As expected since India’s follow-on avoidance, the Brisbane Test ended with a draw result but with an unexpected thrilling turn, where rain spoiled the entire moment. 

Starting the fifth day at 252/9 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 445 runs, the Indian last batters added eight more runs before Travis Head dismissed Akash Deep for 31 runs off 44 balls (two fours and one six) as he was stumped out. 

Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep added 47 runs for the last wicket. It was India's third-highest 10th-wicket partnership in Test cricket in Australia. 

See Also: Ravichandran Ashwin retires from international cricket

Australia declared at 89/7

Australia started their second innings of the Gabba Test with a lead of 185 runs, but the Indian pacers dominated from the early period. Australia lost five wickets for 33 runs, where Jasprit Bumrah started with two wickets, while Akash Deep shined from the beginning by picking up the next two wickets, and Mohammed Siraj sent the first innings centurion Steven Smith very early. 

Later, Travis Head (17), Alex Carey (20*), and captain Pat Cummins (22) cleared their minds with big shots as they were busy to start the fourth innings as soon as possible in the bad weather. Australia ultimately declared their innings at 89/7 in 18 overs, as India had the fourth innings target of 275 runs in 54 possible overs.

Indian openers stayed not out in the tricky period

Indian openers came to bat in the full dark cloud weather, which was only confirming the fifth-day weather forecast. Aussie fast bowlers, the left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc and the skipper Pat Cummins, only managed to bowl 13 balls, where India scored 8/0 before the bad light called the tea break sooner.

Both the Indian openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, didn’t look nervous in the tricky period, as the fourth innings couldn't be restarted due to dominant rain. Both the umpires and teams quickly came to the draw decision. 

Series remained level at 1-1

At the end of the Brisbane Test, the five-match Test series Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is hanging at 1-1 with the last two Tests to go. While India won the Test series opener at Perth by 295 runs, Australia won the day-night pink ball Adelaide Test by 10 wickets. 

Iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the fourth Test of the series, starting on December 26. Later, another iconic venue Sydney Cricket Ground will host the last Test, starting on January 3, 2025.

The fifth day of the Brisbane Test was unexpectedly thrilling, as the hosts Australia and the visitors India both fought their hearts to make the Test match interesting and memorable. In reply to Australia’s 445 total, India were all out for 260 runs in their first innings, as the hosts got a lead of 185 runs. Later, the Aussie top orders collapsed, triggering the hosts' middle order to play faster to make the game on for them. 

With 89/7, Australian captain Pat Cummins declared their innings and set the fourth innings target of 275 runs for India. Initially, the day had at least 54 overs to be bowled, but the rain god made the game uncertain. 

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah breaks Kapil Dev's 32-year-old Test record

Australia recorded third lowest declared total

With 89/7, Australia recorded their third-lowest declared total in their Test cricket history. Interestingly, their first three lowest Test innings declaration has been recorded at the Gabba.

Second lowest declared total against India

Meanwhile, it was the second-lowest declared total for any team against India. The record was 68/0 declared by England during the 1981 Delhi Test. 

Lowest declared total for hosts against India

So, while 89/7 is the new lowest declared total for any hosts against India, the previous record was 129/3 declared by Sri Lanka during the 2010 Colombo (SSC) Test.

Day 4 of the 3rd Test between India and Australia at the Gabba saw India fight hard to stay in the contest. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were the key contributors, with Rahul making 84 after surviving an early drop. Jadeja also played a crucial knock, scoring 77, and keeping India’s chances alive. Despite their efforts, India ended the day trailing Australia by 193 runs at stumps, with one wicket remaining.

Jadeja and KL Rahul Lead India’s Fightback

Day 4 began with Pat Cummins delivering a fiery opening spell. In his very first ball of the day, KL Rahul nicked the ball, but Steve Smith dropped the catch on 33, giving Rahul a lifeline. He capitalized on this opportunity, going on to score a solid 84 before Smith redeemed himself with a stunning catch. Rohit Sharma’s early dismissal for just 10 runs put India under pressure, but Ravindra Jadeja took charge. His knock of 77 kept India in the game and provided much-needed stability to the innings.

See Also: Fans slam Indian team management after Ravindra Jadeja's heroic batting performance

Lower Order Resilience: Akash Deep and Bumrah Stand Strong

After Jadeja’s dismissal, India’s hopes rested on the last-wicket pair of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah. The duo added a vital unbeaten 39-run partnership, ensuring India avoided the follow-on. As bad light stopped play early, India finished the day at 252/9, trailing by 193 runs. With the match leaning towards a draw, fans await Day 5 to see if India can extend their innings or if Australia finishes things off quickly.

