Brisbane’s dreary weather stands in the way of Australia taking a 2-1 lead over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a miserable third day at the Gabba.

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India is 4-51 at stumps, still trailing by 394 runs, following a superb new-ball spell from Australian quicks Mitchell Starc (2-25) and Josh Hazlewood (1-17) in the Queensland capital.

However, the Sunshine State didn’t live up to its name on Monday – sporadic bursts of heavy rain frustrated players and spectators throughout the day, while ground staff received an impromptu workout by dragging on the covers on eight occasions.

Indian opener KL Rahul (33*) and captain Rohit Sharma (0*) are unbeaten at stumps, with the hosts needing to take a further 16 wickets over the next two days to secure a crucial victory. However, the weather forecast is anything but reassuring, with more rain predicted for Tuesday.

“There’s still plenty of time for a result,” Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh told reporters at stumps.

“But let’s hope the weather stays away over the next two days … let’s hope for some sunshine.”

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Yashasvi Jaiswal’s infamous “too slow” sledge came back to haunt him again after the Indian opener clipped his second delivery of the innings directly towards square leg, the third time Starc has dismissed him in the series. In Starc’s following over, a flying Marsh held onto a lunging chance at gully to remove Shubman Gill for 1, leaving the tourists in early trouble at 2-6.

“The boys are always into me for how slow I move and how I can’t jump or move in the field,” Marsh recalled.

“I probably didn’t even need to dive, to be fair. Thought I added a bit of mayo.”

At the other end, Rahul dropped his bat in pain after a Hazlewood struck him flush on the wrist, with the volatile Gabba deck proving a handful for India’s top order.

Moments before the dreaded rain returned, which forced a premature lunch break, Indian superstar Virat Kohli lazily wafted at a wide delivery from Hazlewood, feathering the Kookaburra through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 3. The previous delivery, Starc athletically prevented a boundary at deep fine leg to ensure Kohli was on strike for the wicket ball, with the left-armer receiving plenty of plaudits in the team huddle.

The covers hokey pokey continued in the afternoon session. Rain, covers, sunshine, cricket – the cycle rolled around every hour, almost like clockwork.

During the umpteenth rain’s intermission, Australian captain Pat Cummins toppled the dangerous Rishabh Pant with a length delivery that nipped away and kissed the outside edge, gone for 9. A couple of minutes later, the heavens opened yet again.

“The on and off stuff is always frustrating,” Marsh continued.

“It’s a big series, we want to get out there and play. It’s probably more so for the spectators who show up every day and want to watch.”

Following an agonising two-and-a-half hour delay, players returned for a 14-over evening session, but the Australians were only permitted to bowl spinners due to the fading light. While waiting for the resumption, Starc disingenuously practised his off-spin with assistant coach Daniel Vettori.

However, only 17 deliveries were possible before drizzle and bad light forced umpires to wave on the covers, with stumps officially called at 5.25pm local time.

Earlier, Australia was bowled out for 445, the team’s highest score of the year, after India’s quicks cleaned up the tail during the morning session. Carey cracked a classy 70, his ninth Test half-century, while Indian weapon Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 6-76 having ripped through Australia’s middle order the previous evening.

Following a delayed start, Starc nailed a slog-sweep against spinner Ravindra Jadeja for six before edging behind for 18 to become Bumrah’s sixth victim of the innings. The highlight of the morning session came when Carey charged at Indian seamer Akash Deep and clobbered a 108m six over long-off, igniting the Brisbane crowd.

Carey and Nathan Lyon combined for a laborious 22-run partnership for the ninth wicket before Mohammed Siraj and Deep struck to wrap up Australia’s innings in 117.1 overs.

Day four of the Gabba Test between Australia and India, weather pending, resumes on Tuesday at 10.50am AEDT.