The Aussies and Indians are firing back at every opportunity, with sparks flying in Adelaide.
The rare sight of Australian paceman Scott Boland firing back at an Indian rival has ended an action-packed second day of the second Test.
India trail by 29 runs at stumps with just five wickets left to build some kind of a lead to defend against the rampaging Aussies.
Boland struck with his first ball of the innings then dismissed Virat Kohli before India were reduced to 5-128, after the hosts were all out for 337 earlier in the evening.
Rishabh Pant is unbeaten on 28 while Nitish Kumar Reddy ended Saturday night on 15 not out following a final-ball boundary.
“A big swing off the final ball and it is a boundary to finish one of the more extraordinary Test match days you will ever, ever see,” James Brayshaw said on Channel 7.
Replays showed Nitish copped a mouthful from Boland as he ran the pitch.
“This is the response that Nitish had to the last ball of the day, with the ‘keeper standing up, expecting Boland to get full and straight,” Ricky Ponting said.
“A few words from the big barrel, as well, which you don’t normally see too much.”
The tension has built throughout the first two days — highlighted by Mohammed Siraj’s big send-off towards hometown centurion Travis Head.
But any needle is a distraction for India, who suddenly have questions to answer about their batting line-up.
Veteran captain Rohit Sharma’s entry into the series at No.6 has been a mistake, out for six off 15 balls after being dismissed for three off 23 on day one.
Whether he has it in him to build form higher up the order remains to be seen; since September he has scores of 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3 and now 6.
Virat Kohli also endured a disappointing follow-up to his Perth century with the superstar worked over by Boland to be out for 11 off 21.
The touring batsmen’s struggles against the pink ball have put Australia in the box seat to level the series with three matches remaining.
After 10 days of fierce criticism following their capitulation in the first Test, the Aussies have dominated and now only need to remove Pant on Sunday to consider themselves within touching distance of victory.
