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Wed, 18 December 2024

Updates: Test drawn... and Ashwin retires

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11:26   Test drawn... and Ashwin retires
A legend bids farewell

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's greatest all-rounders, has brought down the curtains on his illustrious international career. 

With an incredible record of 537 Test wickets and 3503 runs in 106 Tests, Ashwin's contributions to Indian cricket are immeasurable.   

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11:09   Test ends in draw but what's the 'big announcement'
India 8-0 (2.1 Ovs) & 260 vs Aus 89-7 (18 Ovs) & 445 | Scorecard

Australian staff are shaking hands, and now both teams are following suit in the dressing rooms. The Test match is officially over, ending in a draw. The series remains level at 1-1 with two Tests still to play.

Travis Head is the player of the match.

A few journalists have teased a 'big announcement' in their tweets.

Meanwhile, cameras showed Kohli and Ashwin in deep conversation, ending with a hug. 

Now, they sit together watching the rain, Kohli's arm around Ashwin's shoulder. Speculation is rife, but nothing is confirmed.


10:16   Early tea called, India need 267 to win
India 8-0 (2.1 Ovs) & 260 vs Aus 89-7 (18 Ovs) & 445 | Scorecard

An early tea break has been called. We've had a disrupted day just like this Test ha been. 

Australia made an aggressive declaration, setting India 275 to chase, but they needed a lot to go in their favour. 

It was a frenetic session before the stoppage. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep were sensational, tearing through Australia's batting lineup as they pushed for quick runs. Australia eventually declared at 89, banking on their bowlers to make inroads.

Indias openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, safely navigated the 13 balls they faced before bad light brought play to a halt.
10:06   Bad light stops play
India 8-0 (2.1 Ovs) & 260 vs Aus 89-7 (18 Ovs) & 445 | Scorecard

The skies are overcast as Pat Cummins takes the ball from the other end. Jaiswal taps it down for a quick single. Rahul defends the next three deliveries solidly. A splendid shot from Rahul, but it doesn't quite make it to the boundaryhe picks up three runs. A dot ball to end the over, and after two overs, India are 7-0.

Starc continues, and Rahul keeps it down for a single. However, the players are soon off the field due to bad light!
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10:02   Aus set India 275 to win
India 3-0 (1 Ovs) & 260 vs Aus 89-7 (18 Ovs) & 445 | Scorecard

The Australian players take their positions as Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul walk out to the crease. It's time for the latest edition of Starc vs Jaiswal. Three slips and a gully are set for the left-hander. Jaiswal watchfully defends the first delivery and leaves the next one. He punches the ball to mid-on for no run, then plays it down the ground, collecting three runs.

Starc now sets up with three slips and two gullies for Rahul. Rahul leaves the first delivery alone, and the next one zooms past him. Three runs come off the first over.

09:47   Aus declare, set India 275 to win
Aus 89-7 (18 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Starc is the new batter and gets off the mark with a single. Three more singles follow in the over, and after 18 overs, Australia are 89-7.

Australia have declared! India now need to chase, with Bumrah finishing the match with nine wickets. 

Australia set up a thrilling finish, setting India a challenging target of 275 runs to win the Gabba Test.
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09:38   Bumrah removes Cummins, Aus 7 down
Aus 85-7 (17.1 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Akash Deep continues, and Carey plays one towards fine leg for a single. Cummins then slams a delivery over mid-wicket for a boundary. On the next ball, a short delivery is hammered by Cummins for six! He's giving back to Akash Deep what was done to him yesterday! Two more singles follow, and after 16 overs, Australia are 73-6.

Siraj continues, and Carey miscues but manages to get a single. Cummins swings and misses, then goes for it again, slamming a boundary. He follows it up with a massive six, hitting it wide enough for the ball to land just inside the boundary rope! Cummins then plays one towards mid-wicket for a single, and a dot ball ends the over. 12 came off it after 17 overs Australia are 85-6.

Bumrah returns and delivers! Cummins departs for 22 off 10 balls.
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09:29   Siraj dismisses Head, Aus 6 down
Aus 60-6 (15 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Akash Deep continues, and Head plays towards mid-on for a couple. He defends the next ball, then plays a short delivery towards square leg for a single. New batter Alex Carey is beaten on the next delivery but gets off the mark with a couple. He takes a quick single off the next ball. 6 runs come off the over, and after 12 overs, Australia are 39-5. 

