India continue to defy the odds as Australia’s frustration in fourth Test continues

At 3:00pm Brisbane time on Monday, eight members of the Gabba ground staff guarded the perimeter of the pitch covers.

Rain was still falling, but lightly enough that a few of the milling figures adopted the familiar stooped pose, scrolling away on smartphones.

There wasn’t much to do other than check the weather radar and figure out what everyone was saying about an Australian declaration.

The home side led by 276 runs at that point.

Whether it factored into his decision or not, Tim Paine had just witnessed firsthand the unpredictability of the fourth-day surface.

Earlier, there had been murmurs of discontent as Cameron Green took 90 deliveries to eke out 37.

Perhaps they weren’t the quick runs the doctor ordered, but whom among his…