Australia got just 17 runs at India on another rain-affected day in the third Test in Brisbane, but that was enough for their pace attack to dismantle India's top order as they fell to 51-4 to end the third day with a lead of 394 runs. Hosts.
After wagging Australia's tail with the bat a little longer to reach 445 early on Monday, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood soon found India in trouble with a devastating opening spell at the Gabba.
Starc (2-25) took the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in his first two overs to set the tone, before Hazlewood (1-17) claimed the prize wicket of Virat Kohli before one of several passing rain showers brought the ball down. Brunch with India on 22-3.
After removing Jaiswal (4) with the first ball of the innings in the second Test in Adelaide, Starc needed just two balls at the Gabba to remove the tourists' opener.
The first ball was flicked through the gully by the 22-year-old, but the second ball he made a simple catch to Mitch Marsh at mid off for an easy dismissal.
In his next attempt, Starc struck again as Marsh dived acrobatically to catch the ball with both hands in the gully to remove Gill (1) and India were 7-2.
Hazlewood returned to the team after a side strain ruled him out of the second Test last week, then rattled India further by sparking an edge from veteran Kohli to put India down by three as rain began to fall and prompted an early lunch.
On resumption, skipper Pat Cummins (1-7) got his first wicket by removing Rishabh Pant caught behind to reduce India to 44-4.
Skipper Rohit Sharma walked off to join KL Rahul but there was only time for the latter's brilliant driving boundary before another rain shower forced the players off the field.
How wet weather leaves the third test
Nathan Lyon removes the bails as rain halts play on day three
The rest of the afternoon saw the weather appear clear, but as play appeared ready to resume, further rain showers would hit the arena.
Play finally resumed just after 5pm local time, but only 17 more balls were bowled for three overs, before further rain and worsening light brought an end to play for the day.
Australia now have two days of play, weather permitting, and their path to a potential win appears to hinge on bowling out India for less than 244 runs in the first innings and forcing the follow-on.
The hosts resumed Monday at 405-7 and some big hitting by Starc and Alex Carey lifted Australia to 445. Carey was the last wicket to fall, as he holed out deep for a 70 off 88-ball century – his ninth Test half-century.
Jasprit Bumrah added another wicket to return figures of 6 to 76, having completed his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests the previous day.
India won the first Test by 295 runs in Perth, while Australia came back to win the day-night second Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