With rain expected, there is a high chance the match could end in a draw. However, both teams are still in with a chance of a surprising win. Whether Australia or India secures a victory, it will be a surprising outcome considering the situation. The final day promises to be crucial as both sides fight for the lead.

In the crucial Brisbane Test, while hosts Australia have earned a massive advantage, they have been hit by a fresh injury concern in the first session of the fourth day as one of the key pacers couldn’t bowl much. 

After scoring 445 runs in the first innings of the Gabba Test, Australian pacers dominated on the third day as India were struggling at 51/4. Apart from the opener KL Rahul, who remained not out at 33 runs, all other Indian batters failed to reach double-digit scores.

Watch: KL Rahul's century denied by Steven Smith's stunning catch

Josh Hazlewood reported calf awareness

On the fourth day, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood could bowl only one over in the first session due to a calf injury. During warm-up, the right-arm pacer felt discomfort in the calf. Later, it was revealed that the right-arm pacer was taken for scans in the treatment for calf awareness. 

An Australian spokesperson said, "Josh Hazlewood reported calf awareness in this morning’s warm-up. He will be taken for scans to assess the injury. Any updates will be shared in due course."

During India’s first innings of the Brisbane Test, Hazlewood picked up the wicket of the former Indian captain Virat Kohli. 

Hazlewood missed the Adelaide Test

Hazlewood missed out on the second Test of the ongoing five-match Test series at Adelaide Oval, which was a day-night pink ball Test match, due to a side strain. Scott Boland replaced him for that Test match, and the right-arm pacer troubled the Indian batters heavily. 

The five-match Test series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, is currently standing at 1-1. While the visitors India started this Test series with a victory by 295 runs at Perth Stadium, Australia won the pink-ball Adelaide Test match by 10 wickets. 

India are in a difficult position in the Brisbane Test, as even the rainy third day of the Test match couldn’t save the visitors from the uncomfortable situation. 

Starting the third day at 405/7, the hosts scored 445 runs after spending more than 15 overs on the crucial rain-marred day. Just like the forecast, rain dominated the third day of the Test match, where India are on the back foot at 51/4 at the early stumps of the day. 

See Also: Mandhana and Rodrigues propel India's win in the series opener against West Indies

Only KL Rahul managed to reach the double-digit score

Except for the opener KL Rahul, all other Indian batters who came out to bat haven’t reached the double-digit mark. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal started the innings with a boundary but was out on the next delivery of Mitchell Starc after setting up a catch for Mitchell Marsh at forward square leg. 

Shubman Gill only managed to score 1 run as the right-handed batter was Starc’s next victim after Marsh took a flying catch at the gully. 

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli once again lost his wicket in a similar fashion as Josh Hazlewood has returned to Test cricket with a key wicket. 

Rishabh Pant came to bat at no. 5, and the left-handed batter was caught behind at nine runs as the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins took his first wicket of the match. 

With the help of four boundaries, opener KL Rahul remained not out for 33 runs off 64 balls. Indian captain Rohit Sharma was not out for none after facing six deliveries. 

Alex Carey scored 70 after Jasprit Bumrah's six-fer

In the morning session, Jasprit Bumrah completed his six-wicket haul after dismissing Mitchell Starc, who was caught behind for 18 runs. Before that wicket, Alex Carrey completed his half-century. While Mohammed Siraj then bowled Nathan Lyon for just two runs, Akash Deep took his first wicket of the match by dismissing Carrey for 70 runs off 88 balls (seven fours and two sixes).

The 31-year-old Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah once again produced his special bowling performance, especially when India were in trouble in the first innings of the Brisbane Test.

The second day of the Gabba Test, the third Test of the five-match Test series, started at Australia’s first innings total of 28/0. In the first half an hour, Australia lost both the openers as Bumrah took the wickets of Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9). Both the openers had no answers against the master fast bowler. 

Struggling at 75/3, Australia made a strong comeback, thanks to the 200+ partnership between the centurions Steven Smith and Travis Head. While Smith scored his 33rd Test century, Head slammed his ninth Test century, as both the batters were in complete control.

However, with the second new ball, Bumrah showed his class once again. After dismissing Smith for 101 runs, he took the wickets of Mitchell Marsh (5) and Head in the same over. While Head scored 152 runs, Smith and Head had an outstanding 241-run partnership for the crucial fourth wicket. 

Watch: Mohammed Siraj's bails swap trick brings Marnus Labuschagne's wicket quickly

Jasprit Bumrah recorded the second fifer in this Test series

While Australia scored 405/7 at the stumps on day two, Bumrah finished the day with bowling figures of 25-7-72-5. It was his second fifer in this Test series, which came after his Perth Test fifer as a captain. After the legendary cricketer Kapil Dev recorded multiple five-wicket hauls in two Australian tours (2 times in the 1980-81 series and 2 times in 1991-92), Bumrah became another Indian pacer to record multiple fifers in a Test series in Australia.

