Summary

  • Australia 123-4 at close of day three, leading by 296

  • Warner & Khawaja both fall cheaply; Smith & Head caught trying to slog

  • India 296: Rahane 89, Thakur 51; Cummins 3-83

  • Green takes stunning catch at gully to remove Rahane

  • Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to Test Match Special commentary

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  1. Postpublished at 10:34 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The variable bounce of this pitch will be playing in the batters' minds because they will be hesitant to commit on the front foot too early.

    And you can see that there with Bharat, it's just nipped back in slightly and gone through the defence.

  2. Postpublished at 10:34 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    A typical Boland ball. Pitched up, might have kept a little bit low, and that is a disastrous start for India.

  3. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 38.2 overs

    Bharat b Boland 5 (Ind 152-6)

    Second ball of the day! KS Bharat is castled by a beauty from Scott Boland which nips back through the gate. It's a really good ball although Bharat's defence had a more gaping weakness than Helm's Deep.

    India are in all sorts of bother.

  4. Ind 152-5published at 38.1 overs

    There are plenty of India supporters in The Oval once again. They cheer as Ajinkya Rahane takes a single from the first ball of the day.

  5. Postpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's got the bounce of an old-school Oval pitch.

    You can get one that rears up off a length like we saw to Virat Kohli but there's also the chance that it could scuttle through low.

    That does excite you as a bowler.

  6. Postpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    Scott Boland is a lovely bowler. He is so mechanical, every ball in the channel.

  7. Postpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Scott Boland has removed his orange sunglasses and baggy green cap. He's going to start off with the ball.

  8. 'We have got to get as close to the target as we can'published at 10:29 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on BBC Test Match Special: "We need to bat as long as we can. We know that we are a long way behind but we still have batting to come.

    "Our plan is to bat as deep as we can.

    "I was backing myself to be positive. I know in England you are never really set and you have to play your shots because you can get out at any time.

    "I played a poor shot. I should have left that ball but I was not in defensive mode, I was trying to be positive and the ball spun more than I expected.

    "Rahane's hand is fine, he is going to be important for us and I am sure he will come good. We have got to get as close to the target as we can."

  9. Postpublished at 10:28 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Alex Carey has done my job for me there. I was just about to say how crucial Ajinkya Rahane will be this morning.

    His batting partner KS Bharat has not scored a fifty in his four previous Tests.

  10. 'Rahane the key wicket for us'published at 10:26 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey on BBC Test Match Special: "It was an entertaining evening session and there is still a fair bit left in the wicket, so hopefully our bowlers can get the ball in good areas and we can make some more breakthroughs.

    "There was a bit of wobble and it's a bit up and down, so it is going to be challenging.

    "As a keeper, you've just got to stay in good positions and try and stay relaxed and not try to predict too much.

    "Ajinkya Rahane is the key wicket for us this morning and we're not looking too far ahead yet.

    "Travis Head played brilliantly and it didn't surprise me to see him play like that. Some of his best innings come in the trickiest of positions so to play that counter-attacking innings coming in at 70-3 or so, that was great."

  11. Postpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    This performance from Australia's bowlers has made a lot of us realise that this attack is a different beast to what England have had to deal with so far.

  12. 'They've not played us yet' - Smith warns Englandpublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Steve Smith fired a warning shot to England last night after Australia's impressive bowling performance.

    This Test is, of course, being played just a week before the start of the Ashes.

    That series will see England, who have won 11 of 13 matches under captain Ben Stokes, test their attacking style against Australia's heralded attack.

    "I've enjoyed watching how they've played," said Smith. "We'll wait and see how it comes off against us."

    "I said when Bazball started that I'm intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers, I've said that all along.

    "It will be difficult on this kind of pitch, which is up and down and seaming around. It's not easy to defend, let alone come out and swing.

    "They've done well against some other attacks, but they haven't come up against us yet."

  13. Last chance to pick your combined XIpublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Marnus Labuschagne

    You've got until 12:00 BST to enter your picks for the combined India-Australia XI.

    Does David Warner make it over Shubman Gill? Which of the quicks are you selecting?

    We'll reveal the final XI at lunch. Pick your team here.

  14. Postpublished at 10:08 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    It should be a belter...

    Weather forecast for the Oval
  15. Postpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    Good morning.

    It's too much to say Australia have one hand on the World Test Championship final mace but they can certainly see it looming into view.

    Their superb bowling performance on day two has put them in command of this showpiece final.

    India will resume on 151-5 this morning, still 318 runs behind Australia's first innings total.

  16. Postpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 9 June 2023

    It's Australia's game to lose from here...