Australia vs India: Rain wrecks day one of third Test with just 13.2 overs bowled in Brisbane
Only 13.2 overs were played on the first day of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane because of rain. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney guided the home team to a score of 28 without losing a wicket. The five-match series is currently level at 1-1, with Australia having triumphed in the day-night match in Adelaide after India claimed victory in the opening match at Perth.
Saturday, December 14, 2024, 8:01 AM, UK Time
Rain heavily disrupted the first day of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane, resulting in just 13.2 overs being played.
Australia's opening batsmen, Usman Khawaja (19 not out from 47 deliveries) and Nathan McSweeney (4 not out from 33), guided the team to a score of 28 without loss after India chose to bowl first following the toss.
Akash Deep, the Indian bowler who replaced Harshit Rana in the team, had an lbw appeal against McSweeney rejected, but apart from that, the home side faced no other major threats.
The game saw action during just two intervals in the morning but was called off an hour before the planned finish time at The Gabba.
The beginning of day two has been moved up by 30 minutes to 9:50 AM (11:50 PM in the UK and Ireland), with plans for 98 overs to be bowled, despite the possibility of additional rain.
Series Tied 1-1 After Two Tests
Australia dominated India by 10 wickets in the day-night second Test in Adelaide last week, bringing the five-match series to a tie at 1-1. This followed India's impressive victory in the first Test in Perth, where they won by 295 runs.
India needs to secure victories in at least two out of their last three Test matches in Australia, which will take place in Melbourne and Sydney, to qualify for next summer's World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Australia is on track to make it to the finals, provided they secure at least two more wins against India.
Australia brought back the healthy Josh Hazlewood for the Test match in Brisbane. The 33-year-old had to sit out the game in Adelaide because of a side injury, leading to Scott Boland being left out of the squad.
India made a change by replacing Ravichandran Ashwin with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, and they also opted for Deep in place of Rana.
