The penultimate Test of the ongoing five-match IND vs AUS Test series between India and Australia will be played this week. The Boxing Day Test will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from Thursday (December 26).With the five-match series intriguingly poised at 1-1, India and Australia are set to collide in the fourth Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne from Thursday, December 26 onwards.
After the high-pitched 3rd Test that took place 7 days ago, India will be facing Australia again on the 4th Boxing Day Test at MCG. With the series tied 1-1, the stakes are high for the match. The match will begin on December 26 at 5:00 AM IST and will end on December 30 as per the fixture.
AUS vs IND : Previous Performances
India won the first Test comprehensively in Perth by 295 runs to take the lead. However, Australia bounced back in the subsequent pink-ball Test in Adelaide to restore parity in the series. The third Test in Brisbane turned out to be a rain-marred contest which eventually ended in a draw. As the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy is in India’s possession, Australia can’t afford a defeat in Melbourne. Meanwhile, with important World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, both teams will want to come out all guns blazing and take the lead in the series.
Both teams will admit that they have not played anywhere close to their full potential. Travis Head has been the best batter so far on the tour, having amassed 409 runs from five innings at a staggering average of 81.80. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is the standout bowler, accounting for 21 wickets from three games at an average of 10.90. However, both players haven’t received adequate support from their compatriots
There has been another similarity between the two sides. India’s two most experienced batters – Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma – have been going through a lean patch. The scenario is similar for Australia’s star batting duo of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. It will be interesting to see how the Test match pans out. Expect both teams to play an aggressive brand of cricket which will keep the fans glued to their seats.
AUS vs IND : Head to Head
| Matches Played | 110 |
| Won by Australia | 46 |
| Won by India | 33 |
| Drawn / No Result | 30 |
| Tied | 01 |
| First-ever Fixture | November 28–December 02, 1947 |
| Most-recent Fixture | December 14-18, 2024 |
AUS vs IND : Pitch Report
According to the MCG curator Matt Page, there will be an even covering of grass on the pitch. The batters will get value for their shots while the spinners won’t have too much of a part to play. In the past, the MCG was known for producing some flat surfaces where plenty of runs were scored. However, the trend has changed since the Boxing Day Test in the 2017 Ashes.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground has seen a recent shift towards seam-friendly wickets, resulting in six consecutive result-oriented Boxing Day Tests. Players can expect a pace-friendly pitch with seam movement and bounce. High temperatures will likely dry the pitch, favoring batters initially. However, the track might deteriorate from day three, potentially bringing spinners and hit-the-deck bowlers into play. With these conditions in the play, the toss-winner will likely choose to bat first.
The MCG pitch, which has become a goldmine for the quicks, has been in focus. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula which has been a success in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it’s normally a surface where you bowl first, but things may be different this time.
The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch quicken up earlier than normal. There is a chance of showers on the second day but otherwise the forecast is fine and a more pleasant temperature from day three onwards.
AUS vs IND : Big Picture : Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line for both Australia and India
This is big. If India win at the MCG, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia win, they remain on track for a first series win over India in a decade. A defeat for the home side would trigger significant questions while if India lose, their World Test Championship (WTC) fate is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy would remain possible.
With a good forecast, a draw would appear an unlikely result, particularly given the ground’s recent history. And whatever unfolds on Boxing Day could take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.
It’s only been six days since the damp end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. If you weren’t aware of the scoreline, it may feel like India are ahead given Australia have been forced into a change at the top of the order to try and counterpunch against Jasprit Bumrah. It means 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make an extraordinary debut after just 11 first-class matches.
But it’s also been a curious few days for the visitors. Virat Kohli had a run-in with a reporter at the Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja only took questions in Hindi at a press conference which got some people annoyed; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India were given used pitches to train on at the MCG.
Meanwhile, in terms of the important things, they are still trying to find enough support for Bumrah and more runs from a misfiring top order. There does not appear much India can do about the batting order in terms of personnel, instead they will hope someone can follow the lead of KL Rahul.
There has not been a lot of actual cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide was over little more than an hour into the third day and rain was a constant menace in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia have dominated. Yet it sits at 1-1 and there is not much wriggle room for them to have a bad day.
Australia’s top order remains under scrutiny amid the call to drop Nathan McSweeney in favour of Konstas at such a crucial moment in the series while senior batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain low on runs. Travis Head, who picked up a quad niggle in Brisbane but is good to go, has been the game-changer while Steven Smith’s hundred was timely and by the end of it he was playing very fluently.
The fact that Scott Boland can slot back in at a ground he has enjoyed so much success on (headlined by his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the pace-bowling depth Australia have. It may just be what makes the difference, although don’t count out Bumrah being able to win it almost on his own for India, who have not lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.
