Australia were bowled out for 17 overs by India on another rain-affected day in the third Test in Brisbane, but it was enough to demolish India’s top order, 394 runs behind, as they ended the third day on 51-4. Host.
After Australia’s tail had been wagging the bat for a bit longer to reach 445 on Monday morning, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood quickly got India into trouble with a devastating opening spell at the Gabba.
Starc (2-25) set the tone by taking the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in the first two overs, before Hazlewood (1-17) took the prize wicket of Virat Kohli just before one of the many passing showers. I did it. We have an early lunch with India at 22-3.
After removing Jaiswal (4) with the first ball of the innings in the second Test in Adelaide, Starc needed just two balls at the Gabba to remove the tourists’ opener.
The first ball was gushed by the 22-year-old for a boundary, but the second was soft dismissed by a simple catch to Mitch Marsh at midwicket.
In the next over, Starc caught Marsh’s acrobatic dive and two-handed catch in the ditch to remove Gill (1) and India were back on the offensive at 7-2.
Hazlewood returned to the team after being ruled out of last week’s second Test due to strain on the side and further rattled India by taking advantage of veteran Kohli to demolish India for three as rain started to fall and an early lunch was taken.
On the restart, skipper Pat Cummins (1-7) got the first wicket by removing Rishabh Pant, who was caught behind, to reduce India to 44-4.
Captain Rohit Sharma came out to join KL Rahul but there was only time for a superb cover drive boundary for the latter before another passing shower forced the players off the field.
How wet weather leaves the third test
Nathan Lyon cleared the bails on day three as rain fell.
The weather looked set to clear for the rest of the afternoon, but just as play looked set to resume, another shower of rain drifted across the pitch.
It was not until 5pm local time that play finally resumed, but only 17 more balls were bowled out for 3 runs before another shower and worsening lighting brought play to a close for the day.
Australia now have two days left to play, weather permitting, and their path to victory appears to depend on bowling India out for less than 244 runs in the first innings and enforcing the follow-on action.
The hosts resumed on 405-7 on Monday and big hits from Starc and Alex Carey lifted Australia to 445. Carey was the last wicket away, lurking in the deep to get to an enterprising 70 off 88 balls. century.
Jasprit Bumrah completed his 12th five-wicket haul in the Test the previous day, adding one more wicket to return figures of 6-76.
India won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs, while Australia won the second day-night Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
