This was published 1 year ago
That’s all from me.
Thanks for joining us across the last five days for this rain-interrupted third Test from the Gabba.
Stick around for all the latest news and views from the Australia and India dressing rooms.
Have a Merry Christmas, and we’ll be back to do it all again on Boxing Day.
While we wait for some more news out of the respective camps, let’s have a chat about who got the most out of this game?
Australia will feel like they did after bossing the game for four days. They led by 185 runs in the first innings, and got big runs again from Travis Head, a return to form for Steve Smith, while Alex Carey chipped in for some handy runs in both innings.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc had another strong game while the GOAT, Nathan Lyon, will be better for the gallop after having little to do in seam-friendly conditions in Perth and Adelaide.
The negatives are the series-ending injury to Josh Hazlewood, whose calf strain was a huge dent in Australia’s hopes of enforcing the follow-on. Cricket Australia are adamant Hazlewood came into the game fully fit, but he has now failed to finish two Tests this series.
India spin master Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket, effective immediately.
“It’s truly a very emotional moment,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin declined to take questions from the media, saying he was too emotional to do that.
“As a cricketer I’ve stopped but I will still be involved in the game,” Ashwin said.
India skipper Rohit Sharma said Ashwin told him about 10 days ago of his intentions to retire.
Travis Head is the player of the match for his stunning 152 off 160 balls in the first innings, pipping India’s superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed figures of 6-76 and 3-18.
Despite Cricket Australia being adamant Head has not injured his groin, the South Australian has confirmed he’s not at 100 per cent fitness.
“Been a big couple of weeks, a bit sore, but I’ll be fine,” Head said at the post-match presentation.
Official confirmation that play has been abandoned at the Gabba. It’s a draw.
India were 0-8 after being set an unlikely 275 for victory by Australia, who declared at 7-89.
The series is beautifully placed at 1-1 coming to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.
Regardless of the result in Melbourne, we will have a live Test in Sydney.
Weather has wreaked havoc with this game. Less than half of the nominal 450 overs were bowled due to a combination of rain, bad light and lightning.
Here’s the kicker for cricket fans. The forecast for Brisbane across the next five days is for sunny weather with only a five to 10 per cent chance of rain on each day. To appropriate the state’s tourism marketing drive. Queensland, terrible one week, perfect the next.
Teams are shaking hands in the dressing rooms. The Gabba Test is over. It will be 1-1 going into Melbourne.
There’s heavy rain at the Gabba with no sign of it going away. .
The covers are on and the ground staff nowhere to be seen. The sensible thing would be for teams to shake hands, but cricket is a funny old sport.
Remarkably, there are still fans who have found shelter and won’t leave just yet.
There’s been a suggestion on the Fox broadcast that Travis Head might be injured. Potentially a groin injury, according to commentators after playing some footage of him batting.
But a team spokesperson says Head is definitely not injured. Emphatic about it. There you have it.
This is one to watch in the coming hours.
Fox Cricket just showed a replay of Travis Head supposedly pulling up short during his knock in Australia’s second innings. The broadcaster is speculating a potential groin injury for Head, which could be a massive blow for the home side heading into the final two Tests of the series.
Our man at the Gabba, Tom Decent, will have an update on this soon.
Play has been suspended due to bad light. That’s led to tea being taken early.
Play will resume at 2.54 pm local time. I’m not confident they’ll be back out there on time. It’ll either still be bad light or the rain will be coming down in buckets full by then.
India are 0-8 in the third over, chasing a target of 275 off 54 overs.