The third match of the four-Test series between India and Australia began at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 7. Australia scored 166 for 2 in 55 overs at the end of the first day. Marnus Labuschagne was unbeaten on 67 and Steve Smith on 31 runs at the end of the game. Will Pucovski was out for 62 off 110 balls by LBW in Saini’s over. In total, he hit 4 boundaries during his innings.

It is special that this is the first Test match of both Pucovski and Navdeep Saini. It is a coincidence after 20 years in Test cricket when the batsman making the debutant batsman has taken the wicket. Earlier in 2000/01, Zaheer Khan made Mehrab Hussain his victim in Dhaka. Both Zaheer and Mehrab started their Test careers from that Test match.

Earlier, Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and decided to bat. Due to rain, the competition was stopped for about 4 hours. Only 57 overs were bowled during the play of the first day because of rain. The game resumed and the Australian batsmen showed strong determent by scoring runs on the loose ball and played proper Test cricket shots for the delivery that came in the right length. Later the game was also halted after the outfield was wet after the rain stopped. Indian players were also sloppy on the field as some handful of catches were dropped.