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Follow live: Australia look to get better of India and overcome rain on day four of Third Test in Brisbane

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Chris RobinsonThe Nightly
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Steve Smith celebrates his ripping catch.
Camera IconSteve Smith celebrates his ripping catch. Credit: Getty/Seven

Will the weather hold out long enough to give Australia the chance to tear through India in Brisbane?

Stay across the latest from the Gabba here!

Reporting LIVE

LUNCH: INDIA 6-167

A mixed session, but you’d suggest India would be slightly happier with it than the Aussies would be.

The tourists lost two wickets – including another failure for their skipper – but have managed to progress the score to within sight of the 246 they need to avoid the follow-on.

For Australia, they may not enforce it anyway after the big development of Josh Hazlewood’s calf injury.

It’s going to be tricky for the Aussies to grab these 14 wickets and navigate the rain that’s around, but we’ll find out whether it can be done! Join us after the lunch break as we continue our coverage.

India 6-158

Reddy has been good with the bat this series, as mentioned earlier, and is underway immediately by attacking Lyon. He peels off a lovely cover drive for four, second ball.

A reminder that India are chasing a score of 246 to avoid the prospect of the follow-on - though it’s now questionable whether Australia would enforce it given the Hazlewood setback.

SMITH GETS HIS REVENGE!

Steve Smith, take a bow!

After dropping an absolute sitter when Rahul was on 33, Smith finally gets him on 84 - with the degree of difficulty significantly higher.

Rahul rocks back and cuts a ball off Lyon but Smith stretches to his right and pouches it.

THAT is how it’s done! India now 6-141 after losing their key man this innings, with Nitish Kumar Reddy at the wicket.

Rahul keeping his cool

KL Rahul now has his sights set on a century as he climbs to 82. But he’s a little fortunate to not have one dribble onto his stumps while defending against Starc.

Rahul boasts a Test century against the Aussies, which came in just the third innings of his career in Sydney all the way back in the first week of 2015. But he’s failed to reach three figures against them in 20 innings since.

It’s 5-139, with Jadeja easing into his work at the other end with 26.

KL Rahul sweeps against Nathan Lyon.
Camera IconKL Rahul sweeps against Nathan Lyon. Credit: Getty Images

India 5-130

Nathan Lyon is operating in a typically stingy manner - until Jadeja feasts on one that’s a little shorter and rocks back to cut for four.

Jadeja at No.7 - playing for the first time this series - bolsters India’s lower order significantly, bumping down Nitish Kumar Reddy to No.8. Reddy has the fourth-most runs of anyone in the series.

India halfway to follow-on score

KL Rahul continues to frustrate the Aussies.

He’s moved to 77 and is now the second-highest runscorer across the series, with his 223 trailing only Travis Head (392).

It’s 5-123, with India now precisely halfway to the score of 246 they need to avoid the follow-on.

We’re back!

Play is right to resume at the Gabba.

There’s been a significant update on the Hazlewood niggle during the break: It’s a calf issue.

More details on the fresh concern here!

RAIN DELAY

We’ll pause with India at 5-105 for the day’s first rain delay, around 70 minutes after the start of play.

The tourists will be pleased to have lost just the one wicket, which could so easily have been two had Steve Smith held his regulation chance.

Rahul is a thorn in Australia’s side on 68, while Jadeja (6) is showing his experience and class at the other end to help provide resistance.

We’ll hopefully be back in action before too long!

Sharma’s struggles

As India progress to 5-105, there’s some serious questions looming around Rohit Sharma’s place in the side.

The skipper is averaging just 11.7 from his past 13 hits at Test level, with just one score above 23 in that time.

Is the 37-year-old reaching the end?

Hazlewood latest

Hazlewood spoke with team physio Nick Jones during the drinks break and then came from the field.

Seven’s Greg Blewett ponders whether illness might be a factor for the big quick.

Mitch Marsh is into the attack for the first time to help shoulder some of the bowling load. How much of a blow is that going to be for Australia’s pursuit of these remaining 15 wickets if Hazlewood can’t return?

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