new.

Two overs until the second new ball is available.

Virat Kohli has eight international wickets, Rob. None in Tests, though.

Swing and a miss from Travis Head as he attempts a slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja.

Three singles from the over.

We're five minutes from the scheduled close but with 13 overs of the 90 left to bowl, we'll have the extra half hour (and still won't get through all the overs).

Shardul Thakur follows up after those two boundaries with a ball angling in at the stumps before nipping away slightly.

That's useful enough before the ball practically scoots along the ground! Even Travis Head can't hit that for four!

Good for India now if a few more do that. Less good for them given they'll be batting last on this surface.

Travis Head has been incredibly quick to punish anything even remotely resembling a loose delivery so when Shardul Thakur serves up a wide half-volley, he climbs into it and wallops it over cover for four.

The next ball is a bit shorter and Head just uppercuts it over the slips for another boundary.

Ravindra Jadeja doesn't mess about when he's bowling. He rattles through his overs.

The speed in which he gets through them reminds me of Joe Root. Both useful men to have to improve the over rate even if the wickets are coming!

Mitesh Mistry: India's lack of a world class pace bowling all-rounder (who can bat as well as Jadeja) has been a problem overseas for a while and it shows now.

After five dot balls, in which Steve Smith picks out the fielder at mid-wicket three times, Shardul Thakur ends the over with a very full delivery.

Smith jams his bat down, the ball trickles into the on side and they scamper through for a single.

Another over goes by and it's another one without a wicket.

But if India can open up an end before the second new ball then maybe they can make a few more inroads before stumps?

Deep Dasgupta
Former India wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

This has been a match-defining partnership for Australia. They have dominated since losing those three early wickets and complemented each other perfectly.

Smith has perhaps been a little bit more watchful than normal, but Travis Head has been on fire.