India vs Australia, 4th Test: India 62/2 on rain-hit Day 2, trail Australia by 307

And runs continue to flow for Australia this morning, even if lucky at times. An edge off Green's (41*) bat flies between third slip and gully for a four. Natarajan isn't amused. Australia 298/5.

Safety first

Matter of 'Fact'

Amid the boundaries in the opening minutes of day two, there have been quite a few plays and misses as well by the Aussie pair, as the ball is doing more than a bit, both in the air and off the pitch. Pant & Co behind the stumps could be in business. 292/5

Earlier today, before start of play, Hayden analysed the state of the pitch

Well, the physio is the last person India would want to see on the field, but it's him, as Pant gets his thumb checked after the Indian wicketkeeper seemed to have hurt it while trying to dive and gather a no-ball from Natarajan.

It's Mohammed Siraj from the other end, and he would rue conceding those five wides as his bouncer shoots over Green's head.

But at the moment, the left-arm rookie is pitching a slightly too further up, as Green (36*) drives him straight again for another boundary to end the over. Australia 282/5. Brisk start by the hosts.

Green (32*) starts with a sublime straight drive for four off Natarajan, who is trying to pitch it up and extracting some appreciable outswing too. Australia 278/5.

Play on the second day at The Gabba has just about commenced. India eye a quick wrap-up of the Aussies innings while the hosts would want to inch closer to 400 from their overnight 274/5. It's T Natarajan first up against Tim Paine (38*) and Cameron Green (28*). The second new ball is just six overs old. Three slips and a gully in place.

First look

Day 2 will decide which way this game heads.

After 87 overs of the Australian innings, the two Tamil Nadu rookies, paceman Natarajan (2/63) and off-spinner Washington Sundar (1/63) could hold their heads high for a lion-hearted effort in the absence of the injured R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah.

On the opening day, the fairytale of T Natarajan got better with his twin strikes on debut leading a commendable effort of the inexperienced Indian attack, as Marnus Labuschagne starred for Australia with a century.

Australia will resume at 274/5, with Paine (38*) and Green (28*) having added 61 runs for the fifth wicket. India will hope to break the stand early while waiting anxiously to know if Navdeep Saini's groin injury gets any better to let him play some role.

After a day that began as if India will roll over the hosts even with an inexperienced bowling attack but ended like a pro for the gritty Aussies, Day 2 will commence with a who-blinks-first game as Tim Paine and Cameron Green look to take the team closer to 400 while the visitors will eye a quick wrap-up. Welcome once again to Timesofindia.com's coverage of the climax of India's tour of Australia, i.e., the fourth and final Test at The Gabba in Brisbane.