AUS vs IND 2024: Rain likely to spoil Gabba Test

Gabba will host the third Test between Australia and India, starting December 14. The series is currently poised at 1-1 and the winner of the game can take an important lead ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Notably, both teams are currently in contention to make it to the World Test Championship (WTC) finale and losing a game can hurt them on the points table and can get ruled out.

In the meantime, rain is expected to affect all five days of the Gabba Test. As per reports, it could be a start-stop affair and both teams are likely to consider the conditions before deciding their playing XI. No heavy rain or thunderstorm is expected that can ruin an entire day but it would be cloudy and the conditions will heavily favour the pace unit.

The pitch curators are also preparing a green deck for the third Test. They noted that it would be ‘fresh’ and have a fair amount of ‘pace and carry’. Since it’s still the beginning of the Australian summer, the surface is still new as only a couple of Shield and Women’s Big Bash League matches have been hosted on the ground.

Also Read - We are just trying to make traditional Gabba wicket: Pitch curator David Sandurski 

Australia, on their home turf, will start as favourites, especially after registering a 10-wicket win in the second Test at Adelaide. However, the Pat Cummins-led side hasn’t beaten India in a red-ball Test match on their home turf since January 2021. They played three and lost two, including the famous one at Gabba almost three years back.

Josh Hazlewood meanwhile is in the final stages of his recovery but the team management is yet to decide on his availability. In case he misses out, Scott Boland will continue in the playing XI. India, on the other hand, can make a solitary change to their squad. Ravindra Jadeja is the favourite to replace Ravichandran Ashwin to strengthen the batting unit. However, like Australia, India may end up taking a call on the morning of the Test match.