Carey welcomes Siraj with a boundary, then defends the next two balls. He sends one down the leg side for a single, with leg byes called. Head is beaten on the next ball, and a dot ball ends the over. 5 runs come off it, and after 13 overs, Australia are 44-5.

Akash Deep continues, and Carey takes a quick single. Head defends, then pulls the next ball for a single. A ball races away for four leg byes, followed by a couple of runs off the next delivery towards fine leg. Carey then smashes one towards mid-off for four runs. 12 runs come off the over, and after 14 overs, Australia are 56-5.

Siraj continues and Head and Carey exchange a single each. Head will get a couple. WICKET! Head departs for 17 off 19 balls. Siraj gets his man!!!

Pat Cummins is the new batter. After the drinks break, hes on strike. Cummins misses the first delivery and defends the last ball of the over.

After 15 overs, Australia are 60-6.
09:06   Siraj removes Smith, Aus 5 down
Aus 33-5 (11 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Siraj continues, and Head misses the first delivery. He gets a single off the next ball. Smith then slams a boundary.

WICKET! Just like Adelaide, Siraj angles one down the leg side, and Pant flies to his left to take a splendid catch. Smith departs for 4 off 5 balls.

After 11 overs, Australia are 33-5.
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09:03   Akash dismisses Marsh, Aus 4 down
Aus 28-4 (10 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Bumrah continues but bowls another no-ball. Marsh defends two deliveries and then plays one behind square for a single. On the next ball, Head smashes a full delivery for four runs. He drives towards mid-off for no runs before finishing the over with another boundary. 10 runs come off the over, and after 9 overs, India are 26-3.

Akash Deep continues, delivering one close to the off-stump, but Marsh survives. The next delivery hits him high on the pad, and no runs are scored. The batters exchange a single each. Then, Marsh edges one, and he's gone! Marsh departs for 2 off 13 balls.

Smith is the new batter.
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08:51   Akash Deep removes McSweeney, Aus 3 down
Aus 16-3 (8 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Akash Deep replaces Siraj, and McSweeney is beaten! The ball goes down the leg side, and Pant collects it.

WICKET! McSweeney edges the next delivery, and Pant makes no mistake again. McSweeney is dismissed for 4 off 25 balls.

Travis Head comes in at No. 5.

Head edges the ball, but it flies away from the fieldersjust short of mid-off! It's in the air, and lands just before Gill, who dives at mid-off. Head defends the last ball of the over.

08:47   Bumrah strikes again!
Aus 16-2 (7 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Labuschagne defends the first three balls, then plays one towards fine leg for a single. McSweeney defends the next two deliveries. Just 1 run comes off the over, and after 6 overs, Australia are 15-1.

Labuschagne plays towards mid-off, but Bumrah oversteps, and a no-ball is called. On the free hit, Labuschagne edges one, and Pant makes no mistake behind the stumps. Labuschagne is out for 1 off 9 balls.

Mitch Marsh is the new batter at No. 4. He defends the rest of the over. Just 1 run and a wicket came off it after 7 overs Australia are 16-2.

08:35   Bumrah strikes, Khawaja departs
Aus 14-1 (5 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Labuschagne faces Bumrah and defends the first two balls. Bumrah bowls a wicket maiden, as Australia remains at 11-1 after 3 overs.

McSweeney defends Sirajs over and takes a single off the last ball. Now facing Bumrah, he leaves the first two deliveries, then defends the next towards point for a single. Labuschagne adds another single, and McSweeney leaves the final two balls. Hes trying to stay positive, but just 2 runs come from the over. 

After 5 overs, Australia are 14-1.

08:23   Bumrah strikes, Khawaja departs
Aus 11-1 (2.4 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

Bumrah continues, and McSweeney leaves the first delivery. Another loud appeal for LBW is turned down, and leg byes are called. But Bumrah doesn't let up' WICKET! He bowls McSweeney out! Bumrah strikes again and Khawaja has to walk back scoring 8 off 7 balls!
08:22   Play resumes in Gabba
Aus 10-0 (2 Ovs) & 445 vs India 260 | Scorecard

The players are back on the field, and Bumrah has the new ball. McSweeney is on strike with Khawaja at the non-striker's end. 

Bumrah has dismissed McSweeney four times in four innings and is looking for a fifth.

