Australia to resume at 0-28 after rain stops play on wet opening day of Gabba Test

Nasser Hussain infamously won the toss, asked Australia to bat at the Gabba and then watched as they piled on 2-364 in a day. Now, one great is predicting a similar “sucker punch” will befall India.

Have India fallen for the sucker punch?

Old Gabba sweats like Michael Kasprowicz who spent two decades of his life calling the ground his home, reckons they have done so by winning the toss and bowling first in the third Test.

“India have been sucked in - it used to happen so often in Sheffield Shield cricket,’’ Kasprowicz said.

“You would see the green pitch and the conditions and bowl first. I used to reckon that Gabba could be the hardest venue in Australia to bowl first on because of the massive expectations.

“Bowlers try too hard and don’t hit the right lengths. It is easy to get it wrong and then you get to day two when the wicket hardens up it is so much better to bowl on.

“Captains see a bit of green and bowl first like (English captain) Nasser Hussain did. Often it just doesn’t work.’’

It’s 40 years since a side sent Australia into bat at the Gabba and beat them.

As yet, at 0-28, there is no massive damage for India but Australia did well to be no wicket down when the rain came even though there was no massive movement with the ball through the air or off the wicket.

Initially the rain looked bad for India. Now it may breathe life into their cause.

The ability of openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja to negotiate a solid passage through the first 13 overs again underscore the value of simple “stickability’’ at the top of the order.

McSweeney will not make the pulse race but he has several impressive features of his game which radiate the vibe he is a genuine Test batsman.

The first is his unruffled temperament.

He has always had a zest for facing the most imposing fast bowlers and there is no-one finer in the game than Jasprit Bumrah.

The second is his ability to let dangerous balls go. Few batsmen in the game have a radar more acutely tuned to where their off-stump is.

It is a bonus for him that his career has overlapped the final year or so of Khawaja’s career for Khawaja’s serene presence can only help him relax. McSweeney’s first class record does not take the breath away but, in an era dominated by the fast and flashy, he stands out as being an old-fashioned style of player, the type of which every team needs one in their top order.

Rohit Sharma elected to bowl first at the Gabba.

Meanwhile, Sean Abbott will not return to Brisbane following the birth of his second child, paving the way for him to play for the Sydney Sixers on Monday night.

The quick was called up to Australia’s squad for the second Test but headed home to be present for the arrival of baby Arlo on Thursday night.

He has been released for the remainder of the Test, meaning he should be available to face the Sixers against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG. All-rounder Beau Webster has also been cleared to play for the Melbourne Stars in Perth on Sunday. But Brendan Doggett, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland remain with the Test side.

Originally published as Australia to resume at 0-28 after rain stops play on wet opening day of Gabba Test