Cricket
4th Test Day 1 LIVE: DRS Waisted By India, Australia Off To Nervy Start India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Updates: India pulled off a big surprise as Australia captain Pat Cummins opted to bat first after winning the toss on Thursday. While Australia had already announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, India decided to drop Shubman Gill from the team. Instead, the tourists decided to add spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar to the team. Interesting times ahead. The series, meanwhile, is level 1-1, with both teams winning a game apiece before the third Test ended in a draw at Brisbane. (LIVE SCORECARD)
Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Here are the LIVE Updates of the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 Boxing Day Test, straight from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne:
IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Streaming, BGT 2024/25: When And Where To Watch India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Streaming and Live Telecast: The fourth chapter of the riveting Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 starts with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. With the series tied at 1-1, and a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at stake, the game is expected to be a hard-fought one. India will be hoping that their top order can fare better and take early control of the game, while Australia will be aiming to continue their good momentum from the second and third Tests. A win for either side in this Test match would ensure that they cannot lose the series anymore.
Here are the details for the India vs Australia 4th Test, LIVE Streaming and LIVE Telecast of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25: Check Where and How to WatchWhen will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 take place?
The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will take place on Boxing Day, December 26 (IST).
Where will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 be held?
The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne.
What time will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 start?
The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will start at 5:00 AM IST.
Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?
The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be televised live on the Star Sports network.
Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?
The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will live streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.
(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)
Preference To... : Ex-India Star s Final Say On Rohit-Rahul Opening Debate Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif said he would give preference to Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as the opening pair ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. Though Jaiswal has blown hot and cold in the series, barring a majestic 161 at Perth, Rahul has been India s leading run-getter in the ongoing tour, scoring 235 runs from six innings at an impressive average of 47, including hitting two half-centuries.
Despite various reports alleging Rohit Sharma could be back to opening and Rahul being pushed to number three, Kaif has voiced his support in not disturbing the Jaiswal-Rahul pairing at the top.
“KL Rahul is doing a great job, while Jaiswal hit a hundred too. When Jaiswal plays, then India wins the Test match. He s a player whose type is like Sehwag. When he plays, he ll dominate with such speed that he ll bring the Test match to one side and win it. Through him, India gets a lot of advantage from there.”
“So I ll keep Jaiswal there, while KL Rahul is playing by taking his time and building a proper opening partnership. For someone who s scored tons in Australia, England, South Africa, you can t write off that player. He s scored previously on these bouncy pitches, so you want to give him a preference first,” said Kaif in a video posted on his ‘X account on Wednesday.
With the five-match series currently locked at 1-1, Kaif thinks the equation is still even stevens and that India can win the game in Melbourne if they get their biggest nemesis Travis Head out quickly. At the same time, Kaif cautioned Indian batters about facing seamer Scott Boland, who picked five wickets in Adelaide, where Australia won by ten wickets.
“No, I believe that the Test series is going on at an equal level. Even though the form of Indian batting is not great, a lot of the players are out of form, but on the same boat, there s also an Australian team. If you get out Travis Head, you ll win the Test match, because we have got Bumrah. If Travis Head is out, then even with out-of-form batting, the Indian team can win this series.”
“The way their batters have got out caught behind, and their openers are nicking behind, so there s a big problem with their batting. Barring Travis Head, you can see Labuschagne has been dismissed twice outside the off-stump by Nitish Reddy. So, in batting, the Australian team is far behind. In bowling, Boland will definitely take 2-3 wickets and trouble the Indian bowlers. I m telling you right now,” he concluded.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
India To Participate In Physical Disabled Cricket Champions Trophy 2025 The Disabled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) proudly announced India s participation in the Physical Disabled Cricket Champions Trophy 2025, to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from January 12 to January 21, 2025. This event will bring together teams from India, England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, celebrating the exceptional talent and determination of physically disabled cricketers. As part of their preparations, the probable squad will attend an intensive training camp in Jaipur during the first week of January 2025, where the final squad will be selected.