Bumrah recorded his third 4+ wickets haul in the Test series

On the other hand, after 5/30 and 4/61 in Australia’s first innings of the Perth Test and Adelaide Test, respectively, the latest fifer was Bumrah’s third four or more wickets haul in an innings in this Test series. After Kapil Dev recorded it three times in the 1991-92 season, Bumrah became the second Indian pacer to record three four+ wicket hauls in a Test series in Australia. 

Bumrah recorded his 12th Test fifer

Talking about Bumrah’s fifer in the first innings of the Gabba Test, it was his 12th Test fifer. Surpassing legendary Indian pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma (both recorded 11 five-wicket hauls), Bumrah has now climbed to second place in the list of most Test fifers by an Indian pacer. Only Kapil Dev is ahead of Bumrah in this list with 23 Test fifers. 

Bumrah recorded his 10th Test fifer outside India

On the other hand, it was Bumrah’s 10th Test five-wicket haul outside India. After the legendary Indian pacer Kapil Dev (12 Test fifers outside India) and the leg-spinner Anil Kumble (10 Test fifers outside India), Bumrah became the third Indian bowler to record 10 or more Test fifers outside the home soil. 

Despite a good start, the visitors India are under pressure at the stumps on the second day of the Brisbane Test as Steven Smith and Travis Head’s centuries set the full control of the game for the hosts Australians.   

After the rain-interrupted opening day of the Gabba Test, which experienced only 80 balls, Australia started the second day at 28/0. 

India controlled the first session

In the first half an hour, both the Aussie openers Usman Khawaja and newcomer Nathan McSweeney were dismissed by the Indian star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up the third wicket by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, which came after the Aussie batter’s hilarious bails swap moment with Mohammed Siraj. At that moment, Australia scored 75/3. 

Steven Smith and Travis Head replied strongly

Hosts dominated in the second session, where Steven Smith and Travis Head added 130 runs in 27 overs without losing their wickets. After Head’s naturally aggressive batting, Smith came out from the pressure and set a great example with his familiar batting. 

After completing his half-century in 71 balls, Head scored his ninth Test century in 115 balls. It was his second century in this Test series, which came in consecutive innings. 

Meanwhile, Smith completed his first 50 runs in 128 balls and then completed his century in 185 balls. It was his first Test century after 24 innings. While it was his 33rd Test century, he surpassed legendary Steve Waugh to record the second most Test centuries by an Australian batter. While Smith recorded the joint most Test centuries against India with English legend Joe Root by recording his 10th Test hundred, he also set a new record for most international centuries against India with his 15th international century. 

See Also: Mohammed Shami included in Bengal squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Jasprit Bumrah shined once again

However, Jasprit Bumrah once again put the visitors in the game by taking wickets with the second new ball. While Smith lost his wicket for 101 runs (12 fours) as he produced a thick edge to the slip, captain Rohit Sharma grabbed a superb catch to end the frustrating partnership. Before that wicket, Smith and Head had a partnership of 241 runs for the fourth wicket.

Soon, Bumrah dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head in a single over. While Marsh only managed to score five runs, Head lost his wicket only after scoring valuable 152 runs off 160 balls (18 fours). It was Head’s 140+ runs in back-to-back Test innings. 

Alex Carey and the skipper Pat Cummins had a 58-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Cummins was caught behind in Mohammed Siraj’s over after scoring 20 runs. 

Australia scored 400+ total after 16 Test innings

Australia ended the second day of the Gabba Test at 405/7. While Carey scored 45 not out off 47 balls with five fours and one six, Mitchell Starc was not out at seven runs. They have set up a 20-run partnership for the unbroken eighth wicket. It was Australia's first 400+ total after 16 Test innings, including 12 completed or declared innings.

Jasprit Bumrah completed his 12th Test five-wicket haul by ending the day with the bowling figures of 25-7-72-5. 

While the in-experienced Indian batting has been struggling, Australia have the headache of poor weather forecast for the next three days of the Test match. As the series is in the 1-1 level position, this third Test of the five-match Test series is very crucial for both teams, who can afford a draw but not a defeat.

Australian star Steven Smith has finally found his form by scoring a memorable Test century against India in the first innings of the Brisbane Test.

After Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to bowl first in the Brisbane Test, the hosts Australia were once struggling at 75/3 as the Indian pacers got control of the match. However, once the ball got older, Steven Smith and in-form Travis Head enjoyed the batting as the Indian bowlers had a hard day.

Smith and Head had a 241-run partnership for the third wicket, where both the batters scored valuable centuries to put the hosts into a commendable position. 

