India vs Australia (India Cricket Team vs Australia Cricket Team) 3rd BGT Test Day 1 LIVE score: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba, Brisbane.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and opted to field first. India has made two changes to the playing XI. Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep are playing today in place of R Ashwin and Harshit Rana.
With the series locked at 1-1, Brisbane could well decide the course of the rubber and whether Rohit’s men would continue to be the master of their fate in the ongoing World Test Championship. For India, the biggest hope remains in Australia’s batting vulnerability which can lead to an implosion if a certain Travis Head doesn’t decide to be the marauder.
Eyes will be also on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Kohli has managed to get rid of some pressure with a hundred on the eased-up Perth track, for Rohit, a captain’s knock is needed not just to boost his confidence but also help him assert as a leader who shows the way.
Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
LIVE FEED
UPDATE – 12.50 am GMT – Good news! The rain has eased off, and the skies are starting to brighten up. The Indian players are waiting near the boundary ropes, with Rohit Sharma seen engaging in a conversation with the fielding coach.
UPDATE – 12.45 am GMT – Oh, no! The drizzle has made an untimely appearance and is starting to pick up in intensity. The players are going off as the ground staff come charging in to cover the deck. Adam Gilchrist points out a telling stat – only 1 out of the 33 balls bowled by India so far would have hit the stumps. This unexpected break in play could give India a chance to reassess their lengths, which have lacked precision. From Australia’s perspective, they won’t be overly bothered by this interruption either.
UPDATE – The rain has reduced in intensity and the skies have brightened up a bit as well.
UPDATE – 12.45 am GMT – Oh, no! The drizzle has made an untimely appearance and is starting to pick up in intensity. The players are going off as the ground staff come charging in to cover the deck. Fingers crossed that it’s just a passing shower!
Oh, no! The drizzle has made an untimely appearance and is starting to pick up in intensity. The players are going off as the ground staff come charging in to cover the deck.
5.1 – There wasn’t any shot offered and the umpire calls it a dead ball. On a back of a length, angling into the hips, Nathan McSweeney uncertain of whether to play or to leave opts to let it pass and the ball clips his thigh and goes behind to fine leg. The batters cross but will have to get back.
5.3 – Oh dear, that was a close call! Angling in, on middle, Nathan McSweeney taps it in front of mid-wicket and sets off for the run. Usman Khawaja is slightly late to respond and Akash Deep finds a chance to run him out. Charges in at the ball, collects it with his right hand and attempts a throw at the batting end but misses.
5.2 – On a length, outside off, Nathan McSweeney leaves.
Siraj is back on the field and he is all set to resume his spell.
4.6 – FOUR! Nicely done! Usman Khawaja seems to be at ease on one end! Angling into the pads, on a length, Khawaja flicks it neatly and the ball races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Batsman_1 : Usman Khawaja 13(22)
Batsman_2 : Nathan McSweeney 1(8)
Bowler : Jasprit Bumrah 0/6(3)
Over : 5
Run : 4
Wicket : 0
Score : 18/0
4.5 – Goes a bit fuller and on middle and off, Usman Khawaja pushes it to mid on.
0.4 – Short of a good length, outside off, Usman Khawaja opts to make a leave.
4.4 – Good length, on middle and off, Usman Khawaja blocks.
Mohammed Siraj is off the field for the moment for a change of shoes.
4.3 – Comes from wider on the crease and dishes it on a length, around the fifth stump line and gets the ball to jag back in a long way. Usman Khawaja trusts the bounce and leaves.
4.2 – On off, on a length, Usman Khawaja pats it back to the bowler to his left.
4.1 – Angling in, going down leg, Usman Khawaja gets inside the line and lets it go past him to the keeper.
3.6 – A hint of away movement on that one! Fuller and outside off, shaping away a tad bit. Nathan McSweeney leaves.
Batsman_1 : Nathan McSweeney 1(8)
Batsman_2 : Usman Khawaja 9(16)
Bowler : Mohammed Siraj 0/8(2)
Over : 4
Run : 8
Wicket : 0
Score : 14/0
3.4 – FOUR! Great shot and a loud roar from the crowd to back it up! On a back of a length, on middle, sits up perfectly for Khawaja who swivels back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.
3.5 – Good length, on middle and leg, Usman Khawaja works it to mid-wicket and gets a single.
3.3 – Full and on leg, Usman Khawaja flicks it off his pads to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.
3.2 – Well outside off, on a length, Usman Khawaja is unbothered by that one and makes a leave.
3.1 – Great running! On a length, on off, Nathan McSweeney taps it to the left of the bowler and scampers across for a quick single. Siraj charges to the ball, slides to pick it up and tries a throw at the bowling end but fails to grab onto the ball neatly.
2.6 – Pulls the length down and keeps it outside off, Usman Khawaja is happy to let it go through.
Batsman_1 : Usman Khawaja 2(12)
Batsman_2 : Nathan McSweeney 0(6)
Bowler : Jasprit Bumrah 0/2(2)
Over : 3
Run : 2
Wicket : 0
Score : 6/0
2.1 – Comes from around the wicket and lands it on a back of a length, going down leg, Usman Khawaja leaves it alone.
2.5 – Angling in, on middle and leg, Usman Khawaja tucks it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs to get off the mark.
2.4 – Oh, that went away! On a length, just outside off, angling in and straightening off the deck to go past the outside edge as Khawaja is squared up.
2.3 – Gets the line wider, outside off, on a fuller length, Khawaja drags it across to mid on.
2.2 – Very full, on off, Usman Khawaja drives it off the inner half of the bat to the left of the fielder at mid off. Gill dives to that side and makes a fine stop.
1.6 – A very tight over to start with for Siraj! Goes full and locks his sights on the stumps, Nathan McSweeney keeps it out to the off side. A maiden over for Mohammed Siraj!
Batsman_1 : Nathan McSweeney 0(6)
Batsman_2 : Usman Khawaja 0(6)
Bowler : Mohammed Siraj 0/0(1)
Over : 2
Run : 0
Wicket : 0
Score : 4/0
1.5 – Keeps it tight at the stumps, on a length, McSweeney taps it in front of mid on and looks for a run but decides against it.
1.4 – Fuller and attacking the stumps, Nathan McSweeney tucks it in front of square leg.
1.3 – On a good length, on off, Nathan McSweeney leans on and taps it in front of backward point.
