Australia vs India: Rain wrecks day one of third Test with just 13.2 overs bowled in Brisbane | Cricket News - sports news foot

Rain largely wiped out day one of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane with only 13.2 overs bowled.

Australia openers Usman Khawaja (19 not out off 47 balls) and Nathan McSweeney (4no off 33) steered the hosts to 28-0 after India had won the toss and elected to bowl.

India seamer Akash Deep, who had come into the side in place of Harshit Rana, had an lbw appeal against McSweeney turned down but there were no other alarms for the hosts.

Play was only possible during two spells in the morning session and the game was abandoned for the day an hour before the scheduled close at The Gabba.

The start of day two has been brought forward half an hour to 9.50am (11.50pm UK and Ireland) with 98 overs due to be bowled, although more rain is forecast.

Series locked at 1-1 after two Tests

Australia thumped India by 10 wickets in last week’s day-night second Test in Adelaide to level the five-match series at 1-1, after the tourists had won the first in Perth by 295 runs.

India must win at least two of their final three Tests in Australia – there are further games in Melbourne and Sydney – to reach next summer’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

Australia will reach the final with at least two more victories against India.

Australia recalled the fit-again Josh Hazlewood for the Brisbane Test – the 33-year-old missed the game in Adelaide due to a side problem – with Scott Boland the man to drop out.

India replaced Ravichandran Ashwin with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja in addition to picking Deep instead of Rana.