Boxing Day Test: Jasprit Bumrah masterclass puts India on top as Australia’s middle order collapses

Jasprit Bumrah stormed the Boxing Day Test with one of the best spells of bowling ever seen in Australia, but a gutsy 10th-wicket partnership will stretch into an epic final day.

Australia lost 4-11 as Bumrah rattled through their middle-order in a pulsating hour during Sunday’s middle session, but clawed their way to a lead of 333 at stumps.

The final stand between Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon — already worth 55 runs — tormented India for more than an hour and is the culmination of Australia’s latest post-Bumrah rescue mission.

Jackson Barrett looks back on a huge day four, that sets up an epic final-day of the fourth Test.

Jasprit Bumrah has not put a foot wrong in this Test series - until now.

The India quick appeared to take the final wicket as Nathan Lyon edged a delivery to third slip, except Bumrah had overstepped.

It was called a no-ball.

Lyon added insult to injury, adding another six runs to close out the over and the day’s play with Australia 9-228 with a lead of 333.

It also brought up the half-century stand for Lyon (41 from 54) and Scott Boland (10 from 65), who have put together 55 runs for the 10th wicket.

Bumrah has his head in his hands in the middle of the MCG.

But more importantly, the lead is stretching beyond 300 with every run.

The partnership of Nathan Lyon (17 from 38) and Scott Boland (8 from 49) has reached 27.

It’s a far cry from 6-91, when Alex Carey’s wicket fell.

Boland launches Mohammed Siraj to the boundary with a defiant cut shot and the Aussies bring up the 300-run lead.

The partnership is now a handy 23 runs.

Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland are putting up a brave fight here.

The No. 10 and 11 have added 18 runs from 48 deliveres, with Lyon (13 from 28) and Boland (3 from 30) digging in.

Australia are just four runs shy of a 300-run lead.

Ravindra Jadeja is brought on and it immediately pays off, the spinner dismissing Pat Cummins for 41 from 90 balls.

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the field this innings has been impressive, particularly when it comes to the management of his bowlers.

Jadeja gets the edge and it lands in the hands of Sharma at first slip. He throws it up in delight.

Australia are now 9-173, with a lead of 278.

Can Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon limp the hosts to 280+?

Mitch Marsh’s Test career has been left hanging by a thread, with a second-innings duck in Melbourne and mounting pressure on his place in the side.

The West Australian favourite was caught-behind with an uncertain half-stroke against flying Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday.

He has still not reached double figures since the first Test of the summer and was benign with the ball again in this match.

Read the full story - and what Justin Langer thinks about whether he should play in Sydney - here.

Unbelievable stuff as Mitchell Starc tries to sneak a second run but he’s sent back by Pat Cummins.

A rocket throw by Nitish Kumar Reddy at short fine leg lands in the hands of the wicketkeeper but Cummins is safe.

Rishabh Pant sends a missle to the other end and Starc is caught well short of his crease.

The umpire sends it upstairs but Starc walks. Australia 8-156.

Mohammed Siraj gets the breakthrough again!

It’s been the Jasprit Bumrah show today but Siraj is playing an important supporting role.

He dismissed first-innings centurion Steve Smith and now he’s got the important wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (70), gone LBW.

It was given out and reviewed before being deemed umpire’s call, with the on-field decision standing.

It exposes Australia’s tail with a lead of 253 runs, which feels short of what the hosts would want to defend on day five.

Jasprit Bumrah is having one of the all-time great series by any opposition bowler on Australian shores.

He has 29 wickets for the series at an average of 12.34.

From now, to the end of the Sydney Test next week, India have 24 wickets to take.

Bumrah needs 10 of them to pass Maurice Tate’s record of 38 wickets in a single series in Australia, which he took exactly 100 years ago in the 1924-25 Ashes.