Grit in the tail frustrates the hosts, India avoid follow-on

Like in 2021, there was defiance in the damp air of Gabba as Deep and Bumrah steer India towards a likely draw on Day 4

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BRISBANE: "So," rang a voice in the press box, "will Akash Deep's next shot be a four or a six?"

Others chimed in – one spoke about it being hit through the covers, another said it might be a six and a few just shushed them all. This was serious stuff. Never before had the 28-year-old pacer's batting been discussed with so much enthusiasm by the media, but that is what Test cricket can do to you – it can make you focus on details, some important and some mundane. This, to a certain extent, felt important because India needed four runs to avoid the follow-on and make Australia bat again.

India got the four runs – they came off Akash Deep's bat too. Just not how anyone expected them to be. It was off a back of length delivery that was outside the off-stump. The batter jabbed at it and it went over the leaping gully fielder. Applause erupted across the stadium and in parts of the press box too. Test cricket!

Pore over the scorecard of the Brisbane Test and you'll notice nothing special. Australia made 445 in their first innings. India's innings, sandwiched between bouts of rain, was a struggle. At close of play on Day 4, the visitors were 252/9, still trailing by 193 runs.