Live - Khawaja, McSweeney frustrate India's quicks on stop-start morning
Day 1 - Second Session: India opted to bowl first.
Minimum Over Remains: 75.4
In the most recent 10 overs, the run rate was 21 runs without losing any wickets, averaging 2.10 runs per over.
Here's something to keep you occupied as you wait for the rain to ease, reflecting on the Gabba Test of 2021. First, Nagraj Gollapudi has compiled memories from important players in India's squad for that match, featuring insights from Cheteshwar Pujara, Shardul Thakur, and Rishabh Pant. Additionally, I spoke with commentator Vivek Razdan about his experience of narrating India's win and his famous remark, "Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand."
What’s Next For The Gabba?
According to Andrew McGlashan, the future of this legendary location is unclear.
The outlook for the well-known stadium is uncertain, with only one confirmed event left – next year's Ashes Test. A decision will soon be made regarding the Gabba's fate within the framework of Brisbane's Olympic preparations. Cricket Australia, in partnership with the Brisbane Lions AFL club, is advocating for the construction of a completely new stadium instead of renovating the current one, as the existing site lacks space for any future development.
Recently, we've witnessed some of the limitations that the Gabba has to deal with. For instance, when Josh Hazlewood wanted to practice bowling from his full run-up, he had to head over to Allan Border Field because the nets at the Gabba were too small. “I’m a bit concerned. I fear that in a few years, the Gabba may be facing some significant decline,” Usman Khawaja remarked before the Test.
Relocating to a new multi-functional venue would lead to a major consequence: the disappearance of yet another historic cricket pitch in Australia, as any new facility would likely employ a drop-in wicket.
"We have drop-in pitches in various locations globally," Khawaja mentioned. "Apart from the Gabba and the SCG, most other grounds use these temporary surfaces. Those two have unique characteristics that set them apart. They’re excellent pitches. Personally, I lean towards traditional methods. The Gabba holds a special place in my heart."
The Gabba: What's Happening Now
The rain keeps pouring at the Gabba, and we've just reached the lunch break. It's uncertain when we can resume play, as there are already many puddles on the outfield.
Today might turn out to be one of those days filled with interruptions, which is unfortunate since the match was becoming quite exciting. Akash Deep and Siraj were starting to make the ball move unpredictably. Some of the movement was off the pitch, while other instances saw the ball swinging through the air. This leads me to speculate whether India has opted for one of those new balls that tends to swing more noticeably after about 10 overs, once some of the shiny coating has worn off.
Australia is currently at 28 runs without losing any wickets after 13.2 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah has bowled five overs so far, but he's only faced Nathan McSweeney for one delivery. In Test cricket, it occasionally happens that a batsman spends most of the time at one end, and today it's keeping Bumrah from going up against a batsman he's had success against in this series. So far, Bumrah has bowled 47 balls to McSweeney, taking him out three times while giving away just 11 runs.
Update: Bumrah leaves the bowling attack after six overs, during which he only delivered three balls to McSweeney.
A Day Enjoying The Gabba
Alagappan Muthu is currently in Brisbane, enjoying the experience to the fullest.
A big part of the experience at a cricket ground is enjoying the game itself, but an equally important part is simply having a good time—which seems to be becoming even more important lately. The stadium experiences in Australia are pretty impressive. Kids love running around the field during breaks; at Adelaide, for instance, I saw a bunch of them chasing after a single ball, and they were clearly having a blast. Right now, some kids are leaning over the railing near the India dressing room and, surprisingly, no one has shooed them away yet—though it looks like one kid in a Virat jersey might have replaced the rest. Dressing up is popular too. Just below us in the press box, an entire section is wearing stormtrooper costumes with playful names like "Starc Destroyer" and "General Green-vous" on the back. The crowd's cheers are coordinated and clear, particularly noticeable when Siraj returns to bowl. There are convenient first-aid stations with sunscreen and immediate assistance if needed, along with clean seats, plenty of restrooms, and easy access to food and drinks. Enjoying live cricket here is a hassle-free experience.
The players are on their way, and Australia has scored 19 runs without losing any wickets in 5.3 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have spent 5.3 overs trying to find the right lines and lengths to bowl on this surface, but so far, there hasn’t been much seam movement. The bounce appears to be consistent, and Usman Khawaja has capitalized on any deliveries that are slightly too straight or a bit short, scoring 13 runs off 22 balls. It’s still early in the match, and viewers have grown accustomed to seeing the new ball swing and seam in various conditions, which makes this pitch seem easier to bat on than it actually might be.
Three Tests, Three Spin Bowlers
Choosing between Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja has proven to be a tough task for India, just as many anticipated.
Considering how the selection process has unfolded so far, it seems like Washington could be India's best option due to his batting abilities and how he matches up against Australia's many left-handed batsmen. However, there may still be some uncertainty regarding his bowling, especially in situations where they expect a spinner to be utilized frequently. Ashwin might have been brought in for the Adelaide match for this reason, as well as his successful bowling performances at that venue in previous seasons. He managed to control Travis Head's scoring to some extent, but India still has concerns about their batting lineup. Jadeja provides greater stability with the bat and offers more skill and experience with the ball compared to Washington, even if there is a slight disadvantage when facing left-handed batsmen.
At first, it might seem like this is the perfect selection for an unsuitable match. You can picture Akash Deep's bowling putting Australia to the test in Adelaide with the pink ball, while Rana, when on top of his game, could really utilize the speed and bounce at the Gabba. However, the phrase "when on top of his game" is crucial here. He is still quite new to first-class cricket and might not be fully prepared to maintain the level of precision and intensity required over a long series. Nonetheless, the potential he has is incredibly promising.
The additional expenses may have played a role in Akash being chosen for this position. The weather is currently quite cloudy.
Win The Toss, Choose To Bowl First
In the initial two Tests, the team that won the toss opted to bat first. However, India has won the toss at the Gabba and has chosen to bowl first. Rohit Sharma comments, "There’s a bit of grass on the pitch, which seems a bit soft too. We aim to take advantage of the conditions."
Pat Cummins mentioned that he would have chosen "one of those two" when asked if he preferred to bat or bowl. This response aligns with his recent tendency to keep things vague in social media videos, where he simply referred to Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli as "bowler" and "batter," respectively, when prompted for a one-word description.
To take full advantage of the current situation, India has implemented two important adjustments to their team. First, they've opted for Akash Deep in their fast bowling lineup for his control, replacing the more unpredictable Harshit Rana. Additionally, veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who has been a key performer for India in away matches for years, joins the squad for the first time this series, bolstering the team's batting strength considerably.
Only one adjustment has been made for Australia, and it was expected: Josh Hazlewood is back from injury, while Scott Boland will sit on the bench.
One Complete, Three Remaining
Hello again! What an exciting series we’re experiencing. I doubt anyone, even the players from both sides, would have been unhappy to hear that we’d head to Brisbane tied 1-1 with everything to fight for. One of the downsides of a five-Test series is when one team takes a commanding lead too soon, but thankfully, that hasn’t been the case so far. India clearly outperformed in Perth, while Australia was the stronger side during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. The conditions in both matches provided each winning team with opportunities to shine, and both had the skill to take advantage of those chances. Now, as we head to the Gabba—previously known as one of the toughest places for any visiting team—India is looking to change that narrative after their stunning victory here in 2021. They return with those memorable moments still fresh in their minds. If this Test is even half as exciting as that one, we’re in for a real treat!
Quick responses to T20 inquiries
