Test set up for Smith to answer critics as Aussie openers look to ...

Australia are 0-31 from 15 overs on day two at The Gabba after being sent in by India, with Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (4) at the crease.

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Australia will resume on day two at 0-28 from 13.2 overs with play set to start on time at 9.50am local time with clear skies above the Gabba on Sunday morning.

India won the toss and sent the Australians in to bat in the third Test with Usman Khawaja (19) and Nathan McSweeney (4) at the crease.

Rain ruined day one of the third Test, but Fox Cricket’s Brendan Julian declared on Test Daily that he thinks play will start on time.

“There’s a little bit of overcast today, and I think there will be a chance of rain somewhere, maybe later this afternoon after that 70mm of rain yesterday,” Julian said.

“But so far so good. Sun’s out. A little bit of breeze out in the middle, went had a look at the pitch and it stills looks like a really good batting day.”

Australia can bat themselves into a commanding position on day two (play begins early at 9:50am local/10:50am AEDT) with Steve Smith looming large.

India may rue their decision to bowl first, but can still get themselves back into the test with quick inroads on day two.

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“I looked at that pitch yesterday, and thought it’s not as green as everyone thinks it’s going to be,” Julian said.

“The preparation was still pretty good. It might have been a little slow, the pitch, but I think it was pretty good to bat first on that kind of pitch.

“Having said that, I don’t think the Indian bowlers bowled that well. Bumrah beat the bat a couple of times, they didn’t bowl enough on the stumps, they bowled the wrong length. They should have been pitching the ball up.

“I know it was only 13 overs, but they would have expected to get two wickets. No doubt about that.

“Rohit Sharma, after the first rain delay, stood on the side of the boundary with Morne Morkel, the bowling coach, and he just seemed to be saying ‘what’s going on? I’ve won the toss. I’ve bowled and I’ve got no wickets. Why?’.

“They didn’t enough in the right areas and they are under pressure this morning. They will need a couple of early wickets if they want to stay in this game.”

Khawaja looked the best of the Australian openers on day two, blasting three fours as he aims to get himself out of his own form slump.

In just his third Test McSweeney was more reserved, but will be pushing for his maiden half century when play resumes on day two.

Akash Deep was the pick of the Indian bowlers on day one with figures of 0-2 from his 3.2 overs before rain stopped play for the second and final time.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be looking to recapture their form from Perth to get India back into the lead in the evenly poised series.

It sets the scene for a mouth-watering second day of action in Brisbane, with everyone praying the weather gods are kind.

Australian XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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