Rain further dampens opening test

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Openers Akash Chopra and Virender Sehwag survived 37 balls Saturday before rain ended a frustrating third day of play in the first cricket test after just 26 minutes at the Gabba.

India needed just one delivery to end the Australian first innings when play finally started after tea, and then scored 11 for no loss when more rain forced the players off after 25 minutes into the tourists' innings.

Both batsmen, on five runs apiece, survived the new-look new ball attack of Jason Gillespie and debutant left-armer Nathan Bracken.

The home side was without its first-choice bowling attack of fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee and legspinner Shane Warne. While McGrath and Lee are nursing ankle injuries, Warne has two more months to serve on a ban for taking a banned diuretic.

When play started after the scheduled tea break, tailender Stuart MacGill top-edged a cut off swing bowler Ajit Agarkar to Chopra at gully off the first ball of the day.

Australia, put in to bat and which finished the first day on 262 for two, was dismissed for 323 in 78.1 overs.

The home side lost the last eight wickets for 55 runs in the space of 12 overs.

Leftarm fast bowler Zaheer Khan wrecked the Australian middle-order with 5-95 while Agarkar took 3-90.

Opener Justin Langer top scored for Australia with 121 runs in 5 1-2 hours while captain-elect Ricky Ponting contributed 54 runs.

So far it has been a tough farewell series for retiring skipper Steve Waugh.

The 38-year-old lasted four balls and failed to score but in his nine-minute presence, ran out a well-set Damien Martyn (42), forcing the West Australian to sacrifice his wicket.

Waugh's action has come under scrutiny with former skipper Greg Chappell condemning him for being selfish and putting himself before the team.

Waugh also got out hit wicket, the first time he's been out in that fashion in his 165-test career.

Meanwhile fast bowler Brad Williams escaped punishment following his public outburst after he was dropped for the test in favor of Bracken.

Williams suggested Bracken was preferred because he was a left-handed bowler.

Cricket Australia said Williams' comments were inappropriate but had no case to answer under the Code of Conduct.

"We felt it was necessary to counsel the player and educate him about appropriate protocol moving forward," said James Sutherland, the chief executive officer of CA.

Williams has since apologized to the team management and the national selectors, the association said.

(ik-djp)