IND vs AUS, 3rd Test Day 5 Highlights: Third Test ends in draw, match called off due to rain

In the middle of a Test series, without any heads up, Ashwin follows the retirement pattern of MS Dhoni. After 106 Tests, 537 wickets and 3503 runs, Ashwin draws the curtains on what has been an iconic career. While 2014 saw MS Dhoni also announce his retirement from Test cricket during the Border Gavaskar Trophy

India skipper Rohit Sharma also revealed during the post-match press-conference that it was him who convinced Ashwin to play the pink-ball Test in Adelaide against Australia, although it did not go to plan.

And finally, the "big announcement". It is Ravichandran Ashwin who announces his retirement from international cricket in a special declaration alongside India captain Rohit Sharma ahead of his post-match press conference. The veteran India spinner confirms this to be his "last day" as a player for India, and him taking the decision in the middle of a Border Gavaskar Trophy has left a lot of fans shocked.

"It' not gonna take too much time, this will be my last day as an Indian cricketer... I do feel there's a bit of an ounce left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that properly. I'll showcase that in club level cricket, but this will be the last day and uh I had a lot of fun," Ashwin said.

The Player of the Match, Travis Head, reflected on his 241-run partnership stand with Steve Smith and how it helped his confidence.

 "Pretty relaxed communication, feel like he (Smith) was in great rhythm, gave me great confidence when batting with him, was a nice partnership, really enjoyed it. 

Another bad news for Australia as Travis Head picked up a groin injury, which has also made his availability in the upcoming and highly-anticipated Boxing Day Test uncertain. However, Head, while accepting his player of the match award, emphasised that his injury was nothing major and that he would soon be back.

"Just a little sore but I should be fine (before the next game)," Head said at the post-match presentation.

The ultimate bad news for cricket fans from Gabba, as the third Test between India and Australia gets called off due to persistent rain which is showing no signs of improving.

The series stays level at 1-1 and it is fair to say that Rohit Sharma-led team India would be the one taking the majority of the confidence boost with this draw, specifically how they snatched away Australia's advantage in this match. Australia, on the other hand, made cheap mistakes on Day 4 with the ball, which saw India avoid the follow-on due to some heroic 10th wicket batting from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. 

Bumrah and Akash did the same with the ball on Day 5, picking 3 and 2 wickets respecitively and playing a key role in forcing Australia to make an early declaration. 
 

A couple of journalists have already created a buzz about a "big announcement" coming up after this Test match. Many fans have started speculating about this being a retirement announcement, and many have linked it with India's veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, particularly after his emotional chat with Virat Kohli in the dressing room. Although there still is no clarity on who will be making the big announcement, but that has not stopped fans from speculating.

It has not started to rain quite heavily in Brisbane and that is not good news for cricket fans, with the chances of rain resuming looking highly unlikely. India might have already secured a draw, which will actually give India the mental boost over Australia ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

Day 5 of the Brisbane Test saw India's Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep replicate their Day 4 batting brilliance now also with the ball, which has even prompted many to wonder whether this should be the side's more usual pair to open the bowling instead of Mohammed Siraj. 

"He's (Akash Deep) shown how good he is today, because he attacked the stumps a lot more, made the batters play a lot more. Therefore he was rewarded with those two wickets. He definitely gets the ball to move a lot more than Siraj. No question about it," Gavaskar told Sky Sports.

There's no rain yet at the Gabba. But, it's extremely overcast. The members of the groundstaff have covered the pitch. The square is left open. As usual, no covers on the outfield. But, kudos to the drainage system in Brisbane. Despite the weather interruptions, the outfield has played perfectly well. It's taken very little time to dry the outfield. 

The floodlights are on at the Gabba. Good call to take early Tea. It has been taken 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. 

The Indian dressing room looks relaxed. Australia would have wanted a couple of early jolts in the first few overs. 

The forecast for the rest of the day is not looking good. 

LIVE SCORE: India (260, 8 for 0) at Tea on Day 5, need 267 more to win. At the crease: Jaiswal (4), Rahul (4)

The players go off. The light is not good enough to continue. It became very dark after the Indian chase began. The dark clouds are hovering over the Gabba. The two Indian openers were just getting set.

It's going to be a frustrating wait for the rest of the day.

LIVE SCORE: India (260, 8 for 0), need 267 more to win. At the crease:Jaiswal (4), Rahul (4)

Mitchell Starc is getting good carry and a bit of movement. It's getting overcast at the Gabba. Dark clouds are starting to hover over the ground. Yashasvi got off the mark with a flick to the mid-wicket region. 

