BRISBANE, Australia, 6 December 2003 — Steve Waugh found a novel way to get out in one of the last matches of his distinguished cricket career as India rattled the vaunted Australians in the rain-ravaged first Test at the Gabba here yesterday.

The Indians, spearheaded by left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan, rocked Australia with three wickets in seven balls in the 5.2 overs before lunch on a soggy second day, including the coveted scalp of the 165-Test campaigner Waugh, out hit wicket.

And when play resumed after another rain interruption the fired-up Indians went on with the job, taking four more wickets to have Australia shaken at 323 for nine when bad light ended play.

It was a spectacular fightback by the Indians, who claimed seven wickets for 61 off just 16 overs yesterday on a green pitch freshened by frequent showers. Zaheer finished with 5-95 off 23 overs.

Waugh, in the twilight of his glorious career, featured in two of the major talking points yesterday.

Thirty-eight-year-old Waugh, who is retiring from Test cricket after next month’s fourth match in Sydney, attempted to get his side through to lunch but in an amazing dismissal played back to Zaheer and dislodged the off-bail with his heel to be given out for a duck.

He had set off for a run, but the Indian fieldsmen soon realized their great fortune when they noticed the bail had been dislodged and after the incident was replayed on the ground’s giant video screens, Waugh was on his way back to the pavilion with India cock-a-hoop.

It was the first time in 254 Test innings that Waugh had been dismissed ‘hit wicket’, although he was out to another rare occurrence, handled the ball, against India in the third Chennai Test in March, 2001.

It was an eventful nine-minute stay at the crease for Waugh, who two balls earlier had watched batting partner Martyn depart after a botched attempt for a third run.

Martyn had looked in great touch before the shambles with Waugh, the run out coming off a no-ball.

Both players started for a third run but Waugh kept coming while Martyn changed his mind and stood his ground at strikers’ end with a hand raised.