Play suspended again

Play was suspended for the second time due to persistent rains on the first day of the first Test between India and Australia at the Gabba.

Put in to bat, Australia were 32 for no loss in 7.2 overs with Justin Langer on eight and Mathew Hayden on 16.

Earlier, sharp showers had forced covers when the hosts were 26 for no loss after 5.4 overs. Play had lasted only 1.4 overs after the 20-minute first stoppage when another spell of rain interrupted.

In between, Langer survived when Akash Chopra at forward short-leg held on to his pull shot off Ashish Nehra but the delivery was ruled 'no ball' by umpire Rudi Kuertzen.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to field. The tourists stuck to Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra as their opening batting combination and left out leg-spinner Anil Kumble for a three-pronged pace attack in Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar with Harbhajan Singh as the lone specialist spinner.

Australia also lined-up a three-pacer-and-spinner bowling attack, Nathan Bracken ahead of Brad Williams for his debut.

Teams:

India: Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V V S Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar.

Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Bichel, Stuart MacGill, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken.