Boxing Day Test: Australia toil as Indian all-rounders put on mammoth partnership

Thanks for joining us at thewest.com.au.

We will see you tomorrow from 7.30am as we take you through what is sure to be another exciting day of Test cricket on day four.

All eyes will be on teen sensation Sam Konstas, but first the Aussies must take the final wicket with centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy still at the crease.

India are 9-358, trailing by 116 runs.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from another enthralling day of Test cricket from Rishabh Pant’s brain fade to one of the most emotional centuries the MCG has seen.

The hits & misses from day three at the MCG.

Tail-end partnerships are becoming a concerning trend for Australia in recent series as they continue to search for an effective Plan B with ball in hand.

Jackson Barrett takes a look at how it played a part on day three.

That’s all for day three - and what a day’s play it was!

Stay with thewest.com.au for the match wrap plus all the analysis and fall-out from the Boxing Day Test.

We have an official crowd number for day three, which lands at 83,073.

That’s the biggest day three crowd for a Melbourne Test since the 87,798 in 1937 ... but that’s because Don Bradman was unbeaten on 56 at stumps.

The umpires have called bad light at the MCG with Australia still chasing the final wicket late on day three.

While we wait for play to resume - or be called off - Jackson Barrett takes you through everything that has unfolded today.

Unfortunately, we’d be very lucky to get any more play in today. It is absolutely throwing it down.

There has been nothing official yet, but umpires called bad light right before the heavy rain hit.

The block covers are going on and with around 70 minutes of allocated time remaining, it’s unlikely this will stop and the ground can be cleared in time.

Most fans are heading out of the ground and those that have stayed are ducking for cover.

But what a half-hour of cricket they just saw! Reddy’s maiden Test century and the 15 minutes before it were pulsating.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, take a bow.

The 21-year-old brings up his maiden Test century with a glorious lofted drive that sails to the rope at long on for four runs.

He soaks up the atmosphere and points to the skies in front of a bursting MCG crowd.

In just his fourth Test, Reddy has got India back into this Test match.

The visitors trail by 116 runs.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is on 99... but he’s not on strike.

After Washington Sundar’s wicket fell, a two at the end of the last over has him stranded one run shy of his maiden Test hundred.

Jasprit Bumrah survives two balls but Pat Cummins takes the wicket and he departs for a three-ball duck. India are nine wickets down.

Mohammed Siraj is then on strike - he has three balls to face and survives them all.

Over to you Reddy, you’re on strike.

Nathan Lyon strikes for Australia and Washington Sundar departs for a fighting 50.

The 127-run eight-wicket stand is broken at last.

An outside edge that appears to have clipped his glove finds its way to first slip and Steve Smith takes it cleanly.