India and Australia will square-off in the 4th Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The match will be played on 26th December also known as Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Match Preview:
The ongoing series is evenly poised after the 3rd Test match was drawn due to rain and India team in dressing room was seen celebrating the avoidance of the follow on.
The first Test match was won by the visitors while Australia made a thumping comeback in the second Test match of the series. But now, all eyes will be on the upcoming Test match which holds a special value for both sides.
If Australia win the forthcoming Test of the series, their chance to win a series over India after a decade would be brightened. And if they lose, it will only raise questions and criticism as the side will inch closer to lose yet another series from India.
And if India manage to win the Boxing Day Test match, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and if they lose? Their chances to reach the final of the ongoing World Test Championship would hang by a thread.
It has only been 6 days since the boring end to an interesting match set at Gabba but a lot has happened in between. Australia has called up a 19-year-old Sam Konstas as a replacement for Nathan McSweeney. While there was also something curious for the visitors too.
Virat Kohli had a run-in with the reporter at the MCG, Ravindra Jadeja only took Hindi Questions at the presser and last but not the least there were suggestions that India were given a used pitch to practice at the MCG.
Nevertheless, if Australia want to win this all-important game their top-order will have to fire it all up. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne should gear up and do a counterpunch against high-flying Jasprit Bumrah.
Talking about India, their batting unit, including the likes of Rohit Sharma and Kohli have been below-par. All they can do is to follow the lead of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
Playing XI:
Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland
India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Rohit Sharma (capt), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Nitesh Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Pitch and weather report:
The MCG pitch is looking good for fast bowlers. The curator will leave a bit of grass on it, which will help them. But because it’s going to be very hot on the first day, the pitch might get quicker than usual. This means batting might be tricky. The coach thinks it’s usually better to bowl first, but this time it might be better to bat first. And don’t worry, the weather will be fine after a bit of rain on the second day.
Head-to-head record:
India and Australia have faced each other in 105 Test matches. India have won 34, while Australia have emerged victorious on 44 occasions.
Prediction:
Given their performance in the second and third Test match of the series, Australia is likely to overcome India in the upcoming game which also help to take another step to win a series over India (after a decade)
Where to Watch:
UK: TNT, Discovery+
Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports, Channel 7, and 7Plus
US: Willow TV
India: Star Sports
South Africa: Super Sports
New Zealand: Sky NZ
Caribbean: SportsMax
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan: JioStar
Pakistan: Tapmad
MENA: Cricbuzz
