That ends our live and comprehensive coverage of the second Test in Adelaide – a pulsating match that ended within the first hour or two on day three. It mattered little. Australia have ripped back the momentum ahead of the Brisbane Test, but there’s bound to be multiple swings back and forth across this five-match series which still has bookings in Queensland, at the MCG and, finally, at the SCG in the new year.
Stay on this website for the latest news and analysis from our scribes in Adelaide – Tom Decent and Daniel Brettig. There’ll be player ratings published online a little later tonight.
Good night and thank you.
Send-off drama heats up as Siraj hits back
By Tom Decent and Daniel Brettig
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has raised the temperature of the Border-Gavaskar bout to boiling point by accusing Travis Head of lying about their exchange at the end of the Australian batter’s century on day two in Adelaide.
In a Hindi interview with Harbhajan Singh on the Indian broadcaster Star, Siraj said that Head used “abusive words” after his dismissal and claimed he did not hear the Australian first say “well bowled”.
“I was enjoying bowling to him, it was a good battle. He batted really well. At the end of the day, as a bowler when he hits you for six off your good balls, something stirs in the blood, inside you – the passion rises,” Siraj told Star in a translation provided by ESPNcricinfo.
Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj exchanged words after the South Australian was dismissed.Credit: Getty Images
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Snapshot: Perfect Aussies in Adelaide day-nighters
A dominant Australia hammered India by 10 wickets in the day-night second Test on Sunday to level the five-match series 1-1 and maintain their perfect pink-ball record at Adelaide Oval.
Needing just 19 to win after bowling out India for 175 in their second innings, Australia sealed victory in the first session on day three of the contest.
Home captain Pat Cummins led by example, claiming 5-57 to help Australia bounce back from their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Perth.
India, resuming on 5-128, saw their slim hopes of saving the Test evaporate when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rishabh Pant for 28 in the first over of the day.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s defiant 42 saved India the innings defeat but the miracle they needed to save the Test did not materialise, with Cummins using the bouncer to great effect as he ran through the visitors’ lower order.
Australia needed only 20 balls to secure the win and move to a perfect 8-0 record in day-night Tests at the venue.
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‘We knew what we needed to do’: Starc
By Roy Ward
Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc doesn’t need reminding about his impending 35th birthday, but he believes his side showed their poise and experience to win the Adelaide Test by 10 wickets.
Starc, who had 6-48 and 2-60 in the match, celebrates his next birthday in January and while much has been made about the number of 30-plus-year-olds in the current Test side, he said that experience helped bounce back from losing the first match of the series in Perth.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of India’s Ravichandran Ashwin during the day one of the Adelaide Test.Credit: AP
“Following on from the first Test, we knew we needed to improve, and I thought we did really well,” Starc told Fox Cricket.
“I don’t think there was concern. We addressed it in the change rooms after the match, went our own way for a few days, then met up here [in Adelaide] and did what we normally do in preparing for a big Test match.”
When asked about how he is still bowling so well at his age, he laughed.
“No secret. We work hard and see how we go. Thanks for reminding me,” Starc said.
“We are an experienced side, we spent a lot of time together, grew up together playing cricket with and against each other. We knew what we need to do, and we got the job done.
“You never let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low.”
How Marnus found his form again
By Roy Ward
Marnus Labuschagne hopes he has returned to form after making 64 against India in Adelaide but he admits it is a little early to stay he is back to his best.
“It’s nice to be in the runs and help the team be in position to win the game in the first session of day three,” Labuschagne told Fox Cricket.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia bats during day two of the Adelaide Test.Credit: Getty Images
“There was obviously a lot of talk through the week and I just got back to what I know best and that’s hitting heaps and heaps of cricket balls and watching heaps of footage and working out where I thought I was falling short.
“It’s a bit early to speak but I was able to find it that innings.”
The star batter paused when asked if he had felt the pressure, then he explained his feelings.
“One thing that has been very consistent with this team has been the selection policy and process - it has been very consistent,” he said.
“So, internally, there was not as much but, externally, you know that when you are not playing well, you can’t hide from it, you can’t shirk it, you have to find a way out and, for me, that’s being true to myself and how I got here as a player and that’s hit lots of ball, talk about it, speak to people and find my feet.”
“The series now, 1-1. Last week we lost a Test and were, apparently, the worst team ever and this week we finished on day three with the series at one all. It’s nice there is so much talk about the game.”
