Pat Cummins faces bold call to seize control for Australia in rain-affected third Test against India in Brisbane
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Pat Cummins may need to break the mould and enforce the follow on for just his second time if Australia are to take a 2-1 series lead in the third Test at the Gabba. India went to an early stumps at 4-51 on Monday evening after spending most of day three struggling to survive in response to Australia's first-innings 445.
![[Rohit Sharma and his Indian side are on the ropes in Brisbane and need to dig deep to salvage a draw]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/21/93210713-14199289-image-a-2_1734385274560.jpg)
After day one was almost entirely washed out and seven separate rain delays broke up Monday's play, more rain is forecast for the final two days. That could leave Australia needing to get creative in order to find a way to victory. Australia have enforced the follow on just once during Cummins' time as captain, in a similarly rain-affected game at the SCG last year.
Outside of that, Cummins has knocked back the opportunity to do so four times, and even indicated the follow on was all but dead during a press conference in 2022. Pat Cummins has been reluctant to enforce the follow on in the past, but may have to in order to save the match in rainy Brisbane.
Rohit Sharma and his Indian side are on the ropes in Brisbane and need to dig deep to salvage a draw. Steve Smith has also knocked back the opportunity an additional two times, while filling in for Cummins as captain in Adelaide in 2021 and 2022. But Brisbane looms as the most obvious opportunity, if Australia are to bowl India out for 245 or less.
Lengthy rain delays mean bowlers' workloads are naturally being managed with several breaks, while there is no time left for India to build a tricky last-innings target. 'With two days to go I think there is still plenty of time for a result,' allrounder Mitch Marsh said.
