So much tension, so much anxiety, so much drama; the India vs Australia test series has presented the cricketing fraternity with a lot of entertainment on and off the field. And when the teams stepped out in Ranchi today, you could almost feel the tension in the air, it was so palpable.
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Australia won the toss and elected to bat first and what seemed like the worst wicket of this Test Series, but it was deceptive to say the least. The ball came on wonderfully and there wasn’t much turn on offer for the spinners. Warner got out to a full toss from Jadeja and Renshaw didn’t deal well with the one leaving the left hander.
Shaun Marsh fell to a brilliant one that drifted in from Ashwin and Handscomb couldn’t keep a full one out from Umesh Yadav. At that point it seemed as if India would run away with the game, especially when you had the inexperienced Maxwell coming in, but boy did he prove the Indians wrong.
Maxwell was able to adapt, adjust and apply himself on the crease with some ease. He smothered the spin to perfection and put the bad balls away whenever they were on offer. Smith on the other hand kept prodding away, manoeuvring the ball and piling on the runs.
Their 5th wicket partnership of 159 runs has surely put Australia in the drivers seat in this Test match and they would be looking to bat India out of the game by Tea tomorrow.
Here is how Twitter reacted to this brilliant batting display from Smith and Maxwell
Reactions on the next page:
5000 Test runs for Steven Peter Devereux Smith. #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/64PKIB6zbD
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 16, 2017
@stevesmith49 you legend.
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) March 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/dizzy259/status/842365371369762816
https://twitter.com/iamAwesomekhan/status/842362326883819520
More reactions on the next page
Such consistency, such versatility, what a player, Steve Smith !!! Runs all over the world. Hallmark of a great batsman.👏👏👏.#IndvAus
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 16, 2017
#INDvAUS, 3rd Test: @stevesmith49 says the Ranchi pitch 'didn't offer spin' like the first two matches
Read: https://t.co/eMsCYZtuNS pic.twitter.com/RsuInZHZbo
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 16, 2017
Maxwell delivers on his promise, @samuelfez writes: https://t.co/rPCfOd36Zn #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/bNrB3p4yQT
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 16, 2017
#IndvAus#IndiavsAustralia
After seeing scorecard
Maxwell 82 not out
😂😂😂
Mitchell Marsh: pic.twitter.com/taGu8cvVrD— #BhumiPujan Dhawan (@DhawanPujan) March 16, 2017
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Glenn Maxwell today played the longest innings of his career. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/5ugUHttCcg
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 16, 2017
Steve Smith (27y and 287d) today became the youngest Australian to 5000 runs milestone in Tests beating Ricky Ponting (28y & 303d). #IndvAus
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 16, 2017
The only reason Bradman averaged 39 runs more than Steve Smith in Tests was because he constantly cheated DRS in the 1940's.
— The Grade Cricketer (@gradecricketer) March 16, 2017
This Steve Smith is such a wonderful young player. Been a joy seeing him bat.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2017
More reactions on the next page
Fewest innings to 19th Test 100
Ins Batsman
53 D Bradman
85 S Gavaskar
94 M Hayden
97 Steve Smith
105 S Tendulkar#IndvAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 16, 2017
Lots of u r surprised by the way maxwell played..bt Ravi Shastri said 3days bk on CKB the player to watch out for.."Maxwell" @indiatvnews
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) March 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/dizzy259/status/842311094559363073
Kyrgios beating Djokovic and Maxwell getting Test runs in the one day will annoy all the right people. What a day in Australian sport.
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) March 16, 2017
