India were denied the chance to level the four-Test series

The second Test between India and Australia in Madras ended in a disappointing draw after the final day's play was abandoned by rain.

A riveting finale had looked on the cards with India 19-0 chasing 229 to level the four-Test series.

But a monsoon, delayed by a fortnight, finally hit the southern coastal metropolis, bringing joy to farmers but heartbreak to cricket fans.

It means India must take the final two games to repeat their 2001 series win.

Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist lamented the fact that the weather had the final say in what had been a fascinating encounter.

"The Test match was shaping up to be a classic," he said.

"Both teams were in the hunt and it is very frustrating to finish this way.

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"India may have been slightly in front, but it was day five, with a worn out pitch and it would have been increasingly difficult."

Gilchrist was pleased with another example of the resilience of his team, following their collapse from 136-0 to 235 all out.

"In time gone past we could have easily been intimidated by that kind of batting," he observed.

"We were totally swept away on day one to the extent we could have been completely crushed. But we fought well."

Players from both sides spoke in praise of Damien Martyn, who rescued Australia with a composed second innings century.

"We all knew he was good against pace, but many people may have thought he was susceptible against spin," Gilchrist said.

"It would be fair to say he's now the complete package."

Anil Kumble, who claimed 13 wickets in the match, said of Martyn: "He played mostly on the back foot, and waited for the ball to come to him, and punished all the loose balls he got.

"He showed tremendous patience, and that is what is needed."

The third Test gets under way in Nagpur on 26 October.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath.