AUS VS IND 3RD TEST

No run.

Charges in from over the wicket and hurls it full and on middle and leg, Usman Khawaja gets his bat ahead and stabs it down the deck.

We are done with the national anthems and it is time to get going.

We are moments away from the first ball but before that, Zaheer Khan and Matthew Hayden bring out the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and place it on the pedestal. Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins lead their respective sides out for the national anthems. It will be India's national anthem first, followed by the national anthem of Australia.

PITCH REPORT - Matthew Hayden is joined by Sunil Gavaskar in the middle for the pitch analysis. Gavaskar starts by saying that the grass on the pitch will result in plenty of assistance for the fast bowlers. Adds that with overcast conditions batting will be tough and the openers will have to see through the tricky first phase and respect the bowlers. Hayden mentions that the pitch has been overprepared and they see some cracks which could bring spinners into play later in the game.

Rishabh Pant is in for a chat. He says this venue gives him a positive vibe, and he is happy to be back here. Shares that playing the situation has been the biggest learning for him. He feels that it is important to be positive even in tough situations. Tells that he always looks to play percentage cricket, and defending every ball is tough in pink-ball cricket, so one has to be inventive. States that wicket-keeping was a challenging part for him since his return from the life-threatening accident.

The captain of Australia, Pat Cummins says that this looks like a good wicket and hopes to put good runs on the board. Mentions that it is going to be a sell-out crowd and feels that it is going to be pretty loud. Shares that they had a good last week in Adelaide and feels that everyone played their part. Adds that the weather in Brisbane has not hampered their preparations and they have had a good lead-up to the game. Informs that they have one change with Josh Hazlewood coming in for Scott Boland.

Rohit Sharma, the skipper of India says it is slightly overcast and with grass on the pitch they want to make the most of the conditions. Mentions that both teams have played really well and they will try to keep things simple and try to capture key moments which they failed to do in the previous game. Talks about the venue and mentions that the pitch looks soft and should get better as the game progresses. Concludes that they have two changes with Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep coming in for Hashit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin.

India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Ravindra Jadeja (In for Ravichandran Ashwin), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep (In for Harshit Rana).

Australia (Playing XI) - Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (In for Scott Boland).

TOSS - Rohit Sharma calls 'heads' and heads it is. India have opted to BOWL first.

While we await the toss, here’s a quick look at the World Test Championship scenarios for both teams. Australia need two wins from their three remaining Tests against India to secure their place in the final. Even with potential defeats in Sri Lanka, they would still finish higher than both India and Sri Lanka on percentage points, guaranteeing them a place in the final. For India, the equation is more challenging - they need two wins and a draw from their three remaining Tests in Australia to guarantee a spot in the final. With so much riding on these matches, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams!

The Gabba brings its own narrative. India’s last visit here in 2021 saw them produce a historic triumph, breaching the fortress to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a depleted side. Since then, Australia’s dominance at the Gabbatoir has weakened, with two wins and a recent defeat to the West Indies earlier this year in a day-night Test. Showers are expected on all five days of the Test, but let’s hope the rain stays away. Stay tuned for the flip of the coin.

While Steven Smith’s form is being closely watched for Australia, it’s Rohit Sharma’s lean patch that’s raising eyebrows for the visitors. After batting at number 6 in Adelaide, will Rohit return to open, shifting KL Rahul to the middle order? Meanwhile, in his maiden Test series, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been a big positive for India with his all-round exploits. On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been outstanding for the hosts, but Jasprit Bumrah has been carrying the bulk of the workload for India, with minimal support from the others.

Back to the traditional red-ball cricket, Australia welcome back Josh Hazlewood, who missed the Adelaide Test due to a side strain, with Scott Boland making way despite his solid performance. Both teams have relied on individual brilliance with the bat so far in the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s masterclass in Perth set up India’s victory, while Travis Head’s counterattacking brilliance was pivotal for Australia in Adelaide. However, Head has had a torrid run at The Gabba, entering this Test on the back of three consecutive golden ducks at the venue.

Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head’s heated exchange in Adelaide set the tone, and the off-field jabs have added to the drama. Pat Cummins claimed Australia's short-ball ploy in Adelaide paid dividends, while Shubman Gill shot back, asserting that barring one dismissal, the tactic primarily troubled the Indian tailenders. Who’s right? You be the judge, but this war of words has certainly raised the stakes. 

Hello, everyone! It’s time for Round 3 of this gripping heavyweight contest. India struck the first blow in Perth, Australia hit back in Adelaide, and now, with the series evenly poised at 1-1, the action moves to The Gabba in Brisbane.

... MATCH DAY ...

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 stands at a fascinating crossroads. After two Tests of contrasting fortunes, both cricket powerhouses find themselves locked in a 1-1 deadlock, setting the stage for a pivotal third encounter. The series has been a tale of two cities thus far. At Perth, India showcased their evolution as a touring force. But Australia, displaying their trademark resilience, rewrote the script at Adelaide. Their emphatic comeback not only leveled the series but also reignited the competitive fire that has long defined this prestigious rivalry. As the cricket caravan makes its way to Brisbane on Australia's eastern coast, the legendary Gabba stadium prepares to host another historic Test match. This venue, steeped in cricketing folklore, has seen its fortress breached only twice this millennium - first by India in that memorable January 2021 series finale, and more recently by West Indies' stunning triumph in January 2024. However, past glories must now give way to present challenges as both teams prepare for battle. India's primary concern lies with their underperforming batting lineup. While Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant have shown their capabilities, and Nitish Kumar Reddy has made valuable contributions in his debut tour, the team has been plagued by unconverted starts. The recurring theme of batters falling in their 30s and 40s has proven costly in the Test arena. The spotlight falls particularly on India's two batting mainstays. Despite notching up a century, Virat Kohli's longing vulnerabilities with deliveries outside off-stump remains a big worry. Similarly, Rohit Sharma, who joined the series in the second Test, has yet to find his rhythm, his lean patch adding pressure on an already strained batting order. India didn’t tinker with its batting order and debates were up about whether Rohit should keep the opening spot and shuffle Rahul down the order. India's fortunes in this crucial match may well hinge on these veterans rediscovering their touch. The bowlers, however, have done the heavy lifting so far with Jasprit Bumrah being the torch-bearer. Mohammed Siraj just found his rhythm in Adelaide which might prove pivotal to partner Bumrah at Gabba. Harshit Rana, as impressive as he was in the opener as the third seamer, looked rusty and wayward in the second assignment. India still hasn’t utilized speedsters like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, and one of these might be given an opportunity on the surface to assist with skiddy pace and bounce. Also, in a long series like this, Bumrah’s workload management remains a big worry for them. Another question - Will Jadeja get back in the mix? If yes, in whose place? ‘Head’ache. But that’s for the management. The Australian side on the flip side, views this match as a chance for vindication, eager to overcome their earlier defeat to India at this ground and claim the series advantage. While their openers have shown promise, they're yet to establish the desired consistency. Steven Smith's relatively quiet series has been a point of concern for the visitors. However, the middle order has emerged as a source of strength. Marnus Labuschagne has found his groove, though his contributions were somewhat eclipsed by Travis Head's game-changing innings. Head's aggressive batting proved to be the key differentiator between the teams. The pace attack has been equally impressive, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland dismantling India's batting lineup. Starc continues to lead the wicket-takers list, while Cummins appears to have hit his stride. Boland has maintained his threatening presence throughout. Though Josh Hazlewood's return after an injury means Boland has been benched. Other than this one slight tweak, the Australians have stuck with their winning combination. The Gabba pitch offers something for everyone. Not distinctly favoring batters or bowlers, it provides true bounce and carry while historically yielding first-innings scores in excess of 320. A surface that rewards skill and patience from both facets. Beyond securing a 2-1 advantage, the victor of this Test will gain crucial psychological momentum as the series progresses. The match carries additional weight as both teams eye a coveted place for the 2023-25 World Test Championship finale. Everything is now in place for another compelling installment in this storied rivalry. Who will emerge victorious? We will find out together.