McSweeney watches the first two deliveries go by, then defends towards gully. He gets off the mark with a couple and defends the remaining balls. After the first over, Australia are 2-0.

From the other end, Siraj bowls to Khawaja, who greets him with a boundary. He leaves the next delivery, then slams another boundary. Khawaja defends the final two balls. After 2 overs, Australia are 10-0.4
08:08   Play set to resume at the Gabba

The weather seems to be clearing up at the Gabba. The Indian bowlers, including Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Siraj, are already warming up on the field. 
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07:54   Rain relents, Gabba Test could restart after lunch
India 260 all out (78.5 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

There's a glimmer of hope for cricket fans as the rain seems to have eased at the Gabba. 

The umpires have inspected the pitch and the covers have been removed, indicating a potential start to play after the lunch break at 12:40 local time (8:10 IST). 

However, the final decision will depend on the weather conditions and the ground staff's assessment.
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07:02   Rain dominates final day at Gabba
India 260 all out (78.5 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

The relentless rain in Brisbane has cast a shadow over the final day of the Gabba Test. With the heavens open and no immediate respite in sight, a draw seems increasingly likely.

For India, heading to the MCG with the series tied at 1-1 might not be the worst outcome. On the other hand, Australia, after dominating since Perth, would've hoped to secure a series lead heading into the final two Tests of the summer.

For now, the rain continues to fall at the Gabba, leaving both teams and fans in suspense.
06:09   Play halted at Gabba
India 260 all out (78.5 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

Play has been temporarily halted due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of the Gabba.  The Indian players were ready to take the field, but they've been sent back. The ground staff has covered the pitch.

While there's no rain on the ground yet, the floodlights are on. While the radar shows patches of bad weather hovering around Brisbane, none of it has reached the ground yet. The match officials will closely monitor the situation and decide when it's safe for play to resume.
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05:45   India all out for 260
India 260 all out (78.5 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

India's innings end on 260, a solid last-wicket stand of 47 runs ensuring they won't have to face the Australian bowling attack again. Australia now holds a commanding lead of 185 runs.

The spotlight now shifts to Australia's second innings, with openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney eager to capitalise on the favourable conditions. A strong start from them could set the tone for the remainder of the innings.
05:37   India all out for 260
India 260 all out (78.5 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

Lyon continues, and Australia opts for a review on a potential caught-behind dismissal. The batter, drawn forward by a good-length delivery, was struck on the pad as the ball spun and bounced, popping up to short leg and prompting an appeal.

Replays, however, revealed no conclusive evidence of bat contact. Australia loses their review. Akash Deep defends a few deliveries and picks up a single. Bumrah plays out the last ball of the over. India moves to 258-9 after 78 overs.

Travis Head comes into the attack. Akash Deep gets a couple off the first ball and defends the next three. Carey thinks hes got Akash stumpedand he has! Replays confirm Akash hadnt slid his foot back in time. A sharp piece of wicketkeeping from Carey. Akash Deep departs for a well-made 31 off 44 balls. With that India are all out for 260.
05:32  
India 257-9 (77 Ovs) vs Aus 445 | Scorecard

Cummins resumes his over from last night, with two slips, a gully, a short leg, a deep third, and a deep backward point in place. Akash Deep defends solidly, and no runs are added to the total.

Lyon takes over from the other end. Bumrah blocks the first three deliveries before one strays down the leg side. Carey fails to gather it cleanly, and four leg byes are added to the score. India moves to 256-9 after 76 overs.

Cummins continues. Akash Deep misses the first ball but manages to sneak a quick single on the next. Bumrah is beaten by a beauty before defending the remaining deliveries. After 77 overs, India stands at 257-9.
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05:14   Gabba Test poised for tense finish
The Gabba Test hangs in the balance as we enter the final day.

India's batting heroes, KL Rahul with a stellar 84 and Ravindra Jadeja's gritty 77, along with the crucial 10th-wicket partnership of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, denied Australia the follow-on. This defiance has boosted the Indian camp's morale significantly.

Australia, missing a bowler due to fatigue, relied heavily on Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. The final session saw them tiring. Additionally, they face an uncertain weather forecast with rain predicted later.

In contrast, India's task appears simpler: bat resolutely and bowl effectively to reach the Boxing Day Test with the series tied 1-1.

At this stage, a draw is the strong favorite. While play should begin promptly, heavy rain later can disrupt proceedings and potentially seal the stalemate.

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