Big picture: Border-Gavaskar Trophy at stake
This is big. If India wins at the MCG, they will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia wins they will remain on course for their first series win over India in a decade. A defeat for the home team would raise major questions, while if India lose, their fate in the World Test Championship (WTC) is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy would still be possible. With a good forecast, a draw would seem an unlikely result, especially considering the recent history of the field. And anything that unfolds on Boxing Day could take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.
It has only been six days since the wet end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. If you weren’t aware of the score, it may look like India are ahead as Australia were forced to make a change at the top of the order to try and counter Jasprit Bumrah. This means 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make a remarkable debut after just 11 first-class matches.
But they have also been curious days for visitors. Virat Kohli had a run-in with a journalist at Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja only answered questions in Hindi at a press conference, which upset some people; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India was given pitches used for training 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 failed top order. It doesn’t look like India can do much about the batting order in terms of personnel; instead, they hope that someone can follow KL Rahul’s example.
There hasn’t been much
cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide finished just over an hour into the third day and rain was a constant threat in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia has dominated. However, the score is 1-1 and there isn’t much room for them to have a bad day.
Australia’s top order remains under scrutiny amid the decision to drop Nathan McSweeney in favor of Konstas at such a crucial time in the series, while senior batsmen Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain short of runs. Travis Head, who will have a problem in the Test after modifying his quad in Brisbane, has been a game-changer, while Steven Smith’s hundred was timely and he was playing very fluidly in the end.
The fact that Scott Boland can return to a pitch where he has had so much success (led by his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the depth of pace Australia have in their bowling. It may be what makes the difference, although don’t rule out Bumrah being able to win it almost alone for India, who haven’t lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.
forms guide
(last five matches completed, most recent first)
Australia DWLWW
India DLWLL
In the spotlight: Usman Khawaja and Virat Kohli
Usman Khawaja He is nearing the end of what is his leanest testing year since 2013 (when he averaged 19.00 in just three games). In 2024 he has a return of 337 runs at 24.07, including just one fifty. However, the Australian team considers him to be out of runs rather than out of form, similar to what was happening with Smith before his Gabba century. Khawaja has talked about having next year’s Ashes on his radar with a possible SCG finish in just over 12 months, but whether he gets there may depend on these next two Tests and the Sri Lanka series.
There has been a big withdrawal from India in this series. And rumors are flying about who could be next. Virat Kohli He ended a century-long drought with his second innings at Perth, but at the moment he looks like an outlier with a pattern to his dismissals other than that: pushing the ball hard outside the stump. In Brisbane he strove for particularly broad delivery. In 2014 he enjoyed a spectacular Test at the MCG with 169 and 54, then in 2018 he made 82 as captain to help lay the foundations for a famous victory that ultimately decided that series. He missed 2020, when India won again. What will 2024 bring?
Team news: Konstas debut, Boland return; The question of India’s balance
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 leaving the Gabba with a quadriceps strain.
Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (week), 8 Pat Cummins (captain), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland
Rohit Sharma’s batting position remains a hot topic and he did not confirm where he would be placed before the game, but India seems unlikely to break the opening pair. The other key debate is what to do at No. 8: stick with Nitesh Kumar Reddy, pick another fast specialist (which would lengthen the queue) or play Washington Sundar as an all-round alternative and opt for a 3-2 balance of pace and spin. ?
India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Rohit Sharma (captain), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Nitesh Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Pitch and conditions: sweltering temperatures on Boxing Day
The MCG launch, which has become a goldmine for fast-pacers, has been in the spotlight. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula that has been successful in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it is normally a pitch-first surface but this time things may be different. The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch accelerate earlier than normal. There is a possibility of showers on the second day but otherwise the forecast is good and the temperature is more pleasant from the third day onwards.
Statistics and curiosities
Bumrah needs six wickets for 200 in Tests. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be India’s second-fastest behind R Ashwin.
Since the 2018-19 season, six Test centuries have been scored at the MCG, the fewest of any Australian venue to host more than one match.
Australia’s current average in their top three is the lowest ever recorded for a home series of at least three Tests (note: includes Pat Cummins as nightwatchman in Perth)
Quotes
“Every game starts anew… different teams, different structures. I think both teams have similar challenges at the moment. How do you find the runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top. I don’t believe much in history being repeat.
australian head coach andres mcdonald I wasn’t reading much into past Boxing Day results
“After three Test matches, if you were to look at it as a whole, it’s a fair reflection of how both teams have played. Both teams have played solid cricket.”
Rohit Sharma about the status of the series
