3rd Test: Early Lunch Called Off Due to Heavy Rain After Australia Scores 28/0 in 13.2 Overs
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Brisbane, Dec 14 (NationPress) An early lunch was called on the first day of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Gabba on Saturday due to heavy rain. Only 13.2 overs were bowled during the initial session, with Australia finishing at 28/0. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney remained unbeaten at 19 and 4, respectively.
With numerous puddles forming across the outfield, it appears that the break could be extended, according to meteorological predictions. In the morning, under looming dark clouds, India opted to bowl first, making changes by including Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep in place of Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana.
As the sun briefly emerged and a section of the sparse crowd donned fancy attire, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were seen adjusting their lines and lengths on a pitch that provided minimal seam movement.
Khawaja capitalized on this when Siraj, who was met with jeers from the Brisbane spectators, delivered a poorly executed short ball that was effortlessly pulled through mid-wicket for another four runs. The first rain delay of the session occurred at 5.3 overs, which forced the players off the field for 30 minutes.
After the interruption, India's bowlers attempted to change their strategy by delivering fuller lengths, with Siraj and Akash Deep managing to extract some movement. Nonetheless, Khawaja and McSweeney remained steadfast, with Khawaja easily flicking Bumrah for four and sending Siraj over square leg before rain once again curtailed play, contributing to a potentially disrupted day of Test cricket.
Brief Scores: Australia 28/0 in 13.2 overs (Usman Khawaja 19 not out, Nathan McSweeney 4 not out) against India
