India’s transformation from Adelaide collapse to day three at MCG remarkable under captain Ajinkya Rahane

If cricket reaches its zenith when the contest is balanced on a knife-edge, the telling moment of the Melbourne Test occurred when Steve Smith and his 100-run MCG average arrived at the crease midway through day three.

Australia was two wickets down in its second innings and 87 runs in arrears.

Waiting in the pavilion, Travis Head and Cameron Green didn’t shape as an intimidating prospect to the Indian bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah was soon to appear for his second spell, everything Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane touched was turning to gold, and Smith’s tail-spinning recent form darkened the chest-tightening atmosphere.

The ensuing period of play was gripping. Smith scratched and fidgeted his way to something resembling a start. Bumrah bombarded…