Australia vs India: Men’s Third Cricket Test Day One – Live | Australia cricket team

On December 14, 2024By Littum

Key events

A timely email from Tim Thomas has quickly turned to the bright side of this rain delay.

“A bit of a damp wet weekend ahead in Brisbane might help the game go a long way, but I’m not sure which team would prefer it. The grassroots will certainly have their work cut out for them. Set for a more traditional game !”

6th over: Australia 19-0 (Khawaja 13, McSweeney 2) The covers are on! Siraj gets through three deliveries to McSweeney and the right-hander hits a defensive shot at mid off for a quick single. Khawaja is slow off the mark to momentarily put Australian hearts in their mouths, but is over the line when the throw comes in. India might not mind the opportunity to regroup as the first half hour has favored the Australian openers.

5th over: Australia 18-0 (Khawaja 13, McSweeney 1) Bumrah to Khawaja again as the left-hander has faced all the Indian strike bowlers’ deliveries so far. The left-hander has been quite comfortable with Bumrah, who may lack a bit of zip. Khawaja works the ball nicely from his pads as he usually does and looks as good as you can for four.

We have a few early comments as excitement builds around a series that has so far lived up to sky-high expectations.

borisfeigin has been in touch with Bluesky to say: “Again we observe the power of test cricket. People will remember what happened last time and probably what happens in this game for a long time, possibly decades. Meanwhile, can anyone remember without Google what happened in last year’s BBL final?

“We visit captains and decide to bowl at the Gabba. Normally a brave (in a Sir Humphrey sense) call, but the pitch looks pretty lush.”

The BBL season starts this weekend and is always an enjoyable part of the Australian summer, but I catch your drift borisfeigin.

4th over: Australia 14-0 (Khawaja 9, McSweeney 1) McSweeney pushes off his pads for a quick single off the first delivery as Australia rotate the strike for the first time. Khawaja picks up a couple with fine leg as Siraj drifts onto his pads, then the left-hander punishes a shorter ball with a sublime pull shot for four through midwicket. It’s been a positive start for Australia and India, who are asking for the ball to be checked – it passes through the rings with no problems.

3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Khawaja 2, McSweeney 0) Bumrah continues around the wicket to Khawaja and strikes the bat with a delivery that drifts late away from the left-hander. This is the first time Bumrah has been able to extract a bit of zest as he looks a bit below top pace. Khawaja plays off his pads to collect a couple of runs through midwicket, the first of the bat this morning.

2nd over: Australia 4-0 (Khawaja 0, McSweeney 0) Siraj to McSweeney and the India quick is straight to work away at a good length outside off. Not much movement for Siraj and the third player is untouched. Virgin over.

1st over: Australia 4-0 (Khawaja 0, McSweeney 0) Bumrah has Khawaja in close from the second delivery with plenty of movement taking the ball across the left-hander. But the delivery misses the edge and cannons into Khawaja’s thigh. Four runs come off the thigh pad from the next delivery as Khawaja looks to play to fine leg.

The national anthems are done, Jasprit Bumrah has the cherry in hand, Usman Khawaja takes two centers and we are ready to play.

India XI

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

A few changes for the tourists with their third spinner picked in as many Tests, this time Jadeja was picked instead of Ashwin. Akash Deep is also recalled.

Australia XI

Australia: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

As revealed yesterday, Hazlewood has proved his fitness after sitting out the second Test due to a side strain. Scott Boland is left out in the only change to the side that won by 10 wickets at Adelaide Oval.

Pat Cummins plays his cards against his chest when asked what he would have done if Australia had won the toss. That says as much as anything, but here’s more from the Australian skipper.

It’s been a great series so far. I think we sold out at the Gabba today. I’m sure it will be lively out there.

Almost everyone got into the series and … now here at the Gabba, a place we like to play at. It has been a good start.

India win the toss and elect to field

Rohit Sharma correctly calls “heads” and chooses to bowl first.

A little cloudy. A little grass and looks soft. We will try to make the most of the conditions and see what we can do with the ball up front.

As the game progresses, batting gets better and better. But we will try to make the best use of the conditions beforehand.

There is a nice green sheen at the top of the pitch, which is one of the few remaining natural covers, rather than drop-in wickets, across international cricket. There is a bit of cloud hovering overhead and a slight chance of showers amid a forecast of 29. The captains are in the middle to pitch.

Travis Head is an Australian batter who has underwhelmed at the Gabba in recent times, with a couple of golden ducks in the Test against the West Indies earlier. It followed a 92 and another first-ball duck when Australia faced South Africa at the end of 2022, meaning the right-hander has been dismissed off his last four balls in Brisbane Tests.

But the middle-order powerhouse carries strong form into this third Test after making 140 against India in his hometown of Adelaide last week. Head and India pacer Mohammed Siraj had some choice words with each other as the rivalry and tension surrounding a close series begins to bubble away. The ICC was not impressed.

Australia were unbeaten at the Gabba across 31 Tests between 1989 and 2021 when India upset the hosts with a three-wicket win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series win. Geoff Lemon has looked at how the Gabba has changed over time and the latest changes that could help Australia rebuild their dominance at the venue.

Preamble

Martin Pegan

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first day of the third Test between Australia and India. The stage is set for a thriller after a couple of thrashings went both ways as the tourists took an early lead in the series in Perth before Australia hit back in Adelaide.

Both sides have a history of success in Brisbane, where the third Test will be played at the Gabba. Australia did not lose at their home fortress for more than 30 years until they were stunned by an injury-hit India the last time they met here. A loss to the West Indies earlier this year was even more of a shock.

Josh Hazlewood will be a welcome addition to the Australia XI in a place where his natural bounce can turn into a weapon. Scott Boland is the unlucky bowler to make way, as he has done so many times before, despite taking five wickets in the win at Adelaide Oval. While Australia will have their full range of quicks, their batting remains the concern and all eyes will be on Steve Smith as the no. 4 has his latest shot at breaking out of a slump in form.

India are in a similar position with their attack centered around the sometimes unplayable Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old is under an injury cloud after suffering groin soreness in Adelaide but is expected to be named in Brisbane. The tourists’ batting line-up has been feast or famine with captain Rohit Sharma standing out as the player most in need of runs, perhaps from his more familiar role at the top of the order.

First ball will be at 10.20 local time or 11.20pm AEDT. I’ll see us through the first session and a half with Jonathan Howcroft taking the reins. The cast and the confirmation of the teams will come soon. Get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Blue sky or X. Let’s get into it!