The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is edging closer towards a stalemate after a courageous tenth-wicket partnership between Indian tailender Akash Deep and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah frustrated the Australians on day four of the Gabba.

Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer >

After opener KL Rahul and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja cracked fifties, the lower-order duo combined for an unbeaten 39-run stand in the evening session to deny Australia the opportunity to enforce the follow-on.

India is 9-252 at stumps on day four, still trailing by 193 runs, with the test resuming on Wednesday at 10.50am AEDT.

‘DESPONDENT’ HAZLEWOOD DEALT FRESH BLOW

Five overs across three days, then out of the series.

Playing Josh Hazlewood in Gabba was always going to be a gamble, but the worst-case scenario came to fruition on Tuesday morning.

The Bendemeer Bullet missed the pink-ball Test in Adelaide due to a minor side complaint, with fellow seamer Scott Boland doing a sublime job in his absence.

Las week, Hazlewood’s net sessions became must-watch viewing last week. He got through a trundle in the South Australian capital unscathed before his impromptu visit to Allan Border Field on Thursday prompted a media frenzy.

After consultation with team medics, the injury-prone seamer was cleared to return for the Gabba Test, with captain Pat Cummins declaring there were “no hiccups” in Hazlewood’s recovery. He had ticked every box.

The right-armed seamer wasn’t required for the opening two days of the Gabba Test, watching from the dugout as Australia’s batters toiled between rain delays. Following two days of inactivity, the New South Welshman produced five overs on Monday, including the crucial dismissal of Virat Kohli, as Australia’s quicks ripped the head off India’s top-order.

But when play resumed on Tuesday morning, Hazlewood wasn’t on the field. The 33-year-old eventually joined his teammates and battled through one laborious over before limping off following consultation with Cummins and team physio Nick Jones.

After undergoing scans, Cricket Australia confirmed Hazlewood had sustained a calf strain while warming up before play, and would likely miss the remainder of the series.

The hosts, who at that stage needed 15 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series, had one less bowler at their disposal. Australia’s chances of winning the match – and the series – had taken a heavy blow.

Speaking on Fox Cricket commentary, former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe questioned whether Australia had rushed Hazlewood’s return because of a horses-for-course mentality.

“Trying to look at the Australian strategy, I think they had in mind that Hazlewood should play (in Brisbane) and miss Melbourne,” O’Keeffe said.

“Questions will be asked, was (Hazlewood) fit going into this game?”

Hazlewood’s susceptibility to injury has created plenty of headaches over the last few years – he missed three Tests during the 2022/23 home summer due to a side strain, flew home from last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an Achilles problem and didn’t feature in the T20 leg of this year’s United Kingdom tour with a calf complaint. He also missed four Tests during the 2021/22 Ashes due to his troublesome side, opening the door for Boland’s unforgettable debut.

As Hazlewood approaches the twilight of his international career, his durability will become more of a concern. He played all seven Tests last summer, but that was an outlier in what’s otherwise been many years of frustration.

“He’s pretty despondent,” Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori told reporters at stumps.

“It’s just unfortunate for him to come back and put some so much effort in after another injury with the side strain from the last Test.

“To pick up a calf injury, particularly considering the circumstances, was really tough on him.”

Hazlewood is unlikely to feature in the Sri Lanka series because the Australians are expected to pick two strike spinners, meaning he may not play Test cricket again until June’s World Test Championship final or the three-match West Indies tour. In all likelihood, he won’t don the baggy green again for another six months.

‘DON’T PLAN FOR WEATHER’: TRUTH BEHIND NON-DECLARATION

As commentators debated the appropriate time for Australia to declare on Monday morning, captain Pat Cummins leaned back in his chair with feet raised and not a care in the world.

It was early on day three and Australia’s first innings was yet to conclude, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and tailender Nathan Lyon in the middle. With the threat of rain looming, the hosts were about to be confronted with the daunting task of taking 20 wickets across three rain-affected days in the Queensland capital.

England captain Ben Stokes would have certainly pulled the plug by that stage – the Bazball mentality revolves around doing everything in your power to force a result – but Cummins wasn’t in a hurry.

Australia’s dilatoriness could have been forgiven if runs were flowing at a decent tempo, but Carey and Lyon chipped away at around two runs per over. The match had stalled, and the Australians were wasting precious minutes in the sunlight.

“I think Australia are worried about declaring and then all of a sudden a rain shower hits,” former Test captain Allan Border said on Fox Cricket commentary.

“You want to get a declaration in between showers so you get an hour or so bowling at the Indians. I don’t think the runs really matter, it’s all about getting the timing right.”

Ultimately, Australia was bowled out for 445 in 117.1 overs. Only a further 17 overs were possible on day three, while Tuesday’s action was also heavily interrupted by weather, with India still batting at stumps courtesy of a lower-order fightback.

