The big news: India in cruise control at lunch on Day 3

India began day three of the fifth Test in Chennai with a dominating performance in the first session. Openers Parthiv Patel and Lokesh Rahul powered India past 150 without losing a wicket as England bowlers struggled to get any sort of assistance from the pitch. Patel fell for 71 as he lofted a Moeen Ali delivery with Jos Buttler taking a simple catch.

In came Cheteshwar Pujara and along with Rahul took India to at lunch 173/1. Rahul remained unbeaten on 89 as India scored 113 runs in the session. England wrapped up their first innings on 477 and India still trail them by 304 runs.

Other top stories:

  1. Azhar Ali and Younis Khan resisted Australia’s attempts to dislodge them before rain brought an early tea break at the Gabba and further cause for Pakistani optimism. While the target of 490 remained enormously distant, the duo showed good sense and plenty of determination to take their partnership to 77 without giving a chance and were 131/2 at the break.
  2. Shaun Marsh is not expected to be in contention for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, which could offer another opportunity for Nic Maddinson. Marsh broke a finger during Australia’s loss to South Africa in Perth in the first Test of the summer, and is yet to recover from the injury. 
  3. Mumbai cricketer Pranav Dhanawade, who scored 1009 runs in a single innings in January, was caught by the collar of his jersey and detained in a police lockup for more than an hour on Saturday. The 16-year-old’s offence was that he delayed in vacating the Subhash Maidan, the ground where he has been training for the last 10-12 years. 
  4. Veteran cricket administrator Sharad Pawar stepped down from the post of president of the Mumbai Cricket Association amidst growing concerns from the board on the implementation of the reforms ordered by the Supreme Court-constituted Lodha Committee.