BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney safely negotiated a stop-and-start first session of the third cricket test against India at a rainy and soggy Gabba on Saturday.
It turned out to be the only session of the day after rain washed out the remainder of play. With more rain showing on the weather radar, umpires made the decision to call off play for the day about an hour before scheduled stumps.
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India's Ravindra Jadeja walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Nathan McSweeney bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Ravindra Jadeja prepares to throw a ball after fielding it during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Ravindra Jadeja walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Virat Kohli, right, walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj tosses the ball as he prepares to bowl on the day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Nathan McSweeney bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, bowls a delivery as Australia's Nathan McSweeney watches from the non-strikers end during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Akash Deep, center, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Australia's Nathan McSweeney during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah reaches out to field the ball during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Alex Carey looks on ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Travis Head, right, chats with teammate Alex Carey ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
At one point the Gabba outfield was almost entirely submerged in water as Brisbane was pelted with rain. But even as the outfield drained the rain never stopped for long enough for more play to be considered.
The series is level at 1-1. India won the first test by 295 runs at Perth, Western Australia while Australia came back to win the second day-night test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
After India won the toss and sent Australia in to bat, rain first halted play for about 30 minutes in the sixth over. The showers returned about a half-hour later and until the scheduled lunch break.
Khawaja was on 19 and McSweeney 4 and Australia was 28-0 after 13.2 overs, the only action of the day.
At the toss, India made two changes — Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep were back in the side, replacing Harshit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Australia earlier said Josh Hazlewood would return to the starting X1 for the Brisbane test after missing Adelaide with a side strain. Fellow fast bowler Scott Boland was the man dropped in the only change for Australia.
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India's Ravindra Jadeja walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Nathan McSweeney bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Ravindra Jadeja prepares to throw a ball after fielding it during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Ravindra Jadeja walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Virat Kohli, right, walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj tosses the ball as he prepares to bowl on the day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Nathan McSweeney bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, bowls a delivery as Australia's Nathan McSweeney watches from the non-strikers end during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Akash Deep, center, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Australia's Nathan McSweeney during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah reaches out to field the ball during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Alex Carey looks on ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Travis Head, right, chats with teammate Alex Carey ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