Indian Team Probables for Champions Trophy 2025:
Representing India are some of the finest players in disabled cricket:
All-Rounders: Ravindra Sante, Vikrant Keni, Aakash Patil, Sunny Goyat, Narendra Mangore, Jitendra VN, Majid Magray, Chintu Chaudhary
Wicketkeepers: Yogendra Badoria, Deependra Singh
Bowlers: Akhil Reddy (Leg Spinner), Jaswant Singh (Off Spinner), Jayanta Dey, Radhika Prasad, Aamir Hassan, G. S. Shivshankar, Pawan, Mohd. Sadiq
Batsmen: Kunal Phanase, Nikhil Manhas, Raju Kannur, Surendra Korwal
Ravi Chauhan, General Secretary of DCCI, shared his thoughts: India s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 is a proud moment for the entire nation. This prestigious tournament in Colombo not only offers a platform for our players to showcase their talent but also highlights the importance of inclusivity in sports. The DCCI is committed to fostering opportunities for athletes with disabilities, and this event is another step towards setting new benchmarks in the world of cricket. I wish all the participating teams the very best for this tournament.
Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam, expressed her pride in this association: We are delighted to support Team India in their journey to the Champions Trophy 2025. This tournament is a testament to the resilience and determination of these remarkable athletes. At Svayam, we believe accessibility is a fundamental right, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where talent can thrive without barriers. I extend my best wishes to the Indian team and all participants for a successful and inspiring event.
Fixtures:
January 12: India Men PD v Pakistan Men PD
January 13: India Men PD v England Men PD
January 15: India Men PD v Sri Lanka Men PD
January 16: India Men PD v Pakistan Men PD
January 18: India Men PD v England Men PD
January 19: India Men PD v Sri Lanka Men PD
January 21: Final.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Zimbabwe To Give Free Entry To Spectators For Boxing Day Test vs Afg Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced free entry for spectators to the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo for the upcoming two-match Test series against Afghanistan, starting with the Boxing Day game on Thursday. In a statement, ZC said the decision comes in the wake of its efforts to celebrate the country s first Boxing Day Test at home in 28 years. It is followed by Zimbabwe s inaugural New Year s Test, scheduled for January 2-6, 2025.
“This is an extraordinary milestone for Zimbabwe Cricket and our fans. By offering free entry, we want to share this historic occasion with as many cricket lovers as possible, creating an electric atmosphere to inspire our players and celebrate the spirit of the game,” said Givemore Makoni, ZC Managing Director.
The last time Zimbabwe played a home Boxing Day Test, it was in 1996, which ended in a rain-affected drawn match against England at Harare Sports Club. Since then, Zimbabwe have only played Boxing Day Tests abroad against New Zealand in 2000 and South Africa in 2017, the latter being a pink-ball day-night fixture in Port Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have called up right-arm fast bowler Victor Nyauchi to replace Takudzwa Chataira, who suffered a right-side strain during the team s practice session earlier this week.
Chataira was among the seven uncapped players initially selected for the series. His replacement Nyauchi, an experienced bowler with nine Test matches under his belt and 20 wickets to his name, brings additional depth to the hosts bowling attack.
Thursday s match, despite a rain threat looming on all five days, will be Zimbabwe s second Test of 2024 after playing in a one-off Test against Ireland at Belfast in July, where they lost by four wickets. Zimbabwe lost T20I series to Afghanistan 2-1, and was followed by them losing ODI series to the visitors 2-0.
Zimbabwe Test squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Flawed Statement : Rohit Accused Of Not Speaking His Mind On Kohli s Form Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned captain Rohit Sharma over his remarks while defending star batter Virat Kohli. During a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Rohit was asked about Kohli s form, and his supposed shortcoming outside off-stump. However, Rohit played down any concerns, adding that Kohli will find a way out of the slump. Kohli s off stump... you only say modern day great. Modern-day greats figure out their own path, Rohit had said.
However, Manjrekar labelled Rohit s remark as a flawed statement, adding that Kohli does need help to sort out the technical issue.
That is actually a flawed statement. But let s understand, he has to say that because he cannot go out there and put further pressure on the batter. However, from deep within, cricketers think differently. I was part of that statement. We couldn t actually speak our minds, Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar also blamed assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who is also the batting coach, for not “addressing the chronic problem” regarding Kohli s technical issue.
