Rain ruins finale in Australia-India Test

By Matthew Henry, Dec 18: More bad weather in Brisbane ruined a potentially intriguing finale to the third Test between Australia and India and left the series tied at 1-1.

After gaining a first-innings lead of 185, Australia's wickets tumbled as they chased quick runs in their second innings in an attempt to force a result at the Gabba.

They slipped to 33-5, Jasprit Bumrah ripping through the top order again, before captain Pat Cummins slogged 22 from 10 balls and declared on 89-7.

That positive move set India 275 to win from a minimum of 54 overs, but bad light stopped play with the tourists 8-0 in the third over of their chase.

Rain, which decimated much of the Test, arrived shortly after and the players shook hands at 15:30 local time.

The five-match series resumes with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on 26 December (23:30 GMT, 25 December), for which a crowd close to 90,000 is expected for the opening day.

Blows landed despite Brisbane rain

This result was always likely with only 131.2 overs possible across the first three days - even more so when India's last-wicket pair of Bumrah and Akash Deep dramatically avoided the follow-on late on day four.

India's innings was finally ended when Deep was stumped off Travis Head for 31 five overs into the final day, but no play further play was possible before lunch because of rain and the threat of lightning.

There was brief hope of something spectacular when the players returned in the sunshine.

Australia's second innings lasted only 18 overs but it was enough for both sides to leave Queensland with claims to the upper hand in a series that is living up to the hype.

Australia largely dominated the first four days after levelling the series in Adelaide but were not out of danger when Steve Smith was the fifth wicket to fall with a lead of only 218.

Earlier, Bumrah bowled Usman Khawaja for eight and had a slashing Marnus Labuschagne caught behind for one. He is now India's highest wicket-taker in Australia with 53 in 10 Tests, 21 of which have come in this series.

Labuschagne, meanwhile, has made 18 runs in four innings either side of a 64 in the second Test.

Opener Nathan McSweeney's tricky start to international cricket continued when he offered an under edge off Deep for four. The seamer also had Mitchell Marsh, promoted to number four to help boost the scoring rate, caught behind for two.

Smith was caught down the leg side for the second time in the series, but the contribution of Cummins, Alex Carey's 20 not out and 17 from Travis Head probably put Australia into the ascendancy on a lively pitch, albeit in unconvincing fashion.

More concerning for Australia was the sight of Head, whose first-innings 152 came after 140 in Adelaide, struggling with an apparent groin issue.

He did not field during the 13 balls possible in the India innings but later played down any injury concerns.

'I loved the way Australia went about it' - reaction

India captain Rohit Sharma: "We will take that. To have interruptions like that wasn't great but going to Melbourne 1-1 pretty much gives us that confidence we can go out there and pull things towards us.

"The situation we were in [on day four], we wanted someone to stand up and take the game through. Akash and Bumrah showed the fight and character. It was great to watch. All of these guys were really good with the ball."

Australia captain Pat Cummins: "I am really happy with how the guys played. We felt like we were right ahead of the game for all of it."

Former Australia batter and coach Darren Lehman on ABC: "I loved the way Australia went about it today to try and make something out of it.

"All in all, Australia are probably still confident going to Melbourne. It sets up Melbourne unbelievably well.

"Bumrah has been unbelievable to get nine [wickets] for the game. I haven't seen someone dominate a series since (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne. This is special to see first hand."