India are looking in no hurry. They shouldn't be. Playing out the new ball should be their prime focus. 

LIVE SCORE: India (260, 4 for 0), need 271 more to win. At the crease:Jaiswal (4), Rahul (0)

No surprises so far as India are sticking to their opening stand between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. While KL Rahul played a defining knock in the first innings, this innings will require Yashasvi Jaiswal to also put in an impactful knock.

Mitchell Starc will be looking to get an early wicket in the very opening over and that might make both India openers apply caution for now.

Well, there could be a rain break in the next 30-45 minutes. The forecast is not looking good. 54 overs to bowl, weather permitting. But it's unlikely that we might get all of it. 

Keep in mind, Australia don't have Josh Hazlewood. The senior pacer injured his calf while bowling in the first innings and was ruled out of the Test match. 

Well, Australia have set India a 275-run target. India have 54 overs, provided the rain stays away. Mark Nicholas, on air, is lauding Pat Cummins for the bold call. 

What a cracker of a contest this is turning out to be. 

We think it's more about winning the mental edge than winning the Test itself. If Australia can have India at 100 for 5, then they will head to Melbourne with the mental edge. If India can be 100 for 0 in 30-odd overs, then they will have the upper-hand. It's like a boxing bout when the two pugilists are just weighing things before the final few rounds. 

Meanwhile, there's a weather update for you all. It's not looking promising. 

 After going 89/7, Australia skipper Pat Cummins has decided to take an early declaration and have set a 275-run target for India to win, 

A very bad day for the Australia top-order with even first innings century hero Travis Head also failing to make a mark in the second innings. Cummins might want to make use of India's batting backlogs from the first inninsg yet agian, but things have already gotten exciting. 

If we do not face any more rain interruptions, India will have 54 overs to chase down this 275-run target, which still sets this game on equal chances for both sides. 

 AUS (445, 89 for 7), lead IND (260) by 274 runs. At the crease: Carey (20), Starc (2)
 

BUMRAH DISMISSES THE DANGEROUS CUMMINS!!! When has the India star pacer not given the solution to his side's problems. 

Rohit Sharma must have been desperate to get the wicket of the big-hitting Cummins, and that will turn things slow as India need. What a Test maytch!!

It initially looked like Australia declaring the innings, but no!! Cummins asks Carey to carry on as Mitchell Starc now joins him atr the crease. 
 

AUS (445, 85 for 7), lead IND (260) by 270 runs. At the crease: Carey (18),

Pat Cummins is looking in some aggressive touch, as he targets any pacer that's coming in front of him. The Australia skipper yet again carves out a 12-run over to take his side's lead over 260 runs, and this only adds to the drama around this exciting Test match in Brisbane. 

Will Rohit bring Bumrah back?

 AUS (445, 85 for 6), lead IND (260) by 270 runs. At the crease: Carey (18), Cummins (22)

Pat Cummins does not look anywhere near ready to back down and he has shifting fully to aggressive gears, specifically against Akash Deep. Managing 13 runs from the over from Akash Deep amidst rising pressure, Cummins and Carey are looking confident to try and carry on for as much as possible. 
 

 AUS (445, 73 for 6), lead IND (260) by 258 runs. At the crease: Carey (17), Cummins (11)

With how things have panned out today, Australia skipper Pat Cummins might already be thinking about an early declaration. With the lead already close to 250 now, Australia might be willing to waste no time and get India back on to bat.

Mohammed Siraj gets the big wicket of Travis Head!! Another addition to their rivalry as Australia now look considerably under pressure.

A steep pacey bouncer from Siraj gets completely miscued by Head high for a catch to the safe hands of wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. What a turnaround of momentum!!

AUS (445, 60 for 6), lead IND (260) by 245 runs. At the crease: Carey (14)  

Not good early signs as both Alex Carey and Travis Head seem like getting a hang of India's pace attack at the moment, getting the routine boundary out in every over and piling on the lead. Maybe a change in bowling coming from Rohit Sharma to break this partnership at its early stages?

AUS (445, 56 for 5), lead IND (260) by 241 runs. At the crease: Head (14), Carey (14).  

Mohammed Siraj is slowly and steadily finding his line and length, and this is troubling the Australia batters - Travis Head and Alex Carey to bat with any sort of freedom. This early pressure is exactly what India need to focus on, as another couple of wickets will make this whole match very interesting.

AUS (445, 44 for 5), lead IND (260) by 231 runs. At the crease: Head (13), Carey (7).

Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is the new man in. Australia have no second thoughts about swinging their bats here. They are looking to collect as much as possible. The forecast for later in the day is not good with rain expected to arrive. 