But that is not true where a modern-day great will find his own way out. If that was the case, then he would have. That is why I m no longer focussing on Kohli s problem, but on the guy who was supposed to solve the problem, that is the batting coach. And if he can t address these chronic problems that some of our batters have had, and these are mostly technical battles. So it is pretty obvious to everyone that Kohli needs outside help because he, on his own, hasn t been able to solve it he added.
Kohli scored a century in the second innings of the Perth Test, which India won after being dismissed for 150 in the first essay.
However, he was dismissed for 7 and 11 in the second Test, which Australia won by 10 wickets to level the series, while in the drawn third Test at Brisbane he made 3.
(With PTI Inputs)
Watch: Female Fan Gets Creative For Rohit s Autograph, This Happens Next Wherever they go, Indian cricketers boast a serious fan-following, and a perfect example appeared ahead of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Such is the fanfare and craze to get a glimpse of their favourite superstars, that a woman devised a rather creative plan to get an autograph from India captain Rohit Sharma. Standing on a balcony area, the woman tied a bat with a string and threw it down for Rohit to be able to sign from below.
The plan worked a treat, as Rohit was able to sign the bat and the lady got her wish fulfilled. She also got all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja s signature as well.
Watch: Creative idea to get Rohit Sharma s signature
When hundreds of fans ran in MCG for a selfie and autograph with Rohit Sharma but a creative lady from Punjab did an Ultimate jugad to get Indian captain s attention .
Hilarious story. pic.twitter.com/fwy88rVY8A
India vs Australia: Boxing Day Test
With the series evenly poised at 1-1, the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be heavily contested. With a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at stake, India will need to at least win the series to keep themselves in the hunt without depending on other results.
In the build-up to the series, incidents, such as the press conference row over Hindi and English, have provided additional energy to the Test matches.
India will be looking for a stark improvement from their top order, where batters have fared rather inconsistently bar KL Rahul. While Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli did score hundreds in Perth, they have failed to come good in more challenging batting conditions.
Another worry for India will be the support cast to Jasprit Bumrah. While Bumrah is the top wicket-taker in the series, Mohammed Siraj is the only other Indian bowler to pick up more than 10 wickets.
India may also choose to go in with two spinners given the conditions at Melbourne and Sydney, in which case both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja will play.
Star, Who Last Played In 2021, Returns As Pakistan Name XI For 1st SA Test Pakistan have named the 34-year-old pacer Mohammad Abbas in the playing XI for the opening Test of the two-match series against South Africa, starting December 26 at SuperSport Park. Abbas, a stalwart of Pakistan s Test setup with 90 wickets in 25 matches, last donned the whites in August 2021 against the West Indies in Kingston. Pakistan s batting lineup for the Centurion Test has undergone significant reshuffling. Abdullah Shafique, who scored 132 runs in the home Test series against England last October, has been left out.
Shafique s lean patch in the recent One-day International (ODI) series against South Africa, where he failed to open his account in three outings, likely influenced the decision.
Taking his place at the top are Shan Masood and Saim Ayub. Masood, with his experience, will anchor the innings, while Ayub, fresh from scoring two centuries in the ODI series against South Africa, brings youthful exuberance and form. The batting order sees another notable adjustment with former captain Babar Azam returning to the No.3 position, a slot he last occupied in December 2022 against England in Multan. Although his average at No.3 stands at 30 from 10 Tests, Babar s back-to-back fifties in the ODI series suggest he is in good touch to rectify that record.
Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad makes a comeback after missing the Test series against England. Shahzad, who had been sidelined due to an injury sustained during the series against Bangladesh, adds depth to a formidable pace attack. The fast-bowling quartet comprises Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, and Aamer Jamal. Salman Agha, the sole spin-bowling option, will shoulder a significant load in the absence of a frontline spinner.
The middle order boasts a mix of talent and reliability with Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Kamran Ghulam. Saud Shakeel has shown promise with his ability to stabilise innings, while Rizwan s dual role as a wicketkeeper-batsman adds versatility. Kamran Ghulam, known for his patience and grit, rounds out a lineup designed to adapt to challenging conditions.
South Africa have long been a challenging destination for Pakistan. They have won only two of the 15 Tests played in the country, losing 12. Adding to their woes, Pakistan have never won a Boxing Day Test in South Africa, suffering defeats in 2002 and 2018.
