AUS VS IND 3RD TEST

Right then, three down and two more to go, and as neutrals, we couldn’t have asked for a better scoreline with the series tied 1-1 going into the Boxing Day Test. Yes, we would have loved a proper conclusion to this Test, but the weather left us without one. Let's hope the next two Tests make up for it. Next up is the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The fourth Test of this five-game affair in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy kicks off on 26th December with the first ball to be bowled at 5 am IST (11.30 pm GMT, the previous day). As always, we’ll be here in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

JUST IN - Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. In a press conference alongside Rohit Sharma, Ashwin shares the news, expressing gratitude to the players, coaches, and everyone who has been part of his journey. Ashwin mentions that he will be staying involved with the sport in some form or another.

Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper says it would have been nice to have a result going in their favour. Adds that the players have stepped up well and he is pleased with the effort they put in. Talks about the rain interruptions and says it kind of helped them get going. Mentions that the last day is always a challenge and the new ball was hard to tackle. Appreciates the knocks from Steven Smith and Travis Head along with Alex Carey's inning which helped them get to around 450 runs. Praises the bowling effort and says they just about ticked every box in this game. Concludes that the excitement for the Boxing Day Test match is special and they look forward to it.

The captain of India, Rohit Sharma says that he is happy that this match has ended in a draw and will give them confidence going to Melbourne. Adds that the situation was tough and they wanted somebody to stand up after Lunch on Day 4 and take responsibility, which Jadeja did. Appreciates Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah for helping them avoid the follow-on last-wicket partnership. Feels that all pacers have bowled well in the series so far. Concludes that Akash Deep is new to the international level but he has the talent and he knows how to absorb the pressure.

Travis Head is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar ton. He says it feels nice to have contributed and the way his inning set the game up initially. Adds that it was a challenging wicket and his partnership with Smith was crucial for the game. Mentions that he summed the conditions up quickly and is pleased with the tempo he is batting in. Talks about the communication while batting with Smith and appreciates the way Smith batted. Concludes by saying that the plans and challenges are different every time and he is happy to adjust to them and play freely.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The draw was always the most likely outcome as the final day began. It took Australia just 24 balls to take the last Indian wicket, gaining a 185-run lead. Australia went all-out in their pursuit of quick runs, but their aggressive approach did no favours for their misfiring top order. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the hosts continued to play their shots and declared their innings at 89/7, setting a 275-run target for the tourists. However, just 13 balls into the Indian innings, bad light brought an abrupt end to the second session, and subsequent heavy rain, predictable after the cloud cover that had built up, meant play couldn’t resume, leaving us without a proper conclusion to the game.

Rohit Sharma fell early, but Ravindra Jadeja anchored the innings, forming crucial partnerships with KL Rahul and Nitish Kumar Reddy to reduce the deficit. Jadeja, the last recognized batter, was dismissed with India still 33 runs short of avoiding the follow-on and only a wicket in hand. However, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep stepped up, helping India avoid the follow-on before bad light ended the day. On the bowling front, Australia faced a setback as Josh Hazlewood bowled just one over before leaving the field with a calf strain and was later ruled out of the match.

Alex Carey added an impactful contribution, helping Australia extend their total to 445 before being bowled out. In reply, India got off to a disastrous start on the morning of Day 3, with a lack of application from their batters and disciplined bowling from Australia's pace trio leaving them reeling at 44-4. The third day was marred by frequent interruptions, with rain forcing the players on and off the field multiple times, which did no good to help either side's momentum. India began Day 4 fighting to avoid the follow-on, and the day started with a missed opportunity for Australia as Steven Smith dropped KL Rahul on the very first ball.

Given the numerous rain delays in this Test, it feels like the contest has stretched on endlessly, with the opening day now a distant memory. Day 1 saw limited action as rain dominated proceedings, allowing only 13.2 overs to be bowled, during which the Australian openers remained unscathed after being put in under challenging conditions. On Day 2, the Indian pace attack made notable adjustments to their lines and lengths to reduce Australia to 75-3 in the first session. However, Travis Head and Steven Smith staged a remarkable recovery, forging a 241-run partnership that turned the tide, with both batters notching centuries. Jasprit Bumrah continued to shine for India, bagging six wickets, while Akash Deep bowled far better than his lone wicket suggested, constantly troubling the batters.

Well, that's that then! The Gabba Test has ended in a DRAW! Rain had the final say, and except for the second day, it made unwelcome appearances every other day to dampen the spirits of everyone involved. The series remains tied at 1-1 as we move to Melbourne next, followed by Sydney, for the remaining two Tests. Given the circumstances, India will certainly be relieved with the draw, but Australia, who held the aces, will leave Brisbane wondering what could have been had the weather shown some mercy.

UPDATE - 5.21 am GMT (10.51 am IST) - The rain continues to persist, and to make matters worse, a lightning warning has been issued in the area, further dimming the chances of play resuming. It’s an unfortunate and frustrating wait, but with the conditions as they are, there’s little that can be done. The teams are now shaking hands, which confirms that the match has officially ended in a DRAW. A frustrating end, perhaps, with the weather playing spoilsport but both teams fought hard over the course of the game and the series remains 1-1 with two games to go.

UPDATE - 5.03 am GMT (10.33 am IST) - The clouds have finally burst open, and it’s now raining heavily. The covers remain firmly in place, shielding the pitch from the downpour. At this point, all we can do is stay hopeful that the forecast takes a turn for the better and the skies clear up, allowing us to resume play.

At the start of the final innings, India, for the very first time in this game, would have felt a sense of optimism and the possibility of a favourable result. Both Jaiswal and Rahul batted cautiously in the 2.1 overs they faced before the fading light halted play. However, this game is once again battling against the weather, which has been a persistent challenge throughout. With rain expected to arrive at any moment, it seems likely that this thrilling contest will be heading towards a draw. With that said, the covers are being brought on, and they are firmly secured. Stick around for further updates!

What a session it has been! Full of excitement and drama, it really brought the match to life. Australia came out all guns blazing with the bat in hand, but they were met with some terrific pace bowling that never allowed them to find their rhythm. Despite the pressure, they managed to add 87 runs, extending the lead to 274 before declaring. Pat Cummins and Alex Carey played key roles, providing some quick-fire runs in what was otherwise a struggle to add quick runs. On the other hand, it was great to see Jasprit Bumrah getting the support he deserved from the other two pacers, who helped keep Australia in check.

UPDATE - 4.33 am GMT (10.03 am IST) - Uh oh! It has gotten a lot darker, and it was only a matter of time. The umpires have checked the fading light on the meter, and with conditions deteriorating, they’ve decided to pull the players off the field. With this TEA has been taken on Day 5. It doesn’t seem long before the clouds might burst open, and the radar suggests more rain is on the way. With this latest interruption, we’re left waiting to see how the weather unfolds.

This is on a length, on the off-stump line, Rahul waits on the back foot and dabs it wide of point for a single.

Angling into the pads, on a length, Jaiswal clips it along the ground but picks out the man at mid-wicket.