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Posted: 2024-12-16 23:00:07

Australia's chances of winning the third Test at the Gabba have taken a massive blow, with India's tail wagging to help them avoid the follow-on and force Australia to bat again.

They also sapped the energy of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who toiled on a steamy day in Brisbane after their pace partner Josh Hazlewood suffered calf injury before play that looks set to rule him out for the rest of the series.

With Mitch Marsh bowling just two overs, it left Cummins, Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon to carry a heavy bowling load on another rain-interrupted day, as they tried to keep India under 246 runs to ensure Australia could enforce the follow-on and try to bowl them out again and win.

Alas, a mighty 10th-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep took India from 9-213 to 9-252 at stumps.

Australia will have to take one more wicket on day five and either bat again or declare their innings for nothing and risk losing the Test if India can chase down the remaining runs.

Had Australia managed to bowl the tourists out for 245 or less, they could have immediately sent them back in and tried to take the last 10 wickets to win the Test, with the safety blanket of their second batting innings in reserve to vastly reduce the risk of losing.

While Akash and Bumrah got India past the all-important milestone, the day started with a vital 67-run partnership between KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja that was aided by Steve Smith dropping Rahul when he was on 33 off the first ball of the day.

Rahul went on to score 84 before Smith removed him with a brilliant catch, after which Jadeja added 53 more with Nitish Kumar Reddy.

When Jadeja eventually fell for 77 to leave India with one wicket left, they looked long odds to make Australia bat again.

But Akash and Bumrah withstood a bouncer barrage to do so, just before the umpires called an end to play on account of bad light, but not before Akash walloped Cummins over long on for a massive six.

Look back at all the action from day four in Brisbane in our live blog below and check out the full ScoreCentre.

Live updates: Australia vs India

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We'll be back tomorrow

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(Getty Images)

I fear tomorrow is going to be something of a damp squib in every sense of the word.

But that doesn't matter, because we'll be here for it anyway to bring you all the action as it happens.

I hope you'll be able to join us too if you can - even if it is just for the Australian top order to get some batting practice.

From myself Simon Smale and Jon Healy, good night.

Tomorrow's forecast? A draw

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(BOM)

Starc and Cummins both looked cooked

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Looking at Starc I think batting all day tomorrow is the best option. Looks cooked. If we break him that will be the series.

- Chris

I think you're right Chris.

Both fast bowlers looked cooked.

Mitch Marsh bowled just two overs in the day - so he's clearly not up to it either.

It could be a blessing in disguise.

The carrot of an unlikely win might have ended up with Australia axing their bowlers for the rest of the series.

Stumps: India 9-252 (Akash 27, Bumrah 10)

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(Getty Images)

Well, a wonderful finish for India, who have without doubt saved the match with that wonderful rearguard effort from the tail.

When Jadeja was out it felt like Australia would be comfortably able to bowl India out and force the follow on.

But it was not to be.

Hats off to Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, who milked the runs available to them and did enough to get over the follow on total.

India still trails by 193 runs, but that's elementary now surely?

Without being able to enforce the follow on, Australia simply cannot win the match now, particularly with so much rain forecast tomorrow.

Bad light delay

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Incredibly, impossibly, really, the batters have upped sticks and walked off for bad light.

Seconds after Cummins was belted for as big a six as we've seen in this match so far, they go off for bad light.

Surely this has to be stumps?

INDIA AVOIDS THE FOLLOW ON!

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It was just over the head of Nathan McSweeney!

Would Mitch Marsh have taken it? It doesn't matter.

That could be the way India stays in this series!

SIX! MASSIVE SHOT OVER WIDE LONG ON! AKASH DEEP HAS SMASHED THIS! Shackles released! That's the biggest six we've seen in the match so far!

Akash defends solidly next ball.

76th over - Pat Cummins is going to carry on

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He looks very drawn. Exhausted to be honest.

The umpires are happy with the light so Cummins is going to be allowed to continue.

Two slips, gully, bat pad, point, mid off, cover and mid on, plus fine leg.

Akash is struck on the thigh pad, never going to hit but a decent warning for the assured-looking number 11.