Will Australia declare with 60-70 on the board and a target of 250? 

tt's going to be an exciting last day if the weather holds up. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 38 for 5), lead IND (260) by 222 runs. At the crease: Head (13), Carey (2).

WICKET! Steve Smith is caught down the leg-side again! Familiar problems return to haunt the first-innings centurion. Mohammed Siraj is pumped up. The plan has worked for India. A good take from Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.

Steve Smith looked to be aggressive as he danced down and hit a boundary in the previous delivery.

Australia are clear on attacking. They are five down, but won't mind this. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 36 for 5), lead IND (260) by 221 runs. At the crease: Head (13)

Steve Smith is the new batter in. He has walked in at No. 6. How will Australia approach their innings now? They have lost four early wickets. This is going to be tricky. We don't Steve Smith will do anything different to his natural game. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 29 for 4), lead IND (260) by 214 runs. At the crease: Head (10), Smith (0)

WICKET! Akash Deep has another one. Mitchell Marsh is gone. Once again, a superb delivery from the pacer. He hits the good length and the ball jags off the pitch. Marsh is unable to handle the bounce and edges it to the wicketkeeper. This is sensational from the Indian pacers in the early morning session.

Akash Deep is getting the rewards for the hard work of the first innings. This is so good to see. It will be a huge confidence booster for the young pacer ahead of the fourth and fifth Tests. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 28 for 4), lead IND (260) by 213 runs. At the crease: Head (9), Smith (0)

Should Jasprit Bumrah be bowling at all in the second innings. Yes, the sun is out. But, a result, barring a draw, looks unlikely here. Should India not preserve Bumrah? He has played all three Tests so far and will be required to play the last two. 

Bumrah should get a short first spell and India should look at trying out Nitish Kumar Reddy. But, Australia are under a bit of pressure. A tough call for Rohit Sharma this!

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 26 for 3), lead IND (260) by 211 runs. At the crease: Head (8), Marsh (1).

A rare half-volley from Jasprit Bumrah. He drifts down to the pads and Travis Head flicks it to the leg-side boundary. A powerful shot from the man in form. Sunil Gavaskar, on air, is asking the indians to test Travis Head with a couple of early bouncers. 

This is going to be a spicy battle. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (445, 26 for 3), lead IND (260) by 211 runs. At the crease: Head (8), Marsh (1).

First with the bat and now with the ball!!

After Bumrah it is now Akash Deep who dismisses the remaining Australia opener Nathan Mcsweeny, who just could not read the swing on the delivery before it took the big edge, and went to the gloves of Rishabh Pant. 

Travis Head now joins Mitchell Marsh at the crease, and India would want to get rid of the in-form batter as soon as possible. 

AUS (445) and (16/3 in 7.3 ovs), lead by 201 runs over IND (260)      

An interesting move from Australia skipper Pat Cummins, as it is Mitchell Marsh who comes to the crease at number 4 ahead of Steve Smith and first innings century hero Travis Head. Things look suddenly tense for Australia and it is all due to Bumrah.

This is a clear message from Australia. They want to score quick and see if they set India a target now. 

First Usman Khawaja and now the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne!!! Jasprit Bumrah gives a brilliantly confident start to India and this wicket now puts him over Kapil Dev for the most wickets for an Indian in Australia with his 52 now, and brimming for more.

A poor attempt from Labuschagne to knick a ball way off from the off-stump, which had some good bounce on it. A thick edge and Rishabh Pant takes a routine catch behind the stumps.

 AUS (445) and (16/2 in 6.1 ovs), lead by 201 runs over IND (260)    

Bumrah is making both Marnus Labuschagne and Mcsweeny look a bit shaky when facing the swinging away from off-stump delivery. Another wicket will give a huge boost of confidence to India and Bumrah knows it.

AUS (445) and (14/1 in 5 ovs), lead by 199 runs over IND (260)  

Mohammed Siraj is having some difficulty with his line at the moment, but both Australia openers are not making too much out of the India pacer's mistakes either. Siraj needs to give some good support to Bumrah early into this innings, in order to build on their good start.

AUS (445) and (12/1 in 4 ovs), lead by 197 runs over IND (260)

BUMRAH DISMISSES BIRTHDAY BOY USMAN KHAWAJA!!!

Exactly the kind of start India would have been looking for, and it is yet again India's pace star Bumrah who brings the breakthrough, and also his 19th wicket of the series so far. This wicket is even more special for Bumrah which now matches his tally with that of Former India skipper Kapil Dev with 51 wickets in Australia. 

