Showers have very rarely held the Gabba to ransom. The sand base and the great drainage system has allowed a game here in many such desperate situations before.

It rained here in the morning, it rained in the afternoon and it rained here in the night. It still allowed three hours to India to knock around in the outfield and get a feel of the ground, though they haven’t really had a good look at the wicket.

The big iron machine was out to do its duty and it has rolled out a rock-hard pitch with a greenish tint. The grass has been mowed right till its bottom though — so it’s just the colour rather than anything, but it should still carry pace and bounce. With the toss expected to play a big role in these heavy conditions, it’s time again for India’s swing sultans to take their place under the lights.

India are expected to field the same bowling combination of four pacers, including Irfan Pathan, and Praveen Kumar doubling up as an all-rounder with a spinner in Harbhajan Singh tomorrow.

There will be a couple of changes in the batting order, with Sachin Tendulkar back to open the innings with Virender Sehwag, while Gautam Gambhir drops a position down. The team management is contemplating bringing in Suresh Raina in place of Dinesh Kaarthick in the middle order while Rohit Sharma looks the other man out from yesterday’s batting card. The final decision will be tomorrow morning, though.

... contd.