Brisbane rain leaves Aussies frustrated against India

Australia were left frustrated by rain on the second day of the fourth Test decider in Brisbane yesterday as play was abandoned after tea, with India 62-2 in response to the home side’s first innings total of 369.

India No 3 Cheteshwar Pujara was eight not out, with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane on two at the tea break before a storm broke over the Gabba. With more rain forecast for the week, Australia may have little time to bowl India out twice and seal the series 2-1.

Home captain Tim Paine betrayed his displeasure in an animated discussion with the field umpires after they called off proceedings.

“No doubt disappointing to the spectators,” Australia assistant coach Andrew McDonald said. “It would have been nice to get some play there ... but the decision was made by the officials and that’s their role.”

India will have been more than happy to turn in early. The tourists only need to draw the Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, two years after their breakthrough 2-1 series win in Australia.

To emerge with a tied series would be a massive feat for Rahane’s side, which has battled a mounting injury toll throughout and lacked a single first-choice bowler to call upon in Brisbane.

They are further a man down in the pace attack, with Navdeep Saini having suffered a groin injury on Day 1.

Australia, thwarted by India’s wounded batsmen in the drawn Test in Sydney, are likely to ponder another lost opportunity on Day 2. Resuming in the morning on 274-5, they folded sharply when three wickets fell in four runs.