Although Smith was struggling in the initial moment, Head eased the situation by playing his natural innings. Once the ball became old, Smith confidently batted and returned to his familiar form. While he scored his first 50 runs in 128 balls, he completed his hundred in 185 balls.

Watch: Mohammed Siraj's bails swap trick brings Marnus Labuschagne's wicket quickly

Steven Smith surpassed Steve Waugh

After failing in 24 innings, Smith finally added one Test century to his tally. His previous Test century was recorded in June 2023, when the Australian batter recorded his 32nd Test century at Lord's. 

It was Smith's 33rd Test century, which helped him to surpass the former star Steve Waugh (32 Test centuries) and climb to the second place in the list of most Test centuries by an Australian batter. Only the legendary batter Ricky Ponting is on top of him with 41 Test centuries. 

Smith equaled the record for most Test centuries against India

Also, it was Smith’s 10th Test century against India. After the English cricketer Joe Root, who already recorded 10 Test centuries against India, Smith became the second batter to record 10 Test hundreds against India. 

Smith set a new world record against India

It was Smith's 15th century in international cricket against India. With his latest hundred, Smith set a new world record for most international centuries against India. Former Australian batter Ricky Ponting previously held the record with 14 international hundreds against India.  

While the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is at its peak, visitors India had a great first session of the second day of the crucial Brisbane Test match. After Steven Smith-Marnus Labuschagne's partnership frustrated the Indian pacers, Mohammed Siraj’s bails swap trick quickly brought luck in the visitors’ favour. 

Jasprit Bumrah provided a strong start

India started the second day of the Brisbane Test strongly as the pacer Jasprit Bumrah dismissed both the Aussie openers cheaply. After Usman Khawaja was caught behind for 21 runs, new opener Nathan McSweeney once again couldn’t find his rhythm and was caught at the second slip after scoring only nine runs off 49 balls.

Although Australia lost both their openers in the first half an hour, experienced Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were controlling the Indian pacers. While the Indian pacers set the tough questions for the Aussie batters, the experienced duo was handling the situations despite some hard moments. 

Watch: Teammates set emotional farewell on Tim Southee's last Test

The bails swap drama between Mohammed Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne

It was the first ball of the 33rd over of the innings, when the Indian pacer Siraj had an lbw appeal against Steven Smith, but the umpire rejected that. While Smith and Labuschagne had a leg-bye run on that delivery, Labuschagne faced the next ball. It was a dot ball, and Siraj then walked towards the batter’s stump and switched the bails of the wicket. While one bail fell down, Labuschagne brought the bails to their original position.

THE BAILS EXCHANGE....!!!! 😄

- Siraj & Labuschagne changing the bails, A fun moment at Gabba.#INDvAUS #AUSvIND #Gabba pic.twitter.com/fg0MDqDXWb

— RAFI AN (@Rafi_anee) December 15, 2024

Once again the bails swap trick brought luck for the bowling team, as in the next over, Labuschagne was caught at the slip after Kohli completed his second catch of the day. Nitish Kumar Reddy got that crucial wicket as Australia scored 75/3. Labuschagne was out for 12 runs off 55 balls. At the lunch, the hosts scored 104/3 in 43 overs. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy gets Labuschagne followed by an aggressive celebration of Virat Kohli 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JPVBNwriPe

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 15, 2024

The crucial Brisbane Test had a disappointing start as the rain frustrated the opening day of the Test match, which involved only 80 balls. 

Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to field first after winning the toss, which is also  Virat Kohli's 100th international match against Australia. Aussie openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney were really cautious while the Indian pacers fought hard with the new ball but hardly generated threatening swings. 

See Also: Shakib banned by ECB for illegal bowling action

Australia end Day 1 with 28 for no loss

Rain first interrupted when Australia were batting at 19/0 in 5.3 overs. The game restarted in 30 minutes and the hosts scored 28/0 in 13.2 overs when the second rain interruption started. This time rain completely dominated as soon the cricket fans experienced a disappointing waterlogged. There was no surprise that the umpires called off the day. At the end of the day, Khawaja scored 19 not out off 47 balls with three fours, and McSweeney was batting at four off 33 balls.

A minimum of 98 overs to be bowled in the remaining four days

All remaining four days of the Test match will begin at 9:50 AM local time, and the days will be extended with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled. As the day experienced less than 15 overs, the Cricket Australia (CA) has announced a full refund for the opening day tickets.   

The weather forecast suggests less rain for the second day of the Gabba Test. However, the last three days can hugely be disturbed due to the strong rain forecast. 

It is an important Test series for both Australia and India as both are fighting to grab the top two spots of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table. The five-match Test series is currently at 1-1 after the completion of the first two Tests. While the visitors India started the Test series with a 295-run victory at Perth, Australia won the day-night pink-ball Test by 10 wickets at Adelaide.