Slightly unexpectedly, it was the new ball that worked for Australia just as India were gaining the upper hand in the second Test.

Australia took it immediately and the breaking of the key fifth wicket partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane saw five wickets tumble in just three overs.

The pair put on 118 runs to take India’s lead to 151 and it looked as though the target could be a very difficult one for Australia.  They’d had a few slices of luck with edges falling short of fielders and a couple of close reviews, but had formed a partnership that was proving difficult to break.

Mitchell Starc initially looked out of touch with the new ball as he had on the third day. The second ball of his third over was a wild one that almost sailed over first slip’s head.  His next, though, was right on the money.  He pinned Rahane in front and this time the review went Australia’s way.

His next delivery not only took out Karun Nair’s middle stump, but broke it in two and a replacement had to be found.

Josh Hazlewood had put in an impressive spell the previous day just before tea and took the next three wickets to a haul of six. India seemed to lose the plot. Their batsmen were starting to play rash shots.

Pujara was held in the gully to end an impressive innings of 92 while Ravi Ashwin and Umesh Yadav played carelessly just as his side needed him to knuckle down and support the last recognised batsman, Wriddhiman Saha.

In the end it was Ishant Sharma who stuck around for 44 minutes as the pair added what could prove to be a very important 16 runs setting Australia an intriguing total.