Australian openers survived the early jitters to post 8/0 at stumps on Day 2 of the third Test after India declared their first innings at a mammoth 443/7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
Aaron Finch (3 batting) and Marcus Harris (5 batting) went back unscathed after the Indian new ball duo of Ishant Shamra and Jasprit Bumrah bowled some hostile stuff to spice things up for an exciting contest on Day 3.
Australian opener Aaron Finch Thursday said the MCG pitch is deteriorating quicker than anticipated and all three results are possible in the third Test despite a slow Indian first innings that finished at 443 for seven.
"It's not your traditional Australian wicket where you have three slips and a gully all day and you bang away, and the ball seams and carries like we saw in Perth. There, a lot of dismissals were behind the wicket," Finch said.
At the end of day's play, he added, "On such pitches, I think you've just got to adapt your game plan and regardless of what the wicket is, you've got to be good enough to adapt and change your plans and execute on the day."
Cheteshwar Pujara struck a classy century and combined with Captain Virat Kohli (82) to put India in control on the second day.
Finch said, "This wicket is probably deteriorating more than we thought it would. Even tonight it was skidding through, there were a couple that took off. So it's still game on if we bowl well and put India under pressure (in the second innings).
"I think all three results are still on the table, 100 per cent, India (victory), Australia (victory) and a draw."
Finch praised the Australian attack for bowling nearly six sessions on the first two days, and in particular singled out Pat Cummins for praise, who picked up 3-72 in 34 overs before padding up to be night-watchman if the early wicket fell.
"I think Patty Cummins was 34 overs for the innings and then to strap the pads on to be night-watchman is a pretty brave effort.
"I think the way that Pat keeps fronting up and coming back is a real testament to his fitness.
"He probably didn't get the rewards he deserved in the first two Tests, but you've heard every coach say it, you can bowl a lot worse and get a lot more wickets," Finch said.
Cummins took the wicket of centurion Pujara, after dismissing Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari on the first day.
"He's a super player, talent with the bat, with the ball, in the field, although he dropped one today that's beside the point. He's just a super package as a cricketer and an even better bloke as well."
Talking about the bowling unit as a whole, Finch said, "It was a long stint. I think having Mitch Marsh there was a real crucial part of that bowling attack, the way he controlled the run rate as well.