Worldwide Sports News

Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori has defended the team’s decision not to declare after India likely put a result out of reach in the third Test at the Gabba.

• Third Test, day four: Australia 445; India 252-9
• Australia checked by resilient batting and rain

It’s that time again. Not the time when the cricket enthusiasts are paying attention, because we always are – June in Barbados, August in Galle, whatever you’ve got. No, it’s the brief time either side of Christmas when the cricket is high profile enough that everybody outside our odd community also becomes vaguely aware it exists. “Who’s winning?” I’ve been asked twice this week, that dreaded question that gets lobbed from hallways over the backs of couches to torment those of us who know that nobody is ever winning a Test match, they have either won it or not won it. All we have to comfort us is our smug superiority; which is, granted, a consolation.

On the fourth day of Australia’s Test against India at Brisbane, there was a further delight: the game within a game. For the uninitiate, this contest would have looked dead. Australia on 445, India resuming in the morning 394 runs behind and four wickets down. Soon to be five, the captain Rohit Sharma an early departure. Combine the gulf in scores with the rain that had taken the match into its fourth day without completing its second innings, and there was no chance for India to get towards parity and stay in the contest.

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.