The race among four teams- South Africa, India, Australia, and Sri Lanka, for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, has reached a fever pitch. At this point, the WTC table has South Africa leading, with Australia and India following behind in the second and third places, respectively. Last week, India and Australia clashed for the second time in a five-match series, which now reads 1-1 after two Test matches. South Africa will soon be playing two home Tests against Pakistan, starting on Boxing Day.
Australia will also complete two more Tests after this series against Sri Lanka.
Play was called off in the first of the three days of the Third Test Australia versus India due to bad weather in Brisbane, the Gabba, on Saturday.
The viewing for this remainder of days in Brisbane is as dreary and not promising so much that there is a possibility the match may even fail to produce a result.
In that event, the series will be set up evenly for the two remaining matches, to be played in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively.
This is how India stands for qualifying for the WTC should the Brisbane Test turn out into a no-result:
India will qualify for the WTC final outright on winning both matches, in Melbourne and Sydney, without the need to depend on any other results.
Sri Lanka must not be completely whitewashed by Australia if India wins the series 2-1.
If India draws the series 2-2, to prevent Indian advancement to the WTC final, Sri Lanka must defeat Australia in any margin.
If India draws the series 1-1, Sri Lanka must draw or beat Australia.
In the end, India is out of contention if they lose the series in any margin.
Meanwhile, Australia ended the first day in Brisbane on 28-0 as Usman Khawaja 19 not out, and Nathan McSweeney on four after India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field.
There was play of only 13.2 overs in the first session and no further play that day, disappointing all the big throngs who had flooded to the Gabba.
To make up for the time lost from the schedule, the match will commence again at 5:20 AM IST, 30 minutes in advance of his normal time. A total of 98 overs will be enabled to be bowled, should the possibilities allow, on Day 2.
