AUS vs IND: Rain Ends Second Day's Play With Final Australia-India Test In The Balance

The deciding fourth Test between Australia and India in Brisbane hung in the balance Saturday after a massive thunderstorm caused play to be abandoned following the tea break on the second day. The Ga

Paine and Green had started aggressively on a flat batting wicket and looked to push the score beyond 400.

But shortly after reaching his half-century, Paine chased a wide ball from Shardul Thakur (3-94) and edged to Sharma at third slip to leave Australia 311 for six.

Green survived a sharp chance on 45 off Washington Sundar but two runs later, the off-spinner got his revenge when he bowled the Australian number six for 47.

Thakur, playing only his second Test, took his third wicket when he trapped Cummins leg-before for two to leave the hosts struggling at 315 for seven.

However, Lyon and Starc went on the attack and the score raced to 354 before Sundar bowled Lyon around his legs after his quickfire 24 off 22 deliveries.

When T. Natarajan bowled Josh Hazlewood to end the innings, the inexperienced Indian attack had completed an impressive comeback on a hot and humid Brisbane morning.

The Indian attack features two players making their debut - Natarajan (3-78) and Sundar (3-89) - while their most experienced bowler, Mohammad Siraj, is playing just his third Test following a raft of injures to their first-choice bowlers.

"I think it was a great effort from both the newcomers," Sharma said.

"Obviously playing against Australia in Australia is never going to be that easy. 

"They (the bowlers) showed a lot of character. They were right in the game and understood what is the team expecting them to do."

To compound India's problems, Navdeep Saini was only able to bowl 7.5 overs on the first day before he broke down with a groin injury.