EDGED! FOUR TO THIRD MAN!

75th over - Nathan Lyon to continue

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Australia does not have any room to wriggle in here.

If Australia cannot enforce the follow on, the rest of this match is over bar the shouting to be honest.

Deep swings and gets a single out to deep cover. It was edgy, but they all count.

India need 4 runs to avoid the follow on

Lyon tosses one up from over the wicket and Bumrah drives but straight to cover. No run.

Solid defence from Bumrah this time.

Solid defence with a decent stride from Bumrah here.

Tremendous drama and tension in these moments. Every stroke been applauded by the Indian supporters.

Bumrah defends despite thinking about the drive.

And defends the last too.

74th over - Pat Cummins returns

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Cummins has turned himself around, coming in from the Vulture Street End.

This is a big over for Cummins. The pressure is really on.

Akash defends into the off side, Cummins can't cut it off and they will run a single.

(Getty Images)
India needs 11 runs to avoid the follow on

One gully, bat pad. Bumrah fends past him and they will get another single.

India needs 10 runs to avoid the follow on

Another discussion - more field changes.

Two slips, third man, bat pad. Singles available everywhere.

Akash has to ride that rising ball, back of a length and fends it into the on side.

Now a helmet is run out for silly mid off to come in, right under the eye line of the batter.

Akash pushes into the off side and takes a couple. Akash wanted to run three but it stays at two.

Only two of the last 59 deliveries would have gone on to hit the stumps.

India needs 8 runs to avoid the follow on

The umpires come together - just checking on the ball I think.

IN THE AIR! Akash is going to run another two! A little push past that silly mid off.

India needs 6 runs to avoid the follow on

Finally Cummins puts a mid off in place to cut off those runs.

INSIDE EDGE! Past the stumps and they get a single. Akash wanted to get all six in one go there! A wild swing that almost saw him chop on.

India needs 5 runs to avoid the follow on

73rd over - Nathan Lyon comes into the attack

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This is an intriguing game within the Test - can India defy the odds and avoid the follow on?

Bumrah pushes into the on side and India run a single.

India needs 13 runs to avoid the follow on

Akash pushes to long on and they take another single. Why is there a long on. Why? It's such an easy single.

India needs 12 runs to avoid the follow on

Bumrah defends solidly.

A little push defence that sees the ball just pop into the air at cover but falls safely. No run.

CLOSE! Lyon does well there, the ball just catching the edge of Bumrah's bat.

BEATEN! Carey whips the bails off after the ball beats the bat. That's the most threatening Lyon has looked all Test - drifting away and then straightening. But Bumrah's back foot was grounded.

72nd over - Mitch Starc continues

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India needs 21 runs to avoid the follow on. The tourists are edging towards that target. After that, I don't think Australia can reasonably have any chance of winning the game. I think it's a bit unlikely anyway, but still.

DRIVEN! That's a lovely shot from Akash, who takes a couple to deep cover. And it was a no ball too! A big one.

India needs 18 runs to avoid the follow on

EDGED! And it's just died on its way through to second slip! It came off Akash's hip.

Akash pushes to mid off, wants a single, Cummins fumbles and if he hadn't and thrown to the keeper, that might have been close.

Solid defence from Akash.

More solid defence as Starc asks questions of both Akash's technique and mettle by targeting the body.

Another really good defensive stroke that keeps the ball away from bat pad.

FOUR! Akash clips the ball wide of gully and down to the boundary where it beats the diving fielder.

India needs 14 runs to avoid the follow on

71st over - Pat Cummins is going to continue

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He liberally deploys some sawdust on his landing zone and now sets his field.

Two slips, gully, third man, bat pad, midwicket, point, wide mid off and fine leg.

Down the leg side, Akash misses getting an edge on it.

BEATEN! Akash dangles the bat out there and the ball fizze past it, nipping away quite a distance. Akash was a mile from hitting that as it happens.

Akash takes a single off to backward point.

Good rising ball that Bumrah does well to keep down off his bat handle almost - he takes off and they run a single.

Two slips, two gullies too, and Akash defends solidly.