AUS (445) and (11/1 in 2.4 ovs), lead by 196 runs over IND (260)

Not a great follow up on the Jasprit Bumrah over by Mohammed Siraj, conceding 8 runs and giving the Australia openers some crucial breathing room. Bumrah will now have to set the tone high yet again in this next over and not let Khawaja and Mcsweeny get comfortable at the crease.

 AUS (445) and (10/0 in 2 ovs), lead by 195 runs over IND (260)

Jasprit Bumrah sets the tone with a very simple first over, keeping both Australia openers - Khawaja and Mcsweeny remaining cautious of a swinging delivery straight down the line. Australia faced a lot of difficulty in this match against Bumrah, and that might make each and every batter of the side play the India star pacer with a certain degree of carefulness.

GOOD NEWS FROM GABBA!!

The play is set to resume from 8:10 am now with the sky now clear and that means Jasprit Bumrah is all set to get things underway.

More good news from the Gabba as India's pace trio, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj are seen warming up on the ground with bowling coach Morne Morkel. From consistent rain, it has now toned down to a little drizzling in Brisbane with the weather getting clearer now. Still no official confirmation of a start time, as we continue to wait for the umpires to come up with an analysis of the conditions.

This might be a good sight as the ground staff is now letting all the fans return to their seats. The weather has improved a little bit with the rain now toned down with the dark clouds now passing away from the spot. 

Although rain has stopped in Brisbane, with the crowd now returning to the stands, an early lunch has been taken as we continue to wait for weather conditions to clear out further and return to match action.

Australia will be more and more eager to come on and bat, with India now sitting in a rayher comfortable position of salvaging a draw from this Test match if things majorly remain the same.

It is still pouring in Brisbane as Australia wait for their chance to set a target for India and find their way back into an advantageous spot for this Test match. Things are looking increasingly risky at the Gabba as the ground staff has now issued a message for fans to get away from open areas with expectations of "severe weather" at any moment.

The rain is pouring down in Brisbane at the moment and the players are in the safety of their changing rooms at the moment. India fought their way to 260, conceding a 185-run lead to Australia. The hosts were hoping to get back and score some quick runs but the rain has continued to frustrate them. 

BAD NEWS!!
 

Things have now gone from bad to worse at the Gabba as it has now started to rain in Brisbane, and the skies do not show any signs of clearing away anytime soon. We might have a long halt on our hands, with weather only predicted to get even worse later in the day.

Weather conditions at Brisbane do not look good at the moment and the players have been asked to return to their respective dressing room, with the spectators also asked to move back from the fence and deeper into the stands as we can now see some consistent lighting. 

This might be the first and major interruption of what is already predicted to be a rain-filled Day 5.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins might be precarious in this current scenario at the Gabba. After letting the last India pair in Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep add a 47 run stand at the 10th wicket, helping India avoid a follow-on, and possibly a defeat, the lightning interruption had yet again disrupted their momentum. 

With the current condition of things, Cummins might want his side to bat as soon as possible, and set up a quick target for India, and try to exploit India's batting weaknesses shown in this match yet again for the final two sessions of the final day of the 3rd Test in Brisbane.  

Former Australia umpire Simon Taufel explains what is the rule behind play getting called off just with the sightings of lightning, which has indeed left Australia on uneasy grounds.

"The ICC has had a lot of protocol in place for a number of years now. Probably five to six years. It's a 30-30 rule, so when there is an imminent threat of lightning and the umpires see a flash of lightning, if they hear a thunderclap within 30 seconds, that's the guideline for them to suspend play or not to play at all. Obviously, there's a degree of common sense here that if the storm is moving away and that 30 seconds is getting close, they can agree to restart play or to keep playing. However, in this particular case with lightning so close, there is an imminent threat and when they see that flash of lightning and the plunch of thunder within 30 seconds, they will suspend or abandon play, because it is about the safety of everyone, spectators including ground staff and everyone on the ground,"  Taufel told 7 Cricket.

Some lightning and thunderbursts are now seen in Brisbane, just when India were about to take the field for the second innings. The forecast has already predicted rain early on Day 5, and we might have our very first interruption of the day on cards.

Australia would be more and more eager to get on with the game, but that doesn't look to be happening as the main pitch cover has come on.

Australia had a certain degree of urgency in their approach to wrap things up quickly, which was very much evident in how their skipper Pat Cummins was ready with his bowling mix up early on Day 5.

The hosts must've leant from how their loose approach costed them on Day 4, and now they might have the eye to set up a quick target and yet again try to bring India on to bat quickly.

AKASH DEEP FINALLY FALLS!!! CUMMINS'S TRAVIS HEAD CALL WORKS OUT!!!

