Australia’s ambitious declaration to attempt to force a result in the third Test at the Gabba backfired on Wednesday as the top order failed again on a rain-affected day five in Brisbane.
The Border-Gavaskar series remains locked at 1-1 with two Tests to play, in Melbourne and Sydney, after incessant rain, the odd lightning strike and periods of poor light put a dampener on a match Australia were in a strong position to win.
When Australia declared at 7-89 on Wednesday, India needed 275 from 54 overs for a miraculous win.
With a large thunderstorm brewing over the Gabba, bad light forced players off just 13 balls into India’s innings. Players shook hands at 4.26pm local time (5.26pm, AEDT) and the match ended in a draw.
The unforeseen consequence of Australia’s bid for an unlikely win is that the top order will head into the Boxing Day Test with their confidence dented even further.
Usman Khawaja walks from the Gabba after being bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.Credit: Getty Images
For a stop-start match that had moved so slowly, the frenetic pace of Wednesday’s action caught everyone by surprise.
Australia’s stars batted like they had already shaken hands. It was not immediately clear whether they were after batting practice or chasing a bold declaration.
They only wanted a small total before sending India back in, but the carnage that unfolded has increased scrutiny on a brittle top order, with the Test futures of several players under a cloud.
When Steve Smith was caught down the leg side for four, for the second time in as many Tests, Australia were 5-33 after 11 overs with Alex Carey strolling out to bat.
The averages of Australia’s top six batsmen in this series are alarming, except for man of the match Travis Head, who has been in stellar form.
Usman Khawaja, whose 38th birthday ended in disappointing fashion when he was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for eight, has the worst return, 63 runs at an average of 12.6.
Nathan McSweeney’s woeful start to his Test career continued when he edged Akash Deep to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant for four. He has comfortably had the worst run of Australian openers in the past four decades, returning 72 runs at 14.4.
Steve Smith was caught behind down the leg side to the bowling of Mohammed Siraj.Credit: AP
New South Welshman Sam Konstas’ score of 56 in the Big Bash, following 88 in the Sheffield Shield and 107 before that for the Prime Minister’s XI against India, has fuelled talk that a Test debut might be around the corner.
“I look at Sam Konstas and think they have got to get him in quite quickly,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said in commentary for Fox Sports before McSweeney’s fifth score of 10 or fewer from six innings.
“He has got the ceiling to be world class … he can seriously play. I think he is a wonderful talent and got a huge future.
“If there’s a few failures between now and Sydney, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his debut at his home venue.”
Marnus Labuschagne (82 at 16.4), Smith (124 at 24.8) and Mitch Marsh (69 at 13.8) have all shown glimpses of form, but their overall series numbers speak to a bigger problem ahead of the fourth Test.
Bumrah snared 3-18 to continue his outstanding series, while Mohammed Siraj (2-36) and Akash Deep (2-28) were also among the wickets.
Meanwhile, there was a moment when Fox Sports speculated that Head had a groin injury, but that was emphatically denied by Cricket Australia.
More to come
