India Vs Australia: Steve Smith-Glenn Maxwell partnership steals the show on Day 1

Ranchi, March 16: Australia captain Steve Smith led from the front slammed another impressive Test century while Glenn Maxwell shone with the bat as visitors reached 299/4 at stumps on first day of the third Test match against India here on Thursday (March 16).

Series schedule; Photos;

Captain Smith (117 not out off 241 balls) completed his career's 19th Test century and continued his run feast against India. This is his sixth Test ton against India and 11th as captain.

Australia made an impressive comeback in the match after losing the fourth wicket at 140 and went on to add 159 runs without losing any wicket. Smith got the support from Glenn Maxwell, who slammed his career's maiden Test fifty, from the other end.

He was batting at 82 when the umpires called for the end of day's play. Team would now be hoping that they keep batting longer to take the visitors to a massive total. (Jadeja removes Warner with a brilliant 'reflex catch')

For India, fast bowler Umesh Yadav returned figures of 2/63 while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a wicket each for India. It was overall a mediocre day for Indian bowlers.

Smith touches personal milestone:

It was a day of milestones and records for the Australian skipper who slammed calm and composed Test hundred.

Earlier, Smith completed his Test career's 5000 runs and became the third Australian batsman after Sir Don Bradman and Matthew Hayden to take fewest innings to reach this milestone.

Umesh Yadav removes Peter Handscomb:

Umesh Yadav bowled a brilliant late-swinging yorker to remove a set Handscomb. He scored 19 off 47 balls.

The visitors scored 85 runs and lost just one wicket in Peter Handscomb in the second session after hosts grabbed three wickets in the first session. Hence, the post-lunch session was drawn.

Pujara takes a stunning catch to remove Shaun Marsh:

Indian looked impressive with their fielding in Ranchi, Cheteshwar Pujara's stunning catch, which removed Shaun Marsh for 2, was a testimony to the same. Umpire, however, failed to judge the knick but Kohli's call for review was spot on.

Jadeja-Yadav remove openers:

World No.1 bowler in Tests, Ravindra Jadeja removed opener David Warner (19) in his very first over by catching him on his own delivery. It was a full toss delivery which Warner attempted hitting for a boundary, but the ball ended up in the bowler's hands.

Opener Matt Renshaw was removed by Umesh Yadav after scoring 44. He was caught at first slip by Kohli.

Australia win toss:

Australia captain Steve Smith won the second toss of the series and elected to bat first against India in the third Test match.

Smith had no hesitations about batting first on a strip that seems to be favouring the batsmen. The visitors have made a couple of changes in their side by bringing in pacer Pat Cummins and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

India, on the other hand, made just one change in their Playing XI as fit-again Murali Vijay has made his comeback into the side. Abhinav Mukund has once again been rested.

The spotlight is firmly trained on the pitch as an ambitious India brace up for what is expected to be a high-voltage battle against Australia in Ranchi.

Here's the pitch report of Ranchi, which is making its Test debut:

Just for laughs. How's that for a pitch report ;) @sanjaymanjrekar at it #INDvAUS @Paytm Test Cricket pic.twitter.com/lhCiMOJyzJ

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 16, 2017

Since the amicable end to the acrimonious DRS saga, the focus has shifted to the pitch at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), which is organising it's first-ever Test match.

👍 Maxi is back! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/pI32xiClRU

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 16, 2017

The four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy is locked at 1-1 and the game at former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's home town would be crucial to the outcome of the series.

The wicket for the first Test was rated poor while the Bengaluru surface, where the second match was played, has been deemed "below average" by match referee Chris Broad.

Trailing 0-1 following a shocking 331-run defeat in the opener, India will enter the match with new-found confidence having scripted a brilliant fightback in Bengaluru.

Playing XI:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.

Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), Nathan Lyon, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins.

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