Australia asserted their dominance on Day Three of the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India at The Gabba, with the home side bowled out for 445 runs, led by wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey, who scored 70 runs amid rain delays and impressive bowling performances from India.
The day began with anticipation as players took the field following delays caused by scattered showers. Unfortunately, rain played hide-and-seek, forcing players off the field multiple times within the first hour of play. Despite the interruptions, Carey managed to approach his innings with intent, marking his total with seven boundaries and two towering sixes.
Australia resumed Day Three from their overnight score of 405 for seven, and Carey quickly reached his half-century within 53 balls. He capitalized on the Indian bowlers, most noticeably hitting Akash Deep for a huge six over long-off, which was considered one of the shots of the day.
“I thought Akash bowled really nicely,” said Steve Smith, acknowledging Deep's performance following his first Test wicket on Australian soil. “Particularly, he was getting the ball to move with significant movement. He was bowling really good length and he’s a nice bowler. It was the first time I’d faced him.”
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, continued his strong display from the previous days, culminating on this day with his best bowling figures at The Gabba. He dismantled Australia’s batting line-up, finishing with six wickets after dismissing Mitchell Starc, who edged it to keeper Rishabh Pant for 18 runs, ending Australia's innings at 445.
Despite the rain falling intermittently throughout the match, the Australian players' resilience shone bright, knowing they had put together a challenging target for the Indian team to chase. The Indian bowler's efforts, namely by Bumrah and Deep, helped to contain Australia's aggressive batting.
Australia seemed to be heading toward total domination, but the elements conspired against them as rain and darkening skies started interrupting play once again. "Light wins! We are off again after an over from Travis Head and there’s little chance of conditions improving,” the commentary noted.
By the time play was finally halted, India was struggling at 4/51, with key batsmen already falling by the wayside. Captain Rohit Sharma and the team were facing mounting pressure as they worked to find their footing against the dominant Australian bowling attack.
Carey's innings, significant for its vigor and timing, stood out as he contributed greatly during Australia's innings, keeping the momentum going even as wickets fell around him. Unfortunately, he was the last man out, caught by Shubman Gill off Deep’s bowling, leaving Australia to ponder their next move against the impending weather conditions.
The performance of Travis Head and Steve Smith earlier during the second day had set the stage for Australia, with Head’s remarkable 152 runs and Smith's century underscoring the pressure being placed on India to respond decisively. Their efforts solidified Australia's strong position before the rain changed the dynamics of the match.
Fans eagerly await Day Four at The Gabba, with eyes glued to the weather forecasts. Will the rain play its hand again, or will the match begin to lean more decidedly toward either team? Australia clearly holds the upper hand, but cricket often delivers unexpected turns, and as players prepare to take the field again, hopes remain high for dynamic play and thrilling moments to potentially close out the game.
With the sun expected to peep through after the rain, and the reduced visibility becoming less of a concern, the script shifting back to the game itself might lead to thrilling action. The players both teams will be eager to push through and claim the upper hand heading to the final pivotal matches of this gripping series.
Determined to bag those remaining wickets before the rain returns, Australia now seeks to capitalize on their opportunities and secure their stronghold against India, whose batsmen will need to rally and regroup if they hope to battle back effectively against the Australians.
