IMAGES from Day 5 of the 3rd Test played at The Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday.
An aggressive Australia lost as many as seven wickets in a frenetic afternoon session before declaring at 89 for seven, setting India a 275-run target on day five of the third Test in Brisbane on Wednesday.
With limited time left in the day to force a result after majority of the morning session was rained out, the Australian batters came out all guns blazing without fearing for their wickets.
Australia batted for 18 overs in the afternoon with Alex Carey (20 not out off 20 balls), Pat Cummins (22 off 10 balls) and Travis Head (17 off 19 balls) getting into double digits.
A minimum of 54 overs were left in the day after Australia declared. India were eight for no loss in their second innings when rain forced an early tea break.
Seamers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep rattled the hosts' batting line-up post lunch.
Bumrah became the most successful bowler on Australian soil en route his three wicket haul.
The surprise move from skipper Pat Cummins came after the 18th over when they declared the innings as a two-way result seemed realistic with more than 50 overs possible in the final session.
The third Test had multiple rain interruption across the five days.
Earlier, lightening and subsequent rain allowed only 24 balls to be bowled in the first session on day five as the third Test between India and Australia headed towards a dull draw.
The warning of severe weather was flashed on the digital scoreboard at the Gabba shortly after India were bowled out for 260 in their first innings, handing Australia a lead of 185 runs.
Akash Deep (31) was the last man out, stumped off Travis Head, bringing an end to a 47-run stand with Jasprit Bumrah (10 not out).
The duo had done well to avoid the follow-on on day four.
Players were asked to remain in the dressing room and fans were requested to take shelter away from the fence after the visitors were all out.
Heavy rain followed and no play was possible in the session thereafter.
The forecast is largely clear for Brisbane from Thursday onwards but the entire game has been adversely impacted by bad weather with rain forcing multiple stoppages for four out of five days.
Only day two of the game was not impacted by weather as Australia coasted to 405 for seven at the back of memorable hundreds from Travis Head and Steve Smith.
Irrespective of the outcome on Wednesday, India have major concerns in both batting and bowling departments which they must address going into the fourth Test beginning on December 26.