Pending what transpires at the Gabba on Wednesday, Cummins may come to regret his earlier inaction.

Speaking to reporters at stumps on Tuesday, Vettori explained that Australia didn’t want to rely on weather radars and leave themselves short on first-innings runs by declaring too early.

“We always acknowledged that first-innings runs were going to be vitally important in this game,” Vettori said.

“You don’t really want to plan for weather, because we’ve seen on these days where it can blow past and you can get on with things, and then it can settle in.

“The conversation was mainly around, let’s make the most of this first innings, trust this very good bowling unit to be able to deliver on this wicket, like they did today.

“Unfortunately, just the amount of time that’s been lost from the game has made it difficult.”

Cummins’ reluctance to declare this week was not unfounded – the last time Australia won a Test match after declaring in the first innings before the 117th over with fewer than 445 runs was 1937.

However, it would be considered a massive boost for India if the Gabba contest ended as a draw. If the third Test is a stalemate, the tourists would only need a victory in either Melbourne or Sydney to retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Meanwhile, the only day of action at the Gabba that wasn’t marred by rain was day two – and despite being allocated seven hours, India still couldn’t get through 90 overs. The tourists could be at risk of copping losing World Test Championship points for their tardiness.

‘INVALUABLE’ JADEJA PROVES HIS WORTH

India’s decision to overlook Ravindra Jadeja in the opening two Tests of the summer raised eyebrows in some circles, though the tourists have no dearth of strong spinning options.

Similarly, after he produced the worst figures of his career when bowling against Australia at the Gabba, there was some question as to why Jadeja was included given his struggle.

But the merits of the decision were demonstrated on Tuesday when the 36-year-old produced another superb performance with the bat against Australia under adversity.

When the all-rounder came to the crease, India was 5-74 and needing another 171 runs to avoid the follow-on, a mark critical given the interrupted nature of the Test due to rain.

He engaged in partnerships of 67 with KL Rahul and another 53 Nitish Kumar Reddy in a valiant attempt to steer India to safety.

Ultimately he fell short of that ambition when Mitch Marsh took another superb catch, from the bowling of Pat Cummins, to dismiss him for 77. But it could yet prove vital resistance.

Jadeja has now made six half-centuries at an average above 31 against Australia. His record in Australia is even better, with the left-hander averaging above 50 on the road.

The Indian superstar joined Wilfred Rhodes and Ian Botham as players with at least six 50s and 75 wickets against Australia with his deeds in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri said that Jadeja’s boldness with the bat was exactly what the tourists needed as they tried to frustrate Australia and avoid the follow-on.

“He has shown his importance to the side. It has been invaluable. He has been rock solid,” Shastri said.

“Jadeja is a standout. It is as if he has been playing the whole series, the way he has been batting. Ever since he came to the crease, the scoreboard started ticking along.”

Fellow Fox Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle believes that Jadeja is effectively a batting all-rounder now, rather than a bowling all-rounder.

It is worth noting that Jadeja did take 10 wickets in his most recent Test against New Zealand in Wankhede in early November.

He scored 105 runs and secured 16 wickets in the series against the Kiwis in which the Indians were surprisingly routed.

Jadeja is also outstanding in the field and is clearly an asset in a side which has drawn some criticism for its endeavour in the outfield in the two most recent Tests.

With a view to the rest of the series, it will be interesting to see the stance Indian takes with its spinning options.

Washington Sundar was preferred for the first Test and contributed 33 runs and two second wicket innings in India’s dominant victory.

Ravichandran Ashwin was deployed in Adelaide and scored 29 runs and one wicket, though he did not get the chance to bowl in the second innings given Australia’s small run chase.

Australian great Adam Gilchrist praised the manner with which Jadeja batted, noting the fundamentals associated with his technique were sound.

“It is based around a really strong foundation. He has got a lovely defensive game, but he can extend and attack when needed,” Gilchrist said.

“They do seem like a more well balanced team with him in there given his versatility. He averages over 50 in Australia.

“They have changed their spinner each time … does he stay?”

Former English captain Michael Vaughan was surprised Jadeja was overlooked initially and said he would be staggered if he does not feature for the rest of the series.

“He has got that inner-fight. He loves the competition,” Vaughan said.

“I think he has that spirit when the game is hot and he knows he has got to deliver and more often than not … when the team needs something, he delivers.

“He is batting with so much calmness and poise. He has played the quicks as well as anyone. I would be staggered if we get to the ‘G on Boxing Day and he is not in the side.”

INDIAN SKIPPER’S CALL CREATES TURBULENCE’

Rohit Sharma’s decision to slide down to No. 6 has created “turbulence” within India’s Test side, according to expert commentator Harsha Bhogle.

The Indian skipper missed the series opener in Perth due to the birth of his second child, with utility batter KL Rahul occupying the spot in his absence.

