Key events
6th over: Australia 19-0 (Khawaja 13, McSweeney 2) The covers are on! Siraj gets through three deliveries to McSweeney, and the right-hander bunts a defensive shot to mid-on for a quick single. Khawaja is slow off the mark to momentarily put Australian hearts in mouths but is across the line by the time the throw comes in. India might not mind the opportunity to regroup, as the first half hour has favoured the Australia openers.
5th over: Australia 18-0 (Khawaja 13, McSweeney 1) Bumrah to Khawaja yet again as the left-hander has faced all of the India strike bowler’s deliveries so far. The left-hander has been quite comfortable with Bumrah perhaps lacking a bit of zip. Khawaja is working the ball nicely off his pads, as he tends to do, and glances about as fine as you can for four.
We have a couple of early comments as excitement builds around a series that has so far lived up to the sky-high expectations.
borisfeigin has been in touch on Bluesky to say, “Once again we observe the power of Test cricket. People will remember what happened last time and probably what happens in this game for a long time, possibly decades. Meanwhile, can anyone recall without Google what happened in last year’s BBL final?
“Visiting captains and deciding to bowl at the Gabba. Usually a brave (in a Sir Humphrey sense) call but the pitch does look quite lush.”
The BBL season is kicking off this weekend and is always an enjoyable part of the Australian summer, but I catch your drift borisfeigin.
4th over: Australia 14-0 (Khawaja 9, McSweeney 1) McSweeney nudges off his pads for a quick single from the first delivery as Australia rotate the strike for the first time. Khawaja picks up a couple at fine leg as Siraj drifts onto his pads, then the left-hander punishes a shorter ball with a sublime pull shot for four through midwicket. It has been a positive start for Australia and India ask for the ball to be checked – it passes through the rings without any issue.
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Khawaja 2, McSweeney 0) Bumrah continues around the wicket to Khawaja and beats the bat with a delivery that drifts away late from the left-hander. That’s the first time Bumrah has been able to extract a bit of zing as he looks a little below top pace. Khawaja plays off his pads to pick up a couple of runs through midwicket, the first off the bat this morning.
2nd over: Australia 4-0 (Khawaja 0, McSweeney 0) Siraj to McSweeney and the India quick is straight into working away at a good length outside off. Not much movement for Siraj and the third-gamer is untroubled. Maiden over.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Khawaja 0, McSweeney 0) Bumrah has Khawaja all cramped up from the second delivery with plenty of movement taking the ball across the left-hander. But the delivery misses the edge and canons into Khawaja’s thigh. Four runs come off the thigh pad from the next delivery as Khawaja looks to play to fine leg.
The national anthems are complete, Jasprit Bumrah has the cherry in hand, Usman Khawaja is taking two centres and we’re ready to play.
India XI
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
A couple of changes for the tourists with their third spinner selected in as many Tests, this time Jadeja selected in place of Ashwin. Akash Deep is also recalled.
Australia XI
Australia: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
As revealed yesterday, Hazlewood has proven his fitness after sitting out the second Test due to a side strain. Scott Boland is left out in the only change to the side that won by 10 wickets at the Adelaide Oval.
Pat Cummins plays his cards up against his chest when asked what he would have done if Australia won the toss. That says as much as anything, but here is more from the Australia skipper.
It has been a fantastic series so far. I think we have a sell-out at the Gabba today. I am sure it is going to be lively out there.
Just about everyone got themselves into the series and … now here at the Gabba, a place we like playing at. It’s been a good lead-in.
India win the toss and elect to field
Rohit Sharma calls “heads” correctly and chooses to bowl first.
A little bit overcast. Bit of grass and looks soft. We want to try to make the best use of the conditions and see what we can do with the ball up-front.
As the game goss on it will get better and better to bat. But we want to try and make the best use of the conditions up-front.
There is a nice green tinge on top of the pitch which is one of few remaining natural decks, rather than drop-in wickets, across international cricket. There is a bit of cloud hovering overhead and a slight chance of showers amid a forecast high of 29. The captains are in the middle for the toss.
Travis Head is one Australian batter who has underwhelmed at the Gabba in recent times, with a pair of golden ducks in the Test against West Indies earlier this. That followed a 92 and another first-ball duck when Australia faced South Africa in late 2022, meaning the right-hander has been dismissed with his past four balls faced in Brisbane Tests.
But the middle-order powerhouse carries strong form into this third Test after making 140 against India in his hometown Adelaide last week. Head and India pacer Mohammed Siraj had some choice words with each other as the rivalry and tension around a tight series begin to bubble away. The ICC were not impressed.
Australia was undefeated at the Gabba across 31 Tests between 1989 and 2021 when India upset the hosts with a three-wicket victory to hold onto the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series win. Geoff Lemon has looked at how the Gabba has changed over time, and the recent shifts that could help Australia rebuild their domination at the venue.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first day of the third Test between Australia and India. The scene is set for a thriller after a couple of thrashings went either way as the tourists took an early lead in the series in Perth then Australia bounced back in Adelaide.
Both sides have a history of success in Brisbane, where the third Test will be played at the Gabba. Australia did not lose at their home fortress for more than 30 years until stunned by an injury-plagued India the last time they met here. A loss to West Indies earlier this year was even more of a shock.
Josh Hazlewood will be a welcome addition to the Australia XI at a venue where his natural bounce can turn into a weapon. Scott Boland is the unfortunate pace bowler to make way, as he has so many times before, despite taking five wickets in the win at the Adelaide Oval. While Australia will have their full array of quicks, their batting remains the concern and all eyes will be on Steve Smith as the No 4 has his latest shot at breaking out of a form slump.
India are in a similar position with their attack centred around the at-times unplayable Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old is under an injury cloud after suffering groin soreness in Adelaide but is expect to be named in Brisbane. The tourists’ batting lineup has been feast or famine with captain Rohit Sharma standing out as the player most in need of runs, perhaps from his more familiar role at the top of the order.
First ball will be at 10:20am local time or 11:20pm AEDT. I’ll be seeing us through the first session and a half, when Jonathan Howcroft will take the reins. The toss and confirmation of the teams are coming shortly. Get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