Pat Cummins's spin choice works and India get bundled for 260, trailing to Australia by 185 runs. Now things have gotten interesting.

IND (260 all-out in 78.5 ovs) behind Australia (445) by 185 runs in Brisbane.

Pat Cummins is trying to keep things mixed up as he brings on Travis Head to bowl early and break off this now looking sturdy partnership.

Pat Cummins has tested both Bumrah and Akash Deep with some brilliant bouncer barrage, but both the India tail-enders have handled it brilliantly so far. All they need to do is be really cautious in these initial overs.

IND (257/9 after 77 ovs), trail by 188 runs vs AUS (445) in Brisbane.

UP AND RUNNING WITH DAY 5!!

Pat Cummins opens the day's play by bowling out the last delivery of his 75th over, which he was unable to yesterday after the bad light conditions forced an early stumps. 

Akash Deep takes no risks and just defends this ball from the AUstralia skipper.

Day 4 of the ever-exciting Brisbane Test at the Gabba saw some last-stand heroics from India's pace duo Jaspri Bumrah and Akash Deep, flipped the tide of the game not with the ball, but with the bat. The duo's brisk hitting yesterday saw India avoid the follow-on with their courageous 39 run partnership at the 10th wicket stand.

Australia have about 98.1 overs to try and rekindle their chances of winning this Test match, and also need to keep the rain chances in mind.

We are only minutes away from Day 5 of the Brisbane Test between Australia and India, and this morning is cloudy yet again. This final day of the 3rd Test will decide whether India can clinch out a draw and spoil Australia's path to what initially seemed like a cakewalk victory.

As per the latest weather reports, rain is once again expected at the Gabba on the final Day of the Test match. Brisbane is going to see the majority of its rainfall in the early morning hours. There is a 90 per cent chance of rainfall in the morning on Wednesday, Day 5 of the Test match. Accuweather has included a minor flood warning for the place as well.

For the later part of the day, the conditions are going to be overcast with chances of isolated showers in the match hours. The prediction works well for India, who will hope to eke out a draw after being outplayed for the first 3 days of the Test match.

It will be a real Test for the India batters who will once again be facing the Australian pace attack. If India manage to survive the Gabba Test, it will be a massive boost for the team.

"I think Rohit will be very disappointed in himself. Even today you could see that he played slightly in front. With Rohit, he has never been someone who lunges forward for the ball but what he does do is play almost close to his front pad. But here you can see that he has gone ahead and what does that tell you? That his form is not as good as he would like it to be. now one thing that he has done well is that attack himself out of pressure in all formats. We all clapped that attacking cricket, especially in white-ball where he was a pioneer of this approach," Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

"I think it is time for him to show the other way around, to guts it out. Make sure that he is there, avoid shots that is going to be dangerous on that pitch and back his technique. Rohit Sharma has played a decade and a half of international cricket, if you are telling that his technique is not water-tight, I will be very surprised. He has got areas that he is vulnerable in, but everybody has that, he needs to guts it out, fight it out. I am not sure if he believes in it right now, but that could be his confidence. But if he puts his mind to it, this question can be answered. Because what India needs, is a mentally tough Rohit Sharma," Karthik concluded his assessment.

"Things would have been different if there had been a follow-on. The same 200 runs would have looked very large. However, Australia now know they have to bat. So how long should they bat and should they make them (India) bat again or not? That's the first thing and secondly, do their fast bowlers still have the strength left in their legs?" Harbhajan Singh said.

"We saw Starc and Cummins bowling big spells and Hazlewood, who could have been a massive factor on this pitch, is injured. Your third bowler is Nathan Lyon. So I don't think Australia have the scope of adding 100-150 runs and making India play two sessions. They might have that thinking but I don't think that much strength would be left in their legs," Harbhajan added.

India celebrated in style on Day 4 of the Test match when they escaped the follow-on. Many players like Harbhajan Singh believe that the team will surely secure a draw given Australia will have to bat once again in the Brisbane Test.
 

Australia received a massive injury blow on Day 4 of the Gabba Test when Josh Hazlewood walked off injury after bowling just one over. Hazlewood is likely to be ruled out of the Test series, which means that Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will once again have to share the additional workload.
 

The Indian team still trails by 193 runs at the start of Day 5 of the Test match. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah are at the crease and would be hoping to wag their tail a bit longer and frustrate the Australian team.
 

Hello and welcome to India Today's live coverage of India vs Australia's 3rd Test match of the series. It is the final day (Day 5) of the Test match.

My name is Kingshuk Kusari, and I will explain what has been happening in this game so far.