Key events
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.
With two changes, the tourists have chosen as many Tests with their third bowler, this time choosing Jadeja in place of Ashwin. Akash High is also recalled.
Australia 11
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 proved his fitness after sitting out the second Test in the second toss of the side. Scott Boland is left out in the only change to the side that went through 10 wickets at the Adelaide Oval.
Pat Cummins clutches his papers against his chest when asked what he would do if Australia won the toss. This is saying something, but this is more of an Australian Governor.
It’s been a fantastic series so far. I think we have sold out the Gabba today. I’m sure it will be lively there.
Almost everyone has returned to the series, and … now here at the Gabba, which place is like playing at. It was a good lead.
India toss to win and choose to field
Rohit Sharma calls “heads” correctly and chooses to bowl first.
A little deleted. It looks like a bit of grass and soft. We want to try to make the best of the conditions and see what we can do with the ball in front.
As the game goes on he bats better and better. But we want to try and make the best of the up-front conditions.
There is a nice green tint on the top of the pitch that is one of the few remaining natural layers that were dropped-in during international cricket. There is a bit of cloud hovering overhead and a slight chance of rain between the forecast high of 29. Leaders are throwing in the middle.
Travis Head is one Australian batsman who has sunk at the Gabba in recent times, with a pair of golden ducks in the Shell against the West Indies. It was followed by 92 and another maiden duck with Australia facing South Africa in late 2022, which was dismissed by the right-hander when he turned four balls in the Brisbane Test.
But the middle-order powerhouse carries his strong form into this third Test after making 140 against India in his hometown of Adelaide last week. Cap and India pacer Mohammed Siraj had some excellent words with each other as the rivalry and tension around the tight series started to boil over. ICC are not printed.
Australia were unbeaten at the Gabba across 31 Tests between 1989 and 2021 when India upset hosts with a three-wicket victory to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series win. Geoff Lemon He looked at how the Gabba has changed over time and the recent changes that could restore Australia’s dominance at the venue.
The beginning
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first day of the third Test between Australia and India. The stage was set for a thriller after two threes each way as the tourists first took the lead in the series in Perth then Australia were repulsed in Adelaide.
Both sides have a history of success in Brisbane, where they played in the third Test at the Gabba. Australia had not lost a fort at home for more than 30 years until they faced a stunned India last time here. The loss to the West Indies earlier this year was much more shocking.
Josh Hazlewood will be welcomed into Australia’s playing XI where his natural presence can turn him into a weapon. Scott Boland had the unfortunate pace of going to bowl as he has so often before, despite taking five wickets in the win at the Adelaide Oval. While Australia will have their full pace line-up, batting remains a concern and all eyes will be on Steve Smith as the No 4 has his last shot to break out of the slump.
India are in a similar position with an attack centered around Jasprit Bumrah which is sometimes unplayable. The 31-year-old is under an injury cloud after struggling with groin soreness in Adelaide, but hopes to be named in Brisbane. The tourists’ line-up has run away from a feast-or-famine situation with coach Rohit Sharma standing out as the player most in need, perhaps due to his more familiar role at the top of the order.
The first ball will be at 10:20 am local or 11:20 pm AEDT. I’ll see us through the first session and a half, when Jonathan Howcroft takes the reins. The tossing and strengthening of teams come quickly. Get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions – or send me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or * X. Let’s go into it!