Even after 45 minutes of first day's play of the third Test, it was difficult to gauge Mayank Agarwal's innings. The debutant had accomplished his first task by surviving the new-ball spell from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to be unbeaten on 17 from 21 balls. The innings was swift, but at the same time, calm and composed. Though the docile pitch had played into Agarwal's hand, the right-hander didn't get carried away.

It wasn't until Agarwal faced his 23rd ball that he made his presence felt. Nathan Lyon, bowling his first over-tossed ball which was slightly wider and an inch fuller, Agarwal crouched low, his left foot went to the line of the ball, his right knee dropped low to the ground, the head close to the ball, the bat came around the right shoulder as he executed a flat-batted cover drive to send the ball racing towards the boundary. It was a jaw-dropping moment of his innings, one that signified his emergence as a Test cricketer.