Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PIX: Rain reigns on Day 1 of Australia-India third Test

Last updated on: December 14, 2024 12:49 IST

Images from Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Saturday.

A good crowd at the Gabba was left frustrated as rain allowed only 13.2 overs in the morning session on Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Saturday.

IMAGE: A good crowd at the Gabba was left frustrated as rain allowed only 13.2 overs in the first two sessions on Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Saturday. Photograph: cricket.australia.com.au/X

Rain played spoilsport on Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India, as only 13.2 overs were bowled, in Brisbane, on Saturday.

Australia scored 28 without loss from those overs in the first session before the next two were washed out.

Australia's openers did well to survive the rain-hit opening session, Usman Khawaja remaining unbeaten on 19 with Nathan McSweeney 4 not out at close, after India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first.

 

With the five-Test series level at 1-1, India's bowlers, as well as a healthy crowd at the Gabba, were left frustrated by the rain, the last heavy downpour ending the first session about 30 minutes early.

Pacers Jasprit Bumrah (0/8 in 6 overs), Mohammed Siraj (0/13 in 4 overs) and Akash Deep (0/2 in 3.2 overs) did well to keep the Aussie openers in check. And just when Akash Deep and Siraj got the ball to nip around the heavens opened up.

The Gabba pitch had a green tinge on a steamy, overcast morning, promising a stiff examination for Australia's top order, but that was not the case as the ball did not do much off the spongy pitch.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja walks off the pitch as a heavy downpour ends the morning session

IMAGE: Australia opener Usman Khawaja walks off the pitch as a heavy downpour ends the morning session. Photograph: cricket.australia.com.au/X

Barring a probing, opening burst by Bumrah, who repeatedly beat Khawaja's bat, the Indian pacers were culpable of bowling too short.

Khawaja capitalised, smashing Mohammed Siraj to the fence with a couple of sweetly struck pull shots.

India made two changes to the side that lost by 10 wickets in the day-night Test in Adelaide, Ravindra Jadeja replacing spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Akash Deep coming in for struggling pacer Harshit Rana.

Akash Deep appeals for leg before wicket against Nathan McSweeney

IMAGE: Akash Deep appeals for leg before wicket against Nathan McSweeney Photograph: BCCI/X

Australia made only one change, pacer Josh Hazlewood replacing Scott Boland after recovering from a side injury.

Rohit, whose poor form with the bat has heaped pressure on his captaincy, will continue to bat at number six, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal retained as the opening combination.

"There's a lot of grass and it looks a little soft as well so we want to try and make the best use of the conditions and try and see what we can do with the ball up front," said Rohit after winning the toss, adding that the mood in the Indian dressing room was "absolutely buzzing".

Australia's captain Pat Cummins tosses the coin as India's captain watches

IMAGE: Australia's captain Pat Cummins tosses the coin and India's captain Rohit Sharma calls correctly. Photograph: cricket.australia.com.au/X

"The guys are looking forward to the Test match. It's been always nice to come here and play some really good cricket and yeah, when you talk about how everyone's feeling, they want to come out here and showcase themselves."

Australia captain Pat Cummins was coy on what he would have chosen if he won the toss, but by lunch may have felt pleased to have been spared the decision.