AUS vs IND: 3rd Test, Day 5 Review – Rain plays spoilsport as match ends in a draw

The third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane ended in a draw, putting Australia and India tied 1-1 as they head into the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Constant rain and poor light disrupted play throughout, allowing only 216.1 overs across five days.

The hosts dominated earlier, scoring 445 in the first innings, courtesy of a brilliant 152 by Player of the Match Travis Head. Australia bowlers reduced India to 74 for 5, but KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s crucial half-centuries, along with a 47-run last-wicket stand between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, saved the visitors from the follow-on.

Despite losing Josh Hazlewood to injury, Australia declared their second innings at 89/7, giving India a target of 275 in 54 overs. India’s openers safely played 2.1 overs before bad light led to a stoppage and eventually ended the game as Australia’s hopes of taking a lead were quashed.

Top Performers of the Match

Best Batter – Travis Head (152 off 160 deliveries and 17 off 19 deliveries)

Explosive left-hand batter Travis Head smashed yet another ton against India. In the first innings, the southpaw hammered 152 runs off 160 deliveries, once again putting the Indians in a tough spot in the game. Head, coming off a brilliant 140-run knock in the previous game, continued his stellar form in Gabba. Meanwhile, he departed early in the second innings, falling to Mohammed Siraj. Head was awarded the Player of the Match in the rain-affected drawn game.

Best bowler – Jasprit Bumrah (6/76 and 3/18)

Jasprit Bumrah once again came out as the best performer with the ball in the third Test at Brisbane, claiming match figures of 9/94. The right-arm pacer not only dismantled Australia’s batting lineup but also became the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, overtaking teammate R Ashwin with 66 wickets in just 13 matches. Bumrah’s six-wicket haul in the first innings included key wickets of centurion, Steven Smith and Travis Head. He continued in Australia’s second innings, where he dismissed Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Pat Cummins to put the hosts in a tough spot.

What’s next for both teams?

With the third game ending in a draw, the five-match series remain leveled 1-1. Both sides will now take on each other in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne from December 26 to 30.