Pakistan playing XI:
Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Gill Receives Big Advice From Aus Great Amid Dismal Run: Away From Home... Australia great Ricky Ponting believes the Indian opener Shubman Gill s overseas record is not as strong as his performances at home, but the ex-Aussie skipper feels the right-hander can improve his fortunes in Australia with minor changes to his approach. Gill averages 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia. In the same period, he has accumulated 1177 runs and scored four hundreds across 17 Tests at an average of 42.03 at home. I love watching him play. When you re watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket. But the numbers don t really stack up, do they, away from home? Ponting said on The ICC Review.
Since his impressive performance at the Gabba in 2021 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his composed 91 helped India clinch a historic series win, Gill has scored just one Test century away from home, which came against Bangladesh in 2022.
After injury forced him out of the series opener in Perth, Gill returned with scores of 31 and 28 in Adelaide and just one run in Brisbane. Ponting said the opener may be overcomplicating his approach.
I watched him a little bit in Adelaide and it almost looked like he changed things up too much. Scott Boland was bowling and he changed his guard, he moved across to the off stump, presented his front pad to Boland, and Boland got him out with a full straight one, Ponting pointed out.
However, rather than making any major changes, Ponting said Gill could improve his returns by trusting his instincts.
If anything, I think he needs to back himself a little bit more, needs to back his defensive technique a little bit more here in Australia and still find a way to be able to score and score quickly.
I m sure when he s at home or when he s generally scored runs anywhere around the world, he scores them in a nice, attacking mode and almost to the point where he s not really thinking about getting out - he s only thinking about scoring runs. If he goes in with that mindset and that attitude, then things could change here in Melbourne for him, he said.
The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne will begin on Boxing Day, with India eyeing a win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final alive.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Ashwin Watches Travis Head s Training Video, Pinpoints His Exact Game Plan Travis Head has been a bane for India on many occasions by now, and getting him out cheaply will be crucial for India s hopes of winning the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Head has already smashed two centuries (152 and 140 respectively) in the second and third Tests, tormenting the Indian bowlers at will, and also adapting to his weaknesses. In a video shared on social media showing the left-hander batting in the nets, Head seems to be working on his weak areas again, and the recently-retired Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out exactly that.
In the video, Head can be seen coming across his stumps to hit the deliveries thrown at him. This could be a ploy to negate Head s vulnerability with balls bowled from round the wicket towards his off stump area.
So far in the series, Head has succumbed to deliveries from round the wicket, with both Harshit Rana and Jasprit Bumrah managing to get him out this way.
Omg ! He is getting to the off stump? Is that the ploy for round the stumps?
— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) December 25, 2024Ashwin was quick to guess what Head is trying to practice.
Omg (Oh my God)! Is he getting to the off stump? Is that the ploy for round the stumps? Ashwin replied to the video.
Head is by far the top run-scorer of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. He has amassed 409 runs in just three Tests, and is 174 runs ahead of the next highest run-scorer, KL Rahul.
The left-hander has shown supreme ability to get around his weaknesses, dealing with vulnerabilities outside the off-stump and short-pitched bowling expertly during the third Test, en route to 152.
Meanwhile, Ashwin s response showed that he is clearly following the action despite calling time on his international career midway through the series. Ashwin, who played the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, retired from international cricket after the third Test, with 537 Test wickets to his name.
Dhoni s Santa Claus Look Sets Internet Ablaze, Poses With Wife, Daughter Legendary India captain has won the internet again, as he appeared in a new avatar on Christmas Day. With MS Dhoni having left international cricket for over five years now, he is often seen spending a lot of time with his family. In an Instagram post shared by his wife Sakshi Dhoni, the former India captain can be seen disguised in a Santa Claus outfit, alongside her and their daughter Ziva. The post has sent the internet into a frenzy, gathering over 500,000 likes within just two hours of being posted.
Despite quitting international cricket, Dhoni remains arguably India s most popular sports icon, with a massive fanbase. Therefore, glimpses of the legendary captain send fans into a frenzy, be it his Santa Claus persona or a new hairstyle.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sakshi Singh (@sakshisingh_r)
In spite of a fully covered outfit, the fact that it is Dhoni underneath the Santa Clause avatar is easily recognizable as he s seen wearing a hat with his nickname Mahi on top.
