Australia v India: Visitors bounce back from loss of Jasprit Bumrah but Scott Boland takes control on day two of fifth Test | Cricket news

India took advantage of captain Jasprit Bumrah’s absence to dismiss Australia for 181 to reach 141-6 for a total lead of 145 on a remarkable second day of the finely balanced fifth Test on Saturday.

On a day of high drama at the sun-drenched Sydney Cricket Ground, Bumrah took the first wicket to get India on the road but left with the team doctor shortly after lunch with back spasms.

Prasidh Krishna (3-42), Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepped into the considerable bowling void left by their captain to defeat Australia and fire India to a slim four-run first innings lead at tea.

However, there was still plenty of spice in the wicket, with paceman Scott Boland taking 4-42 in the final session to add to his four-wicket haul on Friday as Australia chipped away at the top of the Indian batsman and buried them deep in the middle of the order.

Rishabh Pant threw off the shackles and hit some incredible shots in a stunning 28-ball half-century to stem the rot, but he too departed for 61 in the final hour, Australian captain Pat Cummins claiming his 14th wicket of the day.

There was still time for Boland to look for his fourth victim in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy, leaving Ravindra Jadeja, who was eight not out, and Washington Sundar, unbeaten on six, at the end of the game.

The crowd of 47,257 basking in the Sydney sunshine certainly got their money’s worth as the momentum swung back and forth, as it had throughout the series, which saw Australia lead 2-1.

Debut all-rounder Beau Webster, whose 57 was Australia’s highest score, was cheered for his half-century and again when he removed Shubman Gill for 13 later in the day to claim his first Test wicket.

Virat Kohli, who captained India after Bumrah’s departure, was booed all the way through for what is likely to be his final innings in Australia, and was cheered back to the boundary rope after being caught at slip by Boland for a timid six.

Boland is fast becoming a cult hero in Australia and arguably the loudest roar came when he bowled a peach of a delivery to eliminate opener Yashasvi Jaiswal to end a promising innings on 22.

The Indian fans also had plenty to cheer about, starting with Bumrah’s dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne in the morning session to take his tally in the series to 32 wickets at an average of 13.06.

Krishna also sent Indian flags flying when he caught Steve Smith at fault for 33 to break a fifth-wicket partnership of 57 with Webster to leave the former Australian captain five short of 10,000 Test runs.

India, who dropped captain Rohit Sharma for the game, must win in Sydney to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Bumrah’s back spasm could rule him out of the rest of the fifth Test

India could be without Bumrah for the rest of the fifth Test against Australia after he left the Sydney Cricket Ground on the second day on Saturday with a back problem.

The fast bowler, who has been by far the most influential player in the five-match series, left the field with the Indian team doctor about an hour after the lunch break.

“He had a spasm in his back,” teammate Prasidh Krishna told reporters after the game.

“He went to the filming and the medical team is following him, so we will know when the medical team hears from us.

“No matter who leads us as a team, I think we are very well prepared as a bowling unit. The plan was pretty clear even when Bumrah wasn’t there.”

Krishna took 3-42 as India dismissed Australia for 181 on Saturday, but they were just 145 runs ahead at the end of the game with four wickets in hand, three if Bumrah can’t bat.

His absence would be even more noticeable if Australia were chasing a relatively slim victory target, given that the captain has taken 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 so far in the series.

“If he wasn’t there, India would have to come up with a new plan,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said.

“He’s the leading wicket-taker in the series, so you’d say that would be of little use to us. He can bowl on any surface, anywhere. He’s a threat at any time. We knew coming into the series that he incredibly talented shot putter.”