Ajinkya Rahane's India showed both 'intent' and 'attitude' in abundance. Over four days, the tourists advertised a full-course meal of grit, skill and discipline. The discipline, in particular, enabled even rookie bowlers to suffocate their rivals for long periods by stringing together an endless garland of dots.
While the team management can pat themselves on the back, they must also prepare for a potentially tricky selection call involving a big name, ahead of the third Test on January 7. India's regular Test opener Rohit Sharma has completed his quarantine and will be joining the team on Wednesday.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette scored 43 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute to secure a 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Steve Smith getting bowled by Jasprit Bumrah down the leg-side with his leg-stump exposed on the third day of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground brought back memories of another Australian great Greg Chappell getting bowled by Karsan Ghavri down the leg during the 1981 Melbourne Test which was also won by India.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Tuesday expressed gratitude after becoming the third Indian cricketer to feature in 50 or more games for the country across all three formats -- Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Australia have been fined 40% of their match fee and penalised four ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate in their defeat by India in the second Test in Melbourne. Tim Paine's side were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration with match referee David Boon imposing the sanction.
Ravindra Jadeja is certainly good enough as a specialist batsman in Test cricket but it is his pure all-round skills that gives the Indian team much-needed balance in the traditional format, feels head coach Ravi Shastri.