However, after Rahul helped India secure a crushing victory in the first Test, Sharma slid down the order to No. 6 for the pink-ball contest in Adelaide – but the change has only shone a spotlight on India’s ageing captain.

On Tuesday morning, Sharma looked all at seas against Australia’s quicks. Rival captain Pat Cummins beat his outside edge before the right-hander came within inches of chopping back not his stumps while facing Mitchell Starc.

His dismissal seemed inevitable – following a tentative prod with minimal footwork against Cummins, he was caught behind for 10, India’s lone dismissal before Tuesday’s first rain delay.

Sharma has averaged 11.69 with the bat this season, managing just one score above 23 across his 13 most recent Test knocks. His contributions against Australia this series have been 6, 3 and 11.

While it would be tempting to push Sharma back up to opener, his preferred position, Rahul has been India’s leading run-scorer of the series to date, cracking a gritty half-century at the Gabba on Tuesday. Having accumulated 231 runs at 46.20, the “stop-gap opener” has become India’s most reliable batter.

“(Sharma) has not scored runs in a while,” Bhogle told Fox Cricket.

“I wasn’t sure about (him moving to No. 6) because … it’s created turbulence in the order.

“Now, if Rohit doesn’t get runs here, then what, does he continue batting at No. 6? Does he go back to open the batting?

“But KL Rahul is the only one that’s looked like scoring runs.

“Rohit has to be clear that he’s going to see out his career at No. 5 and 6.”

SMITH’S EPIC REDEMPTION ACT

It’s fair to assume Steve Smith didn’t expect the Kookaburra to fly his direction on the first delivery of the day.

The Australians, hunting 16 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, arrived at the Gabba on Tuesday morning hunting early inroads – and Cummins produced the dream start. Short of a good length in the channel, Indian opener KL Rahul, unbeaten overnight on 33, prodded and edged towards the packed slips cordon.

Smith couldn’t have asked for a simpler chance – if he hadn’t moved, the Kookaburra would have slapped into his belly button. But perhaps his morning coffee hadn’t kicked in yet.

With hard hands, the ball slapped into his wrists and hit the deck. Like some sort of slapstick comedy, Smith unsuccessfully attempted to flick the ball up his with his right foot, but instead tripped over his himself and stumbled into Usman Khawaja at first slip.

Having stomped on the Queenslander’s shoe, Khawaja yelped in pain and collapse onto the turf, briefly nursing his sore foot on the ground.

Ageing eyes, slower reflexes, losing his edge – countless accusations would have been thrown Smith’s direction following the bottled attempt.

Had the catch been taken, India would have been 5-51. Every run Rahul scored in the morning session would have been agonising for the Australian vice-captain.

In defence of Smith, the catch was that awkward height where it’s unclear whether fingers up or down is the correct approach – but regardless, it was a chance he would have swallowed 99 times out of 100.

The previous afternoon, Australia was ruthless in the field – Starc’s diving effort at fine leg, Marsh’s lunging catch at gully; the hosts weren’t giving an inch. But following one delivery the following morning, all that pressure had been released.

Rahul reached his half-century, then raced towards 70. He continued soaking up precious time in the middle, gradually narrowing the deficit. Adding to Australia’s frustration, strike bowler Hazlewood was rushed away for scans, leaving the hosts with one less bowler at their disposal.

Smith’s drop could have been a sliding doors moment in the series. In a few weeks’ time, would the Australians look back on the bottled chance and wonder, what if?

The redemption moment arrived in the 43rd over, after Rahul and Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja combined for a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Facing Nathan Lyon from the Vulture Street End, Rahul rocked back and looked to cut the spinner through backward point – but before the Kookaburra had even come into contact with his bat, Smith was shifting across to his right.

Premeditating the late cut from first slip, Smith stuck out his right arm in a hail Mary attempt – and somehow, it stuck. The catch was eerily similar to Mark Waugh’s famous effort to remove Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq in Hobart in 1999.

Smith jumped to his feet with a double first bump, yelling ‘C’mon’ while embracing his ecstatic teammates.

But nobody was more shocked that Rahul – assuming the ball was trickling towards vacant territory at deep third, he had already set off for a single before realising what had transpired.

“I can’t tell you how good a catch that is,” former Australian captain Allan Border said on Fox Cricket commentary.

“You have got such a short space of time to react. He’s got that one-handed diving away to his right.”

Smith’s reaction time between shot and catch was 0.44 seconds, about 0.32 seconds less than Mitchell Marsh’s lunging effort at gully the previous day. He had fabricated a wicket out of nothing.

The dismissal marked the 58th time Lyon and Smith had combined for a Test dismissal – only Sri Lankan greats Muthiah Muralidaran and Mahela Jayawardene have managed more.

Smith (189 catches in 112 matches) is also on the verge of leapfrogging former captain Ricky Ponting (196 catches in 168 matches) as Australia’s most successful outfielder.