Heavy rain disrupted the first day of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane, potentially costing Cricket Australia a substantial financial loss. The persistent downpour limited play, causing frustration for players, officials, and fans alike.
Only 13.2 overs were possible on the opening day. India won the toss and chose to field, with Australia reaching 28/0 before the rain intervened.
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A minimum of 15 overs is needed to avoid full ticket refunds. Cricket Australia narrowly missed this threshold by a mere 10 balls, potentially facing over $1 million in refunds.
“Play called off on Day 1 at the ‘Gabba. We had exactly 60 minutes of play, with 80 balls bowled. If another 10 balls had been bowled, the crowd would not have got the refund they are going to get,” posted renowned cricket statistician Ric Finlay.
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The Gabba recorded a sellout crowd of 30,145 for the first day. However, spectators endured a largely unpleasant experience due to the heavy rainfall.
Reports indicated that approximately 40mm of rain fell on the ground in just one hour. Despite a glimmer of hope later in the day, play was eventually abandoned at 4:15 pm local time.
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Saturday’s downpour transformed the Gabba into a waterlogged field. Fans sought refuge under umbrellas and ponchos.
India’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss surprised some cricket experts. The pitch appeared green, but the ball didn’t offer much assistance to the Indian bowlers. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney steadily accumulated runs for Australia.
Play was initially suspended after just 33 deliveries. Although the teams briefly returned to the field, the worsening weather conditions forced a permanent halt to proceedings.
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