Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was heard expressing his frustration over the lack of swing during the opening session of the third Test match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. Despite overcast conditions and a rain-interrupted start, Bumrah and the Indian bowlers struggled to generate movement in the air.
During the fifth over of the match, Bumrah, visibly frustrated, was caught on the stump microphone saying,
“Nahi ho raha swing, kahin bhi kar” (There is no swing, no matter where you bowl).
Bumrah tried to alter his bowling length to extract movement off the pitch but failed to find any assistance. The lack of swing came as a surprise, given the overcast skies and moisture in the conditions due to the rain.
Match Overview
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to exploit the humid and cloudy weather conditions that typically favor swing bowlers. However, the Indian bowlers could not find significant assistance from the pitch or the atmosphere in the first session.
Team Changes and Lineups
India made two changes to their playing XI:
- Ravindra Jadeja came in for Ravichandran Ashwin to bolster the spin department.
- Akash Deep replaced Harshit Rana in the pace attack.
Australia, on the other hand, welcomed back Josh Hazlewood after a recovery from a side strain, replacing Scott Boland.
Captains’ Comments
- Indian skipper Rohit Sharma stated at the toss:“It’s a little bit overcast, and there’s a little bit of grass. The pitch looks soft as well, so we want to make the best use of the conditions.”
- Australian captain Pat Cummins admitted he would have opted to bowl first as well, adding:“We’re really happy with last week, just about everyone got into the series — it’s been a good lead-up to Brisbane.”
Current Series Situation
The five-match Test series is finely poised at 1-1:
- India won the first Test in Perth.
- Australia bounced back with a victory in Adelaide.
The third Test at Brisbane is seen as a pivotal encounter with both teams vying for the lead.
Playing XIs
Australia:
Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
India:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Weather and Conditions
The start of the match was delayed due to rain, and only 13.2 overs of play were possible in the opening session. With more rain expected, the pitch is likely to retain its moisture, which could assist both seamers and spinners later in the game.
However, as seen with Bumrah’s complaint, the lack of swing has thrown a curveball to the Indian pace attack, forcing them to rely more on accuracy and pitch movement.
The Indian team will look to adapt quickly and make the most of the conditions as the game progresses, while Australia will aim to capitalize on their strong batting lineup.