MS Dhoni: IPL 2025
The only cricket that Dhoni plays nowadays is the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he represents Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He will once again don the CSK yellow in 2025, after being retained by the franchise for the upcoming season.
Dhoni was retained for just Rs 4 crore by CSK, after the re-introduction of a rule that allows Indian players who have not played internationally for five years or more to be retained as uncapped players.
Dhoni and pacer Sandeep Sharma benefitted from this rule, being retained by their respective franchises.
However, the five-time IPL-winning captain does not lead his franchise any longer, having handed the reigns to opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. The latter was also the joint-highest retention by CSK, along with Ravindra Jadeja, at Rs 18 cr.
At the auction, CSK made some of the best value purchases, such as getting back New Zealand batters Devon Conway (Rs 6.5 cr) and Rachin Ravindra (Rs 4 cr) at relatively low-cost deals.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, will also represent CSK again in IPL 2025.
Gavaskar Warns India Against This Bold Boxing Day Change: Can t Drop... As the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy reaches a critical juncture with the series tied 1-1, Team India faces significant selection dilemmas ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The aftermath of the third Test at the Gabba, which ended in a hard-fought draw, has triggered a wave of planned and speculative changes, with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar weighing in on the decisions the Indian team management must make.
The most significant shift came with the sudden retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India s greatest all-rounders, immediately after the third Test at Gabba in Brisbane. Ashwin s absence has left a massive void in the squad, both in terms of his tactical nous and his unmatched skill as a spinner.
Rookie off-spinning all-rounder Tanush Kotian has been named as Ashwin s replacement, marking a new chapter for India s spin department.
Among the many speculations regarding the Indian lineup, one of the biggest debates centres around Nitish Kumar Reddy s place in the XI. While some believe Washington Sundar should replace Reddy to provide India with an additional spinning option, Gavaskar strongly opposes this idea. “They can t drop Nitish Kumar Reddy. He is the fourth seamer. I can t see India going in with just two pacers and Nitish. For me, it is pretty much this XI that plays in Melbourne,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
Reddy, despite being a reliable batter in the lower order, has struggled to make an impact with the ball in the series. However, Gavaskar believes his ability to provide crucial breakthroughs and his contributions with the bat make him indispensable to the team s balance. The Indian think tank is also contemplating a reshuffle at the top of the batting order, with reports suggesting that Rohit Sharma could return to his preferred role as an opener. Rohit s inclusion at the top would necessitate reconfiguring the middle order.
If Rohit opens, K.L. Rahul could be slotted in at No. 3, replacing the struggling Shubman Gill. Gill, who has not been at his best in this series, might either slide down to No. 4 or be replaced altogether by Dhurv Jurel.
India s pace bowling lineup has also been a subject of debate. Akash Deep, whose heroics with the bat helped India avoid the follow-on at the Gabba, is likely to retain his spot. Gavaskar dismissed the idea of replacing him with Harshit Rana, stating, “Unlikely that Harshit will replace Akash Deep. Why would you drop a man who has saved your team from follow-on?”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Won t Be Surprised If... : Cummins Big Verdict On MCG Pitch For 4th Test Ahead of the fourth Test against India at Melbourne, Australian skipper Pat Cummins said that the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch looks nice and firm with a bit of grass coverage and it could help spinner Nathan Lyon as well. With the series level at 1-1, both sides will be playing the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test with an aim to secure an all-important series lead needed to push a case for the ICC World Test Championship final. Speaking ahead of the game in a pre-match presser, Cummins said about the pitch, 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.
The skipper also admitted that bowling during high heat, in temperatures as high as 39 degrees could be hot .
Speaking further on the wicket, Cummins called it well-balanced .
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, he concluded.
Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India s squad for fourth and fifth Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Try And Reduce... : Ahead Of MCG Test, Pujara s Clear Advice To India India are all set to face Australia in the highly-anticipated Boxing Day Test from Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This will be the fourth Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar series, which is currently levelled 1-1. India won the opening game by a whopping total of 295 runs in Perth but the hosts bounced back in style in the second match and won by 10 wickets. However, the third match ended in a draw, due to rain in Brisbane. Both the teams are now eager to taken a crucial lead in the series.
