Australia's seamers ensured they stayed in control of the third Test against India, despite rain decimating much of day three in Brisbane.

The hosts added 40 runs, either side of a rain delay, to their overnight 405-7, with Alex Carey the last man out for 70.

India's reply was delayed by more rain, before they slipped to 22-3.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit Mitchell Starc for four off the first ball of the innings, but was caught at mid-wicket next ball.

Shubman Gill was superbly caught at gully by Mitchell Marsh, before Virat Kohli feathered Josh Hazlewood behind.

The rain returned as Rishabh Pant was walking to the crease and then much of the afternoon and evening session was wiped out by more precipitation, a wet outfield and bad light.

There were four spells of cricket - with each lasting 11, 23, seven and 17 balls respectively.

Pant was dismissed in the third of those, edging Pat Cummins behind, before KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma guided India to 51-4 at stumps.

While 98 overs can be bowled on each of the remaining days, a result may be difficult to achieve with more rain forecast.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia's 10-wicket win in Adelaide last week.

India must win at least two of the final three Tests to guarantee a place in June's World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Defending champions Australia will reach the final if they win two of the remaining Tests.

Image source, Getty Images

The phrase stop-start would be an apt way to describe the second session of the day.

We've had three different delays for rain - here is what has happened:

• The first period of play lasted just 11 balls, before a 40-minute delay for rain.
• We returned for 23 balls before another shower brought a near 30-minute delay.
• KL Rahul hit the first ball of the third period of play for four, before Rishabh Pant was caught behind off the fifth.
• That period of play lasted just seven balls in total, before the rain returned. It is the heaviest it has been in this session and the players are still off the field, with tea now being taken.
• In total, 41 balls have been bowled and India have moved from 22-3 to 48-4.

There were three rain stoppages in the opening session of day three, but the game did move forward at the same time.

Here's what happened:

• Australia added 40 runs to their overnight 405-7 to be bowled out for 445.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal hit the first ball of India's reply for four, but hit the second straight to Mitchell Marsh at mid-wicket.
• Marsh then took a brilliant catch at gully to remove Shubman Gill and give Mitchell Starc a second wicket.
• India slipped to 22-3 as Virat Kohli feathered Josh Hazlewood behind. A lot of Australia players celebrated with Starc, who got Kohli back on strike with an excellent piece of fielding.
• The rain started to fall for a third time as Rishabh Pant came to the crease so an early lunch was taken, but play will resume after that, with an extended afternoon session planned.

Centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head put Australia on top despite a late burst from India's Jasprit Bumrah on day two of the third Test in Brisbane.

Smith and Head came together at 75-3 and shared a near-chanceless 241 for the fourth wicket, before Bumrah removed both and Mitchell Marsh with the second new ball at the Gabba.

Smith made 101 to end a run of 26 innings without a Test century, while Head crashed 152 off 160 balls for his second successive ton.

Bumrah returned to complete his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests, having earlier removed openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney.

Alex Carey and Pat Cummins shared 58 before the latter was dismissed late in the day as Australia reached 405-7 at stumps.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia's 10-wicket win in Adelaide last week.

India must win at least two of the final three Tests to guarantee a place in June's World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Defending champions Australia will reach the final if they win two of the remaining Tests.

After only 13.2 overs were possible on day one, more rain is forecast for the remainder of the game.

Read the full day two report.