Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Australia
India
Australia
India
Host Australia eye unassailable lead against India at Melbourne
Expect Australia to register a comfortable win over India.
T&Cs apply, 18+
Under pressure from all quarters after a disastrous start to their tour, India will certainly face uphill battle when they take on Australia in a Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Host Australia will be confident of taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after their emphatic win in the opening game played at Adelaide. The home side will not make any changes for this Boxing Day Test. Captain Tim Paine will be hoping that the side can put in an improved batting performance in this 2nd Test.
On the other hand, India will without their captain, Virat Kohli, who is set to miss the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy after taking a paternity leave. Pacer Mohammad Shami will miss remainder of the series after suffering from fractured arm at Adelaide. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side for this contest.
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With David Warner unlikely for Boxing Day Test, Australia will be keen to stick with the same side that played at Adelaide.
The pace duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood produced scintillating bowling performance to bundle out India for just 36 runs in the second innings. Hazlewood picked up five wickets, whereas Pat Cummins picked four wickets. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc also bowled well in the opening game against India and picked up four wickets in the first innings.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns to deliver notable scores in this Boxing Day Test.
For Australia, Smith will be keen to get back amongst the runs after perishing for a low score at Adelaide. His last appearance at Boxing Day Test against India saw him produce a majestic 192 runs for Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne once again put in crucial score for Australia in the first innings. He worked hard for his runs against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Labuschagne scored 47 runs off 119 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
The big positive for Australia will be opener Joe Burns finding form with the bat. The right-handed batsman was able to his natural game and came out with positive intent in the second innings. Burns played well and finished the innings with the top-score of 51 not out off 63 balls with the help of seven fours and one six. He was well supported by Matthew Wade, who also chipped in with 33 runs off 53 balls with help of five boundaries.
Captain Tim Paine also produced a crucial innings for Australia and help them get close to India’s first innings score of 241 runs. Wicket-keeper batsman smashed unbeaten 73 runs off 99 balls with the help of ten boundaries.
Tim Paine, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Steven Smith, TM Head, Nathan Lyon
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R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M Labuschagne | 47 | 119 | 7 | 0 | 39.5 |
M Wade | 8 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 15.69 |
J Burns | 8 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 19.51 |
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O | M | R | W | Econ |
M Starc | 21.0 | 5 | 53 | 4 | 2.52 |
P Cummins | 21.1 | 7 | 48 | 3 | 2.27 |
J Hazlewood | 20.0 | 6 | 47 | 1 | 2.35 |
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O | M | R | W | Econ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M Starc | 21.0 | 5 | 53 | 4 | 2.52 |
P Cummins | 21.1 | 7 | 48 | 3 | 2.27 |
J Hazlewood | 20.0 | 6 | 47 | 1 | 2.35 |
The visitors reached their lowest ebb in terms of batting after being bundled out for their lowest score in Test cricket-36 all out at Adelaide.
With Virat Kohli fly back to India after taking paternity leave and Mohammad Shami out of the series due to fractured arm, the visitors will be keen to make wholesale changes to their playing XI for Boxing Day.
With Prithvi Shaw not doing well at Adelaide, Shubnam Gill might make his debut for India at Boxing Day at Melbourne. Lokesh Rahul will come in place of Virat Kohli, while Rishabh Pant and Navdeep Saini will be slotted into the playing XI. Wriddhiman Saha is expected to be dropped from the side.
In the absence of Virat Kohli, the responsibility will be on the experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to deliver the bulk of the runs. Despite their failure in the second innings, Pujara and Rahane showed excellent temperament and occupied the crease for long time.
In the first innings, Cheteshwar Pujara made a gritty 43 off 160 balls with the help of two fours, whereas Ajinkya Rahane scored 42 runs off 95 balls with the help of three fours.
Besides Pujara and Rahane, the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari and Lokesh Rahul will have to contribute with the bat in this second game of the series.
In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Jaspreet Bumrah and Umesh Yadav to make crucial breakthroughs with the new-ball. In the opening game, Yadav claimed three wickets, whereas Bumrah bowled well for his two wickets.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled splendidly well and claimed five wickets in the match. He managed to take big wickets of Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head in the game played at Adelaide.
Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Umesh Yadav
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R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
V Kohli | 74 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 41.11 |
C Pujara | 43 | 160 | 2 | 0 | 26.88 |
A Rahane | 42 | 92 | 3 | 1 | 45.65 |
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O | M | R | W | Econ |
R Ashwin | 18.0 | 3 | 55 | 4 | 3.06 |
U Yadav | 16.1 | 5 | 40 | 3 | 2.47 |
J Bumrah | 21.0 | 7 | 52 | 2 | 2.48 |
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O | M | R | W | Econ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
R Ashwin | 18.0 | 3 | 55 | 4 | 3.06 |
U Yadav | 16.1 | 5 | 40 | 3 | 2.47 |
J Bumrah | 21.0 | 7 | 52 | 2 | 2.48 |
Hr | Temp | Rain | W. speed | W. direction | Clouds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
00h | 10 | 0 mm. | 3.14 k/h | From: W | 1% |
03h | 10 | 0 mm. | 6.45 k/h | From: NW | 0% |
06h | 8 | 0 mm. | 5.4 k/h | From: NNW | 0% |
09h | 6 | 0 mm. | 5.1 k/h | From: NW | 0% |
12h | 6 | 0 mm. | 5.23 k/h | From: NW | 0% |
15h | 8 | 0 mm. | 5.76 k/h | From: NNW | 56% |
18h | 11 | 0 mm. | 4.28 k/h | From: NNW | 76% |
21h | 12 | 0 mm. | 3.36 k/h | From: N | 73% |
With sunny weather expected for Boxing Day Test, the wicket certainly provide some assistance to pace bowlers with the new-ball. Expect batsmen to dominate the proceedings in this Test.
Host Australia have won eight out of 11 Test matches played against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground. On the other hand, India managed to beat Australia in their previous Boxing Day Test played in 2018.
Both the teams will be keen to win the toss and bat first on this surface. Average first innings score at MCG has been around 300 to 320 runs.
Based on recent performances, Australia will start as clear favorites to win this Boxing Day Test against India. With likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim Paine delivering splendid performances for Australia at Adelaide, the home side will be keen to raise their game with the bat at Melbourne.
With Shubnam Gill, Rishabh Pant and Lokesh Rahul included in the playing XI for Boxing Day Test, India will be keen to put in an improved batting performance against Australia.
Expect Australia to register a comfortable win over India.
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