Ahead of the fourth Test, veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has suggested that Rohit Sharma and co should opt for an extra pacer, in order to strengthen the bowling attack.
I think the bowling lineup is something which India needs to work on. I feel that (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Siraj and Akash Deep, they are doing a good job. (Ravindra) Jadeja and Nitish (Reddy) both have contributed well with the bat, said Pujara while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
But we are lacking one bowler and India will have to add another bowler if possible and maybe try and reduce a batter. I don t know. I m unable to find the right 11 at the moment because I don t see a lot of changes going into the next Test match, he added.
As far as India s bowling is concerned, Bumrah has been a standout performer for the visitors, taking 21 wickets in three matches. This includes five-wicket hauls and a four-wicket haul.
Mohammed Siraj has also been a good performer with 13 wickets in three matches. However, the young Harshit Rana did not deliver as per the expectations as he took only four wickets in two matches.
On the other hand, Akash Deep got only one game, where he scalped three wickets. It is highly likely that he will retain his place in the fourth Test. All-rounder Nitish Reddy impressed everyone with the bat but took only three wickets in as many matches.
Boxing Day Test Weather Forecast: Rain Drama Likely On These Days India are likely to ring a few changes when they take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test, starting December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Reports have claimed that India captain Rohit Sharma will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while KL Rahul will drop a slot down to no. 3. India could possibly line-up with two spinners -- Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja -- with either Shubman Gill or Nitish Kumar Reddy likely to face the axe. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will keep their place in the pace bowling department.
The series is tied at 1-1 after three Tests. India beat Australia by 295 runs in the first Test in Perth, before the hosts levelled the tie with an emphatic 10-wicket success in Adelaide. Meanwhile, the rain-hit third Test ended in a draw last week.
Unlike Brisbane, the weather is most likely to remain clear in Melbourne during the five days of the match. There is a 25 per cent chance of rain on Day 3 and Day 4. Apart from that, the weather will remain hot and humid.
Meanwhile, Australia named their playing XI on the eve of the match, with in-form batter Travis Head cleared fit to play.
Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed two changes to the team with seamer Scott Boland, as expected, in for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
Teenage opener Sam Konstas had already been locked in to make his debut, replacing Nathan McSweeney.
The 19-year-old Konstas will become Australia s youngest Test debutant since Cummins took the field against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2011.
Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India Likely XI: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Kohli s Flashing Outside Off-Stump Rebuked As India Face Australia Australian batting great Matthew Hayden has urged Virat Kohli to draw inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar s disciplined knock in Sydney and curb his tendency to flash outside the off-stump to regain form in the remaining two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli, who has had an inconsistent series so far with scores of 5, 100 not out, 7, 11, and 3 in his last five innings, has amassed just 126 runs at an average of 31.50.
There could have been magnificent wins, there could have been losses, there could have been spinning conditions, I mean, you can list off a hundred different areas where Virat Kohli, over his magnificent career, would have batted.
But in Melbourne, he s going to have a good batting track. What he does need to do is find a way to continue staying at the crease. Flashing outside the off-stump is something that he s going to have to resist, Hayden told Star Sports.
And I suggest - he gets in line with the ball a bit more and looks to play down the ground a little bit more...
Hayden cited Tendulkar s iconic 241 not out during the 2004 Sydney Test as an example of how self-restraint can turn things around.
I know he (Kohli) has a magnificent cover driver, but so did Sachin Tendulkar, and he put it away for a day. I sat in the gully licking my lips, thinking, you know what, this is magnificent, stubborn batting. During the 2004 tour of Australia, Tendulkar, battling a lean patch, showcased remarkable self-restraint and determination by completely avoiding his trademark off-side drives for the entire 613 minutes he spent at the crease.
I didn t look like getting a catch that day, and yet I felt like I was in the game that entire series. So, Sachin put away the cover drive, worked his way into the innings, hit off his legs beautifully, took on the spin, and addressed the areas of concern, Hayden continued.
He put a big cross through them and said, ‘Not on my watch today. Virat Kohli has got that personality, and I m sure we ll see it in Melbourne.
