With their Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at 1-1, India and Australia will engage in their third Test match at The Gabba on December 14. Each side are looking to claim victory.
Jasprit Bumrah led India to an emphatic win in Perth while Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia recover in Adelaide. Australia’s pace attack will play a vital role at Brisbane Test.
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Day 1
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series poised at 1-1 following India’s victory at Perth and Australia’s comeback victory at Adelaide, all eyes will turn towards Brisbane for the third and final Test, commencing Saturday.
Australia’s bowlers including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne should benefit from a fresh pitch at the Gabba, with chances that rain could disrupt play at some point each day – the weather forecast currently predicts 25% chance on Day 1, increasing gradually through subsequent days to 40% chances on Days 4 & 5.
Day 2
On Saturday morning at The Gabba in Brisbane, India and Australia will commence the third Test of their Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against each other at The Gabba. This match has immense significance for both sides, with India leading 1-1 after dominating Perth under stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah but succumbing to an inspired Australia side in Adelaide’s day-night Test.
Weather forecasters expect cloudy conditions with a 25% chance of rain throughout the Test match in Brisbane. Play will resume from where it was left off on Day 1, requiring at least 98 overs to be bowled in four sessions starting at 5:50am IST before lunch breaks and tea breaks are taken, followed by extended playing hours if necessary.
Day 3
Australian pace bowlers were unstoppable on a rain-affected third day at the Gabba. Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Hazlewood each picked up two wickets as India struggled to make inroads into their innings.
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tied 1-1 after two Tests, both teams head into Melbourne with an equal chance to claim victory and advance to the World Test Championship final. Jasprit Bumrah led India to an emphatic 295-run win in Perth before Pat Cummins’ side posted an emphatic 10-wicket triumph at Adelaide.
Australia’s batsmen appeared poised to defend a large total, but weather caused play to stop after only 13.2 overs could be bowled. Extended playing hours have been scheduled over the remaining days in order to compensate for lost time.
Day 4
Australia secured victory in the third IND v AUS test at the Gabba after an eventful rain-affected day three, when pace attack star Mitchell Starc claimed two wickets from Jaiswal and Gill while Josh Hazlewood dismissed Kohli.
India’s chances of forcing a follow on dwindled quickly as India’s batsmen struggled against Australian bowler Pat Cummins and Rishabh Pant fell victim to him – leaving India trailing by 394 runs at stumps.
On Day Four of this tournament, play will commence at 09:50 local time (5:20 IST), with at least 98 overs to be bowled each day in order to compensate for lost overs due to rain or bad light conditions. A 20-minute tea break will then follow play.
Day 5
Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is now even at 1-1 following India’s convincing win at Perth and Australia’s 10-wicket win in Adelaide’s Day/Night Test; neither side appears favored ahead of The Gabba’s third and final Test on February 17. Neither batting unit seems particularly powerful right now, leaving every aspect up in the air for what could be an unpredictable third and final Test at The Gabba to decide it all.
After rain interrupted play on Day 3, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne should take full advantage of a fresh Gabba pitch after Rohit Sharma and Usman Khawaja were left languishing in their respective batting positions. But will coach Smith take the risky move of recruiting 19-year-old batsman Aaron Konstas?
Queensland Governor Scott Moxon has secured long-term security for a men’s Test match at The Gabba in every summer from now until 2032. Melbourne will maintain their Boxing Day Test, while Sydney has retained a New Year’s game as part of this plan.