AFP - The deciding fourth Test between Australia and India in Brisbane hung in the balance yesterday after a massive thunderstorm caused play to be abandoned following the tea break on the second day.
The Gabba was saturated during the storm, which began during the tea break and while the ground drained quickly, the umpires decided the outfield was too wet to allow play to continue.
India will resume today at 62 for two, 307 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 369, with Cheteshwar Pujara on eight alongside Skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who was on two.
Australia had earlier claimed the vital wicket of Rohit Sharma 20 minutes before tea to seize the momentum.
Sharma had been in full flow, striking 44 stylish runs from 74 deliveries with six boundaries.
But with the score on 60 for the loss of opener Shubman Gill (7), Sharma threw his wicket away when he charged off-spinner Nathan Lyon, only managing to sky a ball to Mitchell Starc at deep mid-on.
The Australian off-spinner is playing his 100th Test match and is closing in on 400 wickets - Sharma was his 397th.
After resuming at 274 for five, Australia lost five wickets in the first session including the overnight batsmen Tim Paine and Cameron Green.
Paine and Green had started aggressively on a flat batting wicket and looked to push the score beyond 400.
But shortly after reaching his half-century, Paine chased a wide ball from Shardul Thakur (3/94) and edged to Sharma at third slip to leave Australia at 311 for six.
Green survived a sharp chance on 45 off Washington Sundar but two runs later, the off-spinner got his revenge when he bowled the Australian number six for 47.
Thakur, playing only his second Test, took his third wicket when he trapped Cummins leg-before for two to leave the hosts struggling at 315 for seven.
However, Lyon and Starc went on the attack and the score raced to 354 before Sundar bowled Lyon around his legs after his quick-fire 24 off 22 deliveries.
When T. Natarajan bowled Josh Hazlewood to end the innings, the inexperienced Indian attack had completed an impressive comeback on a hot and humid Brisbane morning.