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Mumbai Indians New Recruit Added To Afghanistan s Squad For Tests vs Zim Spinner AM Ghazanfar has been added to Afghanistan s squad for its upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe, starting in Bulawayo on Thursday. The development comes after reports emerged of Rashid Khan being unavailable for the Boxing Day game due to personal reasons. AM Ghazanfar has been added to Afghanistan s squad for the two-match test series against Zimbabwe, with the first one being scheduled to begin tomorrow in Bulawayo,” said the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) through its X post on Wednesday.
Ghazanfar s maiden call-up to the Test team comes after he picked up impressive figures of 5/33 in the third ODI at Harare Sports Club, which helped Afghanistan secure an eight-wicket win and take a 2-0 series win. Interestingly, Ghazanfar is yet to play a first-class game in his cricketing career.
Ghazanfar was sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs 4.8 crore during the IPL 2025 auctions in November.
2024 has been a meteoric year for Ghazanfar, who began by playing for Afghanistan in the U19 Men s World Cup in South Africa, where he bagged eight wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 3.35 and was followed by his senior ODI debut against Ireland in March.
He then guided Afghanistan A to winning their maiden ACC Men s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup title in 2024, winning the Player of the Match award in the final against Sri Lanka A in Oman.
The series opening game against Afghanistan, to be played at the Queens Sports Club, will be the first time Zimbabwe will be hosting its first Boxing Day Test at home in 28 years. It will be followed by Zimbabwe hosting its first New Year s Test, scheduled for January 2-6, 2025.
Afghanistan updated Test squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhail, Afsar Zazai, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad Malik and AM Ghazanfar.
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Pant Receives Mammoth Warning From Gavaskar : Respect A Little Bit... Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has advised India s flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to respect the conditions before launching into his attacking strokes in the remaining two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Pant, who famously scripted a match-winning knock at the Gabba in 2021, has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled to make a significant impact in the ongoing series. The 27-year-old has managed scores of 37, 1, 21, 28, and 9 in his five innings across three Tests so far. Known for his aggressive approach, Pant has often prioritised attacking shots regardless of the match situation. His adventurous decision to charge down the pitch against pacer Scott Boland on the very first ball of his innings in the Adelaide day-night Test drew considerable attention.
What Rishabh Pant has to do, like everybody else, respect the first half an hour; respect a little bit when he gets in there, whatever the position, unless, of course, India is 525 for 3; then he can tee off, Gavaskar told Star Sports.
Commenting on the challenges posed by Australian bowlers, Gavaskar added, ... they get the ball to angle across. Pat Cummins and even (Josh) Hazlewood give him a little bit of a problem; Scott Boland will give him a little bit of a problem because Boland bowls around that area as well.
He should have no fear in these conditions: Hayden
Australian legend Matthew Hayden, a self-confessed admirer of Pant, urged the Indian batter to embrace his fearless approach, saying it could be a game-changer for the visitors.
I have always been a fan of his. He s kind of a different cheese; there is no doubt about it. And I would like to just see him explore that as well because he should be coming in a situation where, as I mentioned before, there are lots of runs; and if so, that s a perfect scenario for him to be (in).
But it s also the perfect scenario for Team India. A little bit like Rohit Sharma, I think we haven t seen some counter-punching efforts from Rishabh, but he should have no fear in these conditions. I think in the absence of fear comes a great opportunity for Rishabh and Team India, said Hayden.
India will face Australia in the third Test at the MCG starting December 26.
Jasprit Bumrah Equals R Ashwin s Big Feat In Latest ICC Player Rankings India s spearhead pacer Jasprit Bumrah has solidified his top spot in the ICC Men s Test Bowling Rankings after his phenomenal performance in Brisbane. Bumrah s nine-wicket haul for 94 runs in the rain-marred third Test against Australia earned him 14 additional rating points, taking his total to a career-high 904. With his rating, Bumrah equalled the record set by former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in December 2016, and became the joint highest-rated Indian Test bowler in ICC history. With one more Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be played in Melbourne, Bumrah has the chance to surpass Ashwin s record.
South Africa s Kagiso Rabada and Australia s Josh Hazlewood are currently ranked second and third, respectively, but trail Bumrah significantly in points.
Australia s Travis Head continued his remarkable run in the ongoing series against India, climbing to fourth place in the Men s Test Batting Rankings. His heroic knock of 152 at the Gabba after his ton in Adelaide has taken him one spot above to number four with 825 points.
