AUS vs IND, 4th Test, Day 4: Australia lower order continue to frustrates India as they extend lead to 333. Jasprit Bumrah completes 200 wickets in Test cricket.
Brief Score: IND 369 (Nitish Kumar Reddy 114, Yashasvi Jaiswal 82, Scott Boland 3/57) trail AUS 474 & 228/9 (Marnus Labuschagne 70, Nathan Lyon 41*, Jasprit Bumrah 4/56) by 333 runs.
Australia positioned themselves comfortably after their lower order rescued the hosts from a precarious 91/6 to reach 228/9 at stumps on Day 4 of the fourth Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Earlier in the day, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj put India on the front foot, claiming seven wickets between them and threatening to seize control of the match.
Talking Points: Lower order troubles continue for India
At one stage, India would have hoped to chase a target well within the 250-275 range when Australia were reeling at 91/6. Enter Pat Cummins, who, much like in the first innings, played a crucial rescue act—this time alongside Marnus Labuschagne.
The duo added 57 runs for the seventh wicket, and to make matters worse for India, the rest of the batting order followed suit. After both Cummins and Labuschagne departed, Nathan Lyon compounded India’s frustration by adding 55 valuable runs with Scott Boland for the final wicket.
In summary, India appeared to run out of ideas to dismiss the Australia batters, as the game went flat for the visitors in the final hour of play.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 4th Test, Day 3: Nitish Reddy & Washington Sundar's resolve enables India to reach 358-9
Australia lose their openers in even session
In the fourth over of the day, Australia wrapped up India’s innings as Nathan Lyon dismissed Nitish Reddy for 114. The visitors managed to add just 11 runs to their overnight total, conceding a first-innings lead of 105 runs.
India’s pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, bowled probing lines and frequently beat the bat. Sam Konstas, who had batted confidently in his debut knock, struggled this time and was dismissed for 8. Bumrah found a gap through his defense, shattering the stumps to claim the wicket. Usman Khawaja had a scratchy stay at the crease, surviving a dropped catch before being bowled through the gate by Mohammed Siraj.
Marnus Labuschagne had some nervy moments but, alongside Steve Smith, ensured no further damage for the hosts. Australia went into lunch at 53/2.
Bumrah gets his 200th Test wicket, Australia extend lead to 240
With a lead of 158 and eight wickets still in hand, Marnus Labuschagne began the session with some elegant strokes, as the Australian batters added 27 runs in about seven overs. However, just as the partnership with Steve Smith began to look threatening, Smith attempted an expansive drive outside off-stump and edged a delivery from Siraj.
This dismissal opened the floodgates for India, with Jasprit Bumrah running through Australia’s middle order. Travis Head, who has been a thorn in India’s side throughout the series, fell to a loose leg glance, while Mitchell Marsh’s woeful series continued as he departed for a duck. Bumrah’s fourth wicket of the day was Alex Carey, whose stumps were shattered, leaving the hosts reeling at 91/6.
Amid mounting pressure, Australia had a stroke of luck when both Labuschagne and Pat Cummins were dropped once each by Yashasvi Jaiswal during the session. Despite these lapses, the pair added 44 crucial runs, taking Australia to 135/6 at tea on Day 4.
Australia extend lead to 333 courtesy of their lower-order
Shortly after the break, Siraj dismissed a well-set Labuschagne, trapping him lbw. A few overs later, Starc was run out, adding to India’s momentum. However, handy runs from Cummins and an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland frustrated the visitors as Australia’s lower order stretched their lead to 333.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 4th Test, Day 2: India in troubled waters at 164-5, still trail Australia by 310 runs
Statistical Highlights from AUS vs IND, Fourth Test, Day Four
Nitish Reddy's 114 is the second-highest individual score recorded for a number 8 batter on Australian soil.
Usman Khawaja was dismissed for the fourth time by Mohammed Siraj in Tests.
Bumrah now has the most wickets (29) for an India pacer in a Test series in Australia.
Steven Smith was dismissed for the third time by Mohammed Siraj in Tests.
Bumrah is the joint second-fastest India bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in 44 Tests.
He is currently the only bowler in Test history with 200+ Test wickets at a sub-20 average.
Travis Head was dismissed for the sixth time by Bumrah in Tests. He averages 22.2 against the pacer in the format.
Marnus Labuschagne registered his seventh 50+ Test score against India.
Rishabh Pant has taken 23* catches in BGT 2024-25. That's the most number of dismissals made by an India wicketkeeper in a Test series.
Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland combined to produce the seventh 50+ tenth wicket stand for Australia against India in Tests.
What’s Next
This Test match remains intriguingly poised, with all three results still possible heading into the final day. While Australia will back themselves to bundle out India’s fragile batting line-up on Day 5, the visitors will draw inspiration from their memorable triumph at Gabba in 2021.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 4th Test, Day 1: Australia 311-6 as top 4 come to the party; Bumrah takes 3 wickets
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