Australia vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1 Highlights: Rain Plays Spoilsport After Marnu Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja Show

Update - 0642 IST (0112 GMT) - Lunch has been taken. The conditions are much better. Optimistic signs. An inspection will take place half an hour from now on.

Update - 0610 IST (0040 GMT) - It continues to drizzle and there are no improvements in conditions. The covers are firmly placed. Yet another dull start to the day. Fingers crossed for some positive updates.

Update - 0521 IST (2351 GMT) - The inspection is delayed further as our old foe has visited again. The covers are back on. Stay tuned as the rain continues to dominate this game.

Update - 0445 IST (2315 GMT) - Next pitch inspection is to happen half an hour from now on. Let's be optimistic.

The game should have probably started by now. There are no signs of rain right now but few showers are expected and due to excessive rain, there are some regions that have become muddy.

We expected a free flowing game between these two but the rain has played a big part till now. Welcome to action of Day 4 and the conditions are same today as well but hopefully we can expect some action. With so much rain we have forget where this match stands. Khawaja is stranded on 195 but looks like it will be the Proteas who will come out bat next. Stalemate looks the likeable option. However, let’s first hope for some action. Stay tuned.

...Day 4, Session 1...

The results are in from the umpires and they have called the end of Day 3. STUMPS. Not a single ball was bowled. It was predicted to be that kind of day but the next couple of days promise to give us some action. As it goes by, draw looks like the most possible result but we will let for you to decide. Join us again early on Day 4 at 0430 IST (1100 GMT, the previous day) for all the action. Till then, cheers!

Update - 1020 IST (0450 GMT) - It is still drizzling. Meanwhile, the umpires are out for an inspection. Looks like there will be an update shortly. Stay tuned.

Update - 0952 IST (0422 GMT) - Looks like Tea has been taken. The rain has stopped for now but no movements from the ground staff. Let's hope for some positive updates.

Update - 0845 IST (0315 GMT) - It is raining quite heavily now. The chances of any play look very dim.

Just here to say the situation is particularly the same. It is raining lightly but no signs of improvement.

No respite after the Lunch break as well. It's still pouring and the waiting game continues.

SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS! It has stopped raining and it should take around 30 minutes to get things ready. Early Lunch has been taken and if no more rain, we should have some play so after the break.

We have nothing new to update. The rain continues to fall and we continue to wait. Any kind of play today already seems a doubt. Fingers crossed though.

Well, we did mention that the forecast is not that great and we do not have the best of news to begin with as it is raining here and we might be in for a delayed start.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of yet another Test dominated by the Aussies! Well, one can add rain too as it has played a big part so far. Just the 131 overs bowled in the two days completed and most of those have belonged to the hosts. They have yet again batted themselves into a position from where losing the game becomes almost improbable. Probably the declaration is around the corner, myabe immediately after Usman Khawaja gets to his double ton or after the cross the 500-run mark. South Africa on the other hand, probably have started to think about their batting which has not done so well thus far. Winning the game from here for them is probably out of contention but they would love to put on a better show with the bat and hopefully end this Test in a draw. The rain gods could also help them a little as the forecast isn't great for today. Let us hope the rain stays away though.

... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ...

Smith fell just after notching his 30th Test hundred. However, Travis Head who has been in form of his life came out with an aggressive approach and in no time scored his fifty. Usman Khawaja though was the architect of their innings. He is scoring centuries for fun lately. Talking about the tourists, they had very less assist from the pitch but even their discipline bowling didn't help against the mighty Aussies. The weather on Day 3 doesn't look good as well. However, we will bring you all the action. Join us at 0430 IST (1130 GMT, the previous day) and earlier for the build up. Till then, cheers!

Update - 1159 IST (0629 GMT) - The rain refuses to stop and that will be STUMPS on Day 2. What a day for Australia. You feel for Usman Khawaja who is stranded on 195. Although Australia haven't declared yet but you feel that this will be probably the end of their innings. He will hope for just one ball on Day 3 to get to the landmark. Let's recap Day 2 though. It was full of runs. Contributions from all the batters except David Warner and Australia are in a commanding position. Usman Khawaja was the mainstay right from the start. He along with Marnus Labuschagne added more than 100 first. The latter fall on the last ball of Day 1 but then Usman Khawaja joined hands with Steven Smith and that put South Africa on the back foot. They really had no answers to their show.