Head s compatriot Steve Smith s century in the third Test gets him into the top ten fray once again. On the other hand, Indian opener KL Rahul s resilient display in India s first innings takes him ten places above to 40th.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins has earned his place back in the top 10 all-rounders, following his four wickets with the ball and 42 runs in the third Test against India.
In the ODI format, Heinrich Klaasen s three sensational half-centuries in the home series against Pakistan propel him from 13th to fifth in the Men s ODI Batting Rankings with 743 points. Saim Ayub s remarkable two centuries in the same series, which Pakistan took 3-0, spark a meteoric rise from 70th to a joint-23rd position, amassing 603 points.
The 22-year-old Ayub also climbed an impressive 113 spots to rank joint-42nd with America s Steven Taylor among all-rounders in the ODI Rankings following his bowling contributions in the series.
Afghanistan s Azmatullah Omarzai made significant progress, moving 43 places up to 58th in the ODI Bowling Rankings after claiming six wickets in the series against Zimbabwe. Omarzai also rose five places to secure third in the ODI All-Rounder Rankings.
Bangladesh s successful multiformat tour of the West Indies was capped off by a 3-0 victory in the T20I series, and the rankings reflect their dominance. Mahedi Hasan climbed 13 spots to enter the top 10 in the T20I Bowling Rankings, now sitting at 10th place. Roston Chase from the West Indies also impressed, moving up 11 places to 13th.
Other Bangladeshi players who made notable strides include Rishad Hossain, who jumped 21 spots to 17th, and Hasan Mahmud, who climbed 23 spots to 24th, further solidifying their team s presence in the rankings.
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Pitches Used For BBL : Rohit Reacts To Practice Wicket Controversy Ahead of the fourth Test against Australia at Melbourne, a Boxing Day Test match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said that the team did practice on used pitches and will be getting fresh pitches during Tuesday s training session. He also offered his assessment of the pitch made so far and the possibility of playing an additional spinner. With the series level at 1-1, the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be a thrilling ride for the next two matches at Melbourne and Sydney, winning them would be important for both team s ICC World Test Championship chances.
As Team India navigates through a long, five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, it faced another challenge ahead of the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as players negotiated with the practice pitches allotted to them. The pitches used by them in the sessions so far have been old and offered low bounce, unlike fresh surfaces given to Australia for their practice.
During the Sunday s practice session, a delivery from pacer Akash Deep kept low and hit skipper Rohit on his left knee. While dismissing any concerns over Rohit s fitness, Akash had revealed the low bounce on the pitch, saying that he felt that the practice surface was meant for white-ball cricket and kept low.
Such minor wounds are not anything unusual when you are playing cricket. It is not a big concern. But I felt the practice wicket was meant for the white ball and was keeping low. It was difficult to leave. But there are no concerns at all, the bowler had said as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Reports from Australia suggested that India was practicing on wickets that had been used for the Big Bash League (BBL) and were a bit worn out from use. Pictures from the MCG showed what appeared to slightly worn out wickets on which the Indian team had been doing its practice drills
However, on Monday morning, the MCG head curator Matt Page clarified that fresh pitches are only offered three days before the start of the match.
Yeah, so, for us, three days out, we prepare test match pitches for here. If teams come and train before that, they get what pitches we have had. So, today we are on fresh pitches. If India had trained this morning, they would have been on those fresh pitches. So, it is stock standard procedure for us, three days out, he said.
Now, the Indian skipper has confirmed that India did practice on used pitches and will get fresher pitches during Tuesday s sessions.
I think those pitches which we trained the last couple of days, I think they were used pitches, I think they were used for Big Bash, and now today is the only day where we are going to get the other side of it, which will be fresher wicket. So we will go and see how it is and we will train accordingly, he said during the pre-match presser.
On his assessment of the MCG pitch, Rohit said that he had a look a day before and it had a bit of grass covering .
And we are certainly considering the weather factor and all of that. We will see what is the best. I have not seen the wicket today. But whatever we have to do to make the best possible 11 in these conditions, we will try and do that, whether it is playing an extra spinner or not, added Rohit on possibility of playing an extra spinner.
India s squad for fourth and fifth Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian.