Nathan Lyon is energetically warming up in front of us at third man.

Akash clips off his pads and gets a single to fine leg.

70th over - Starc is going to continue

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It is getting darker out there, the lights having more effect as we carry on. It's not too bad though.

Two slips, a gully, a fine third man.

Bouncer, Akash swings at it but misses.

Akash pushes into the off side and they will take an easy single.

Now, India needs just 24 more to avoid the follow on.

Bumrah defends a rising ball down in front of bat pad.

Good yorker. The field is set for a bouncer so that's a good double bluff.

BOUNCER! Starc asks the question as Bumrah swings and misses a ball that's over his head. There was no contact on bat or glove.

BEATEN! That's a good ball, Bumrah smiles knowing he was never a chance to edge that.

69th over - Cummins continues

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There is some light drizzle falling, but certainly not enough for them to be hauled back in.

SIX! Hooked hard over fine leg! Big shot from Bumrah, a great shot and he gets six for it. India are 25 runs away from avoiding the follow on.

Bouncer! That's a good one.

There are no slips, a gully, five men back on the rope behind square and a bat pad.

Bouncer from Cummins, Bumrah hooks and misses.

Field changes, now there's two slips and a gully.

Bumrah can't get bat on ball and that's over.

FYI, just in case you thought Bumrah was not a decent striker of the ball...

68th over - Mitchell Starc comes back into the attack

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The Lyon experiment is over.

Mitch Starc is back, probably angier than ever.

Bumrah is on strike, and he is bounced first up, he tried to pull and missed it.

Two slips, a gully, a bat pad and third man. There are two men back on the leg side and the ball is flicked towards them for a single by Jadeja.

India needs 31 runs to avoid the follow on.

Yorker from Starc, a really good one, but Akash Deep does well to keep it out.

Bouncer, Akash goes Deep to get under it nicely.

Solid defence from Akash.

More solid defence from Akash.

A really good bouncer to finish from Starc.

OUT! JADEJA FALLS INTO THE TRAP!

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(Getty Images)

There were four men back, Jadeja pulled high into the air, and Mitch Marsh takes a really good catch diving forward at deep square leg!

Jadeja is out for 77!

It was a brilliant innings and it frustrated Australia for a long time.

But it's over now.

Australia on the cusp of a big first innings lead.

(Getty Images)

67th over - Cummins continues

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Jadeja defends the first.

Two slips and a gully - everyone else is back on the rope.

EDGED! FOUR! Over the top of slips, a genuine edge - his heavy slogging bat - he changed it earlier on in the innings - doing the business there.

33 to avoid the follow on.

He drives to long off for no run.

Off the very top of the bat there, the ball bouncing through to the slips.

Another new bat is run out to Jadeja as the field comes in. There are still four fielders back on the rope behind square - and a gully. No slips.

It's a short ball that Jadeja tries to ramp but misses.

65th over - Nathan Lyon comes into the attack

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Not sure about this. Mitch Starc was fired up, bowling fast and there is a genuine number 11 out there in the middle. I'm not sure Lyon is the right option.

There is a silly mid off, a slip and move others are on the boundary.

SIX! Massive shot! Over long off for six runs. I don't think Jadeja is doing that to Mitch Starc at 145kph...

India are just 38 runs behind the follow on target.

Jadeja slaps to point, but there's no run.

(Getty Images)

Now he pushes to mid on and they do stroll through for a single.

A close catcher on either side of the wicket, and an orthodox and leg slip in place too.

Bumrah gets his hands low and defends.

He defends the next too to end the over.

64th over - Cummins continues

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Jadeja cuts to deep backward point but declines a run.

India's 9, 10 and 11 batters are not very good, so Jadeja has to be really careful about how he manages the strike here.

He defends the next and Cummins grabs it in stride.

Bouncer, left alone.

Nicely driven out to long off there by Jadeja, they take a single.

So, Jasprit Bumrah is in the firing line for two balls.

Cummins, over the wicket, two slips, gully and a bat pad in place, Bumrah defends down in front of the bat pad.

Bumrah rides another rib tickler and fends it down in front of bat pad.

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