The Indian cricket team will look to get back the lead in the five-match Test series against Australia when the two sides lock horns in the Boxing Day Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. The series is currently level at 1-1 with India winning the first Test by 295 runs and Australia bouncing back to win the second Test with the ‘Pink Ball’ by 10 wickets. The third Test ended in a rain-hit draw at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins believes there is a good ‘grass coverage’ on the track although Team India have decided to bring in a second spinner in Washington Sundar to replace all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. “Pitch looks really good, quite consistent to what it has here for the last few years, I think, you know, a bit of grass coverage, feels nice and firm, so they (curators) have done a great job here for, you know, probably the last five, six years, their pitches and I suspect the same this year,” Cummins said in the pre-match press conference.
However, the players are bracing for ‘very hot’ temperatures for the Boxing Day Test predicted to reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. “Nathan Lyon has had some success here, certainly plays a role, so yeah, would not be surprised if there’s a little bit on-off for spin,” Cummins felt.
India are likely to have captain Rohit Sharma back as opener for the 4th Test while KL Rahul – India’s leading run-scorer – could be moving down to the No. 3 position.
“He’s been unbelievable since last 12 months”
Ahead of the crucial #BoxingDayTest, #PatCummins hails #TravisHead‘s exceptional form and jokingly admits he feels safer having him as a teammate! #AUSvINDOnStar 4th Test THU, 26th DEC, 4:30 AM pic.twitter.com/3rvbVBHzXL
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 25, 2024
Here are all the details about India vs Australia 2024 4th Test…
The India vs Australia 2024 4th Test will start from Thursday, December 26.
The India vs Australia 2024 4th Test will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The India vs Australia 2024 4th Test Day 1 will begin at 5am IST. The toss for the match will be held at 430am.
The India vs Australia 2024 4th Test will be available LIVE on TV on Star Sports network channels in India.
The India vs Australia 2024 4th Test will be available for livestreaming on Disney+ Hotstar website and app.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
