Coach Darren Lehmann lamented another below-par fielding effort from Australia as they failed to capitalise on a number of crucial chances against India in the fourth Test at the SCG.

On the back of one of their worst fielding efforts in recent memory in the third Test in Melbourne – labelled “shoddy” as Lehmann – the home side were at it again on day three of the final Test on Thursday.

After Australia posted 7(dec)-572 in their first innings, India started day three on 1-71 and three blown chances helped the visitors’ cause as both KL Rahul (110) and Virat Kohli (140no) scored hundreds.

Rahul was dropped on 46 by Steve Smith just before lunch in an unusual incident in which Channel Nine’s Spidercam appeared to affect the Australia skipper’s sighting of the ball as he chased a top edge behind wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

That came after Rahul, when on 41, fell over mid pitch and dropped his bat before scrambling back to make his ground as Kohli sent him back in his quest for a quick single.

Rahul stumbled and bumbled his way back to the crease with substitute fielder Pat Cummins seemingly oblivious to the chance of a run out in a highly comical piece of cricket.

Things got worse for Australia when Smith spilled Kohli when he was 59 at second slip off Mitchell Starc after the home side took the second new ball.

Kohli was still at the crease with India 5-342 at stumps.

Wriddhiman Saha is the other not out batsman on 14.

“It is disappointing,” Lehmann said.

“They were a couple of tough chances, but you still have to take those … that’s now two Tests in a row.

“It’s just a confidence thing; it’s certainly not to do with their skill level, or concentration.”

Haddin was equally disappointed.

“If we had taken our chances, we could be in a better position, but that is the story of the series,” Haddin told Channel Nine.