Australia are 0-28 from 13.2 overs after India won the toss and sent them in to bat in the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, with Usman Khawaja (19) and Nathan McSweeney (4) at the crease.
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For the second time on day one rain has delayed play with the covers coming onto the Gabba.
Michael Vaughan believes Australian skipper Pat Cummins would have been more than happy to have lost the toss, with India’s decision to bowl first called into question.
“It was one of those decisions at the toss where I think Pat Cummins was absolutely delighted to have lost it,” Vaughan said.
“Good one to lose,” Brendon Julian interjected.
“He didn’t have to make the call,” Vaughan continued.
“Probably would have swayed on batting due to the history of this venue, but I think he was quite happy Rohit Sharma said we will have a bowl first.”
Julian believes the pitch in the days leading up to the first day probably swayed India’s thinking.
“I think the lead up to this Test was a lot of rain and when the players came out for their practice sessions before they had a look at it and it was green,” Julian said.
“But out there this morning I didn’t think it was a bowl first pitch this morning.”
MATCH CENTRE: Latest scores, updates from Australia vs India 3rd Test
Should Uzzie retire after Test series? | 01:13
Play resumed after a short rain delay with Usman Khawaja smashing a pull shot for four as Australia are 0-23 from 6 overs.
Earlier rain delayed play at The Gabba, with Australia 0-19 from 5.3 overs with the covers coming onto the field.
But after a short delay the covers are coming off at The Gabba with play set to resume on day one of the third Test.
Usman Khawaja survived the first over from Jasprit Bumrah with four leg byes the only runs as Australia are on 0-4.
India’s pace bowler and Australia’s tormentor Mohammed Siraj was booed by the Gabba crowd after coming on in his first over with Australia 0-4 after two overs.
It comes after his public battle with Travis Head during the second Test at Adelaide Oval.
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Indian captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and asked Australia to bat first at the Gabba. Australia has not lost a Test match in Brisbane after being sent in since 1985.
Spinner Ravindra Jadeja has been recalled, while Akash Deep returns to the starting XI in place of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Usman Khawaja’s form is under fresh scrutiny heading into the third Test against India at the Gabba, with former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian suggesting that the veteran opening batter should retire after this series.
“Opening the batting in this series has been extremely difficult and I think as you get older – he’s 37 … I know he’s come out in the press and said ‘I’d like to make it to the next Ashes series. I just can’t see that personally,” Julian told FOX Sports News.
“I actually think he probably should finish up this series in Australia, go out on a high. I just don’t like it when players try and hang on that little bit longer and as you get older and when you’re batting, you’re opening the batting against quality bowling with new balls. That is very, very difficult and as you get older, you’re just not as sharp.
“I know they can come out and say my body feels great, my mind feels great, but at the end of the day, you’re on that slide when you get older. And particularly when you’re opening the batting, it’s not easy. So for me personally, I think he should finish up this summer but go out on a high. It would be a great way to finish his career.
“He’s been the comeback kid, he’s been a phenomenal batsman for Australia at the top of the order, it has not been easy for him. And I’d like to see him finish on a high, rather than try to hang on and then the media speculation gets about him being dropped and all those type of things.”
INDIA’S HEAD FAILURE IN SPOTLIGHT
India enters the third Test under scrutiny for its failure to contain Aussie batting linchpin Travis Head, with questions as to why he hasn’t copped a bouncer barrage.
A green Gabba wicket may prove the perfect chance to test theory, which former India player Aakash Chopra put on the agenda after a 10-wicket loss in Adelaide in which Head made a first-innings 140.
“Did we bowl bouncers to Head? You have to bowl bouncers on Head’s head. Until we do that, he doesn’t get out and keeps troubling us. He has done that earlier and is doing it now also. He did that in the World Cup final and the WTC final as well,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The theory has grown legs in the Indian media ahead of the Gabba clash.
“Head does have a chink in his armour and a few teams have exploited that to keep him in check — by bowling well-directed bouncers at his body. India, however, have been averse to use that option against him. It’s not like they don’t have bowlers capable of bowling those lines,” wrote Madhu Jawali in the Deccan Herald.
“In Adelaide, he was hardly tested with short-balls on his body and if multiple reports are to be believed, he faced just four such deliveries. While their reluctance to use the short-ball tactic so far is strange to say the least, one can only hope better sense would prevail.”
Cummins positive Smith will find form | 00:50
WHAT IS THE WEATHER FORECAST?
Of course, there is a chance both teams may have to wait until Sunday for the third Test to get underway, with showers and a possible thunderstorm forecast for Brisbane on Saturday.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting between zero and 15 millimetres of rain, with a “high chance” of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon.
HAZLEWOOD CLEARED, ROHIT NO-SHOW
Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood was cleared of injury Friday and will return for the third Test against India at the expense of Scott Boland as play gets underway on Saturday.
While there are no other changes for Australia’s starting side in Brisbane, there is more uncertainty surrounding how India’s batting line-up could look like, especially after a press conference no-show.
India are determined to post a big first innings total at Brisbane, batsman Shubman Gill said Friday after they were skittled cheaply in Adelaide.
The visitors were dismissed for just 180 in the second day-night Test after winning the toss and opting to bat, with the hosts then compiling 337.
India made only 175 in their second knock, leaving Australia a meagre 19 to win.
“As a team, as a batting group we are looking to post a big total first up,” said number three Gill.
“That’s been one of the key discussions. Every batsman will have their own game plan, but as a group collectively we will try to get a big first innings score.”
In the wake of the Adelaide defeat, which left the five-Test series poised at 1-1, skipper Rohit Sharma was critical of the batting, including his own poor form.
“That is the disappointing part, that we didn’t bat well enough,” he said at the time.
“Probably were 30-40 runs short with the bat in the first innings.”
Rohit, who missed the first Test in Perth, came in at number six in Adelaide, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul retained at the top.
There has been talk that he could revert to opener in Brisbane, but he failed to front the traditional pre-match captain’s press conference to discuss the issue.
Asked why Rohit was a no-show, Gill alluded to training on Friday being optional and not compulsory.
“I think he practised enough,” he said.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been carrying a minor groin injury picked up in Adelaide, but trained on Thursday and is expected to be fit.
Whether India keep faith with young seamer Harshit Rana remains to be seen. He failed to get a wicket in the second Test and Akash Deep is a potential replacement.
Despite being thrashed by 10 wickets in Adelaide, Gill remains optimistic about their Brisbane chances.
“We’ve won the last few series (against Australia),” he said.
“So there’s no fear. Perhaps if we hadn’t won, maybe.”
– AFP