AUS vs IND : Vital stats that matters
- Bumrah needs six wickets for 200 in Tests. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be the joint second-fastest for India behind R Ashwin
- Since the 2018-19 season, there have been six Test centuries scored at the MCG – the lowest of all Australian venues to host more than a single match
- Australia’s current average from their top three is their lowest ever for the home series of atleast three tests (note: includes Pat Cummins as night watcher in Perth)
AUS vs IND Team News
Australia : Australia ready to ride red hot form at MCG
The Aussies have made a couple of changes to their XI, with teenage sensation Sam Konstas making his debut, replacing Nathan McSweeney. Meanwhile, Scott Boland fills in for the injured Josh Hazlewood. However, all eyes will be on Travis Head, who will be eager to continue his impressive form after a recent injury scare. Though Head’s records at MCG has not been good, his recent stellar form might turn the table this time. Konstas might also be a key player for the Baggy Greens in the top order with his firepower.
Konstas’ debut was confirmed on Christmas Eve while Boland will return in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood. Head passed a fitness test on Christmas Day after coming out of the Gabba with a quad strain.
Australia don’t get Test debutants too often, so the arrival of Konstas on the big stage will be a major moment. But it’s not just about who’s come into the mix, but also how the under-firing Australian top-order responds to the relentless Jasprit Bumrah challenge. Boland, meanwhile, will fit back in seamlessly, and even more so since this is the ‘G, and this is where he’s at his most dangerous. The Victorians will find their voice every time Scotty has the ball in his hands, and he rarely disappoints.
The pace attack will be led by Mitchell Starc, while Scott Boland’s return adds experience and a potent swing-bowling option. Nathan Lyon will head the spin department and will be tricky for Indian batters to handle. With the Aussies having a strong record of winning at MCG, a hard-fought battle is on the cards.
Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk.), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India : Rohit likely to open as India aims to gain lead at MCG
Following a rain-affected draw in Brisbane, India and Australia are locked at 1-1 in the series. After a string of subpar performances, both Kohli and Rohit will be eager to find form at the MCG. While Rohit hasn’t confirmed a return to the batting order, opening with Jaiswal could reignite his form. Meanwhile, if Rahul comes down at three, it will allow Kohli to anchor at number four.
With Ashwin retired, Washington Sundar is likely to partner Jadeja in spin. The pace attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, looks formidable. With all departments firing, India aims to regain the series lead in Melbourne and continue the winning streak as the ‘Men in Blue’ last lost a Test at MCG back in 2011.
Rohit Sharma’s batting position remains a hot topic and he did not confirm where he would slot in ahead of the game, but it seems unlikely India will break up the opening pair. The other key debate is what to do at No. 8: stick with Nitesh Kumar Reddy, pick another specialist quick (which would lengthen the tail) or play Washington Sundar as an alternative allrounder and opt for a 3-2 balance of pace and spin
As has been the case throughout this series, we head into a Test with a lot of intrigue surrounding the make-up of the Indian team, not just in terms of who’ll play but also where they’ll bat.
While Rohit Sharma was non-committal when asked about whether he’ll be sticking to the middle-order, new reports have emerged about the captain potentially returning to the top with KL Rahul dropping a position to No 3. There’s also been talk of two spinners playing, which could either mean Washington Sundar coming in for Nitish Kumar Reddy or even Shubman Gill, who’s not got going so far in this series after missing the first Test in Perth.
India Probable Playing XI : Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk.), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
IND vs AUS Fantasy XI : KL Rahul, Alex Carey, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head (c), Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
AUS vs IND : Players in the spotlight
Usman Khawaja :
Usman Khawaja is coming towards the end of what is his leanest Test year since 2013 (when he averaged 19.00 from just three matches). In 2024 he has a return of 337 runs at 24.07 including just one fifty. However, the Australia camp is taking the view that he is out of runs rather than out of form, similar to Smith before his Gabba century.
Khawaja has spoken about having next year’s Ashes on his radar with a potential finishing point of the SCG in just over 12 months’ time, but whether he gets there may depend on these next two Tests and the Sri Lanka series.
Virat Kohli :
There has been one India great retire in this series. And the rumors are bubbling about who might be next. Virat Kohli ended a century drought with his second innings in Perth but at the moment it is looking like an outlier with a pattern in his dismissals aside from that – pushing hard at the ball outside off stump.
In Brisbane he was reaching out to drive a particularly wide delivery. In 2014 he enjoyed a spectacular Test at the MCG with 169 and 54, then in 2018 made a hardworking 82 as captain to help lay the foundation for a famous victory which ultimately decided that series. He missed 2020 when India won again. What will 2024 bring
AUS vs IND : Match Prediction
Australia enters this match as favourites due to their recent form and home advantage. Their batting lineup, bolstered by players like Steve Smith and Travis Head, has shown resilience and capability to post big totals. In contrast, India’s batting has faced challenges, particularly against pace bowling.
Boasting a formidable batting and bowling lineup, the Indian team appears well-equipped to counter Australia’s challenges. However, the Australians have been grappling with several changes along with fresh faces in the match, leaving them somewhat on the backfoot. Hence, even though India’s performance at Gabba was sub-par, they are the favourites to clinch the Boxing Day Test.