Today’s draw in the third Test of the Australia-India series came as no surprise given the torrential conditions in Brisbane but the natures of the match raised more questions than answers for the two sides vying for the remaining place in the World Test Championship final.

With South Africa already having booked their sport, it was Australia looking more likely to nail down their place after their first innings 445.  With India 5/74 in reply it looked like Pat Cummins might have the opportunity to enforce the follow-on but to their credit, the last wicket partnership of Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep – who himself scored 31 batting at number 11 – saw them past the 200 run threshold, effectively ensuring a draw.

What emerged at the start of Day 5 was an attempt by Australia to book fast runs in order to set up a declaration but the weather was always going to make a result difficult provided India batted with restraint.  With only 2.1 overs bowled in their second innings, out of form batsmen were not called to occupy the crease and now head to Melbourne.

The back story however is the futures of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma.  Some Indian media as recently as the Day 4 lunch break were actively discussing the future of Rohit as captain, with former Test player Parthiv Patel weighing in on the discussion and his broadcast partners suggesting that it may be time for Rohit to retire.

Jasprit Bumrah, who captained the side in the first Test, was floated as a permanent replacement in the leadership position, but he turned 31 this month and given how fragile his injury status has been since the Adelaide Test is no certainty to be fully fit for 100% of India’s upcoming Test commitments.

On the Australian side, whilst Steve Smith’s hundred in the first innings of this Test took him past Steve Waugh’s mark of 32, questions about his technique against the swinging ball remain.  Whilst it is true that Bumrah enjoys the lowest average of any Test quick who has taken 190 wickets or more, history has shown that once batsmen pass the age of 35 their performance declines and Smith is so far no exception to this.

Should he be given a hero’s farewell at his home Test at the SCG, starting on January 3?  There would be no doubt he certainly deserves that type of send-off, given his contribution to Australian cricket starting fourteen years ago.  With 9,809 runs at 56.05, he is already one of the greats.