Agencies
Brisbane
Australia’s seamers ensured they stayed in control of the third Test against India, despite rain decimating much of day three at the Gabba on Monday.
The hosts added 40 runs, either side of a rain delay, to their overnight 405-7, with Alex Carey the last man out for 70.
India’s reply was delayed by more rain, before they slipped to 22-3.
Yashasvi Jaiswal hit Mitchell Starc for four off the first ball of the innings, but was caught at mid-wicket next ball.
Shubman Gill was superbly caught at gully by Mitchell Marsh, before Virat Kohli feathered Josh Hazlewood behind.
The rain returned as Rishabh Pant was walking to the crease and then much of the afternoon and evening session was wiped out by more precipitation, a wet outfield and bad light.
There were four spells of cricket - with each lasting 11, 23, seven and 17 balls respectively.
Pant was dismissed in the third of those, edging Pat Cummins behind, before KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma guided India to 51-4 at stumps.
While 98 overs can be bowled on each of the remaining days, a result may be difficult to achieve with more rain forecast.
Australia’s last three wickets added 40 runs to their overnight 405 for 7. There were brief spells of rain either side of the 17.1 overs they took to do so as well as one in between, after Jasprit Bumrah removed Pat Cummins to pick up his sixth wicket of the innings and his 50th in Tests in Australia.
Alex Carey, who had raced to 45 on the evening of day two to keep Australia’s advantage intact after a three-wicket burst from Bumrah, brought up his half-century and played some resplendent strokes - including an effortless six over wide long-off off Akash Deep - before he was last out for 70. He was out to Akash Deep, who finally got a wicket with the 53rd false shot he had induced in the innings.
Australia’s fast bowlers then began to show how much more they could get out of this Gabba surface than India’s quicks had managed, thanks to both home and height advantage, with all three of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins measuring upwards of 6’5”.
The five-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia’s 10-wicket win in Adelaide last week.
India must win at least two of the final three Tests to guarantee a place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
Defending champions Australia will reach the final if they win two of the remaining Tests.
Scores: India 51 for 4 (Rahul 33*, Starc 2-25) trail Australia 445 (Head 152, Smith 101, Carey 70, Bumrah 6-76) by 394 runs.