The third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane ended in a draw after storms halted the hosts’ bid for an improbable victory on Wednesday, leaving the series locked 1-1. Tea was taken early on the final day at the Gabba due to poor light, with India 8-0 set a target of 275 for victory, after Australia declared on 89-7. But a big storm swept across the field during the break and play was abandoned, with the five-Test series now heading to Melbourne and then Sydney.

The draw seriously hurts India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year, with Australia now likely to defend their title against South Africa.

“Unfortunately there was a lot of rain, which we can’t do anything about, but I’m really happy with the way the guys played,” said the Australian skipper. Patrick Cummins.

“To commit 450 (first innings), that’s a huge total and then we feel like we’re ahead of the game on all of that.”

With rain causing regular disruption throughout the Test, chances of a result other than a draw appeared to have vanished when India avoided the follow-up on Tuesday evening.

“I mean we’ll take that obviously, having interruptions like that wasn’t great,” the Indian skipper said. Rohit Sharma.

“But going to Melbourne with a one-all pretty much gives us the confidence that we can go out there and try to pull things towards us.”

Carnage

After losing most of the morning session, Australia began their second innings after lunch, showing no signs of an attacking approach.

But once under pressure, the openers Usman Khawaja And Nathan McSweeney fell, with the equally distorted Marnus LabuschagneAustralia’s approach seemed to change as the batsmen began to attack every ball.

Khawaja, who turned 38 on Wednesday, came into the second innings after a run of poor form which has not seen him score a century since June 2023.

He spanked two fours from the first and he’s coped ever since Mohammed Siraj but it took the talismanic Jasprit Bumrah just one ball to catch his man, the southpaw fired an inside edge that also clipped his pad.

Labuschagne was next to depart after floating on a wide ball from Bumrah and closing in on the wicketkeeper Rishabh pants.

The carnage continued when McSweeney played a cut shot Deep Akashedging Pant to leave the Australians 16-3.

Deep had his second when Mitchell Maraispromoted to bat at number four, also left his batting hanging and edged Pant, with Australia reeling at 28-4.

This became 33-5 when Steve Smith was well caught by a diving pant down Siraj’s leg for four.

Australia was obviously trying to set a target that the Indians could chase and Travis head (17) fell for quick runs, a wild effort from Siraj getting a top edge that flew skyward for Pant to return for his fifth catch.

Cummins came in and smashed 22 runs off just 10 balls before missing a shot attempt from Bumrah and going for KL Rahul halfway through.

He sent Mitchell Starc released but declared shortly after.

India resumed the day on 252-9 in response to the hosts’ 445 after a 10th-wicket partnership between Bumrah and Deep on Tuesday evening allowed them to avoid the follow-up.

They were dismissed for 260 four overs in the first session when Deep was stumped by the wicketkeeper. Alex Carey part-time spinner Head.

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