🏏Australia vs India, 4th Test: Melbourne, 26 - 30 Dec 2024: Day 5 🏏

🏏Australia vs India, 4th Test: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 26 - 30 Dec 2024 @ 5 AM IST🏏

India, Australia look to iron out flaws to edge ahead in high-octane series

Australia will have all eyes on their new opener Konstas, and India would want more support for their star bowler Bumrah

Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line

This is big. If India win at the MCG, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia win, they remain on track for a first series win over India in a decade. A defeat for the home side would trigger significant questions while if India lose, their World Test Championship (WTC) fate is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy would remain possible. With a good forecast, a draw would appear an unlikely result, particularly given the ground's recent history. And whatever unfolds on Boxing Day could take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.

It's only been six days since the damp end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. If you weren't aware of the scoreline, it may feel like India are ahead given Australia have been forced into a change at the top of the order to try and counterpunch against Jasprit Bumrah. It means 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make an extraordinary debut after just 11 first-class matches.

But it's also been a curious few days for the visitors. Virat Kohli had a run-in with a reporter at the Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja only took questions in Hindi at a press conference which got some people annoyed; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India were given used pitches to train on 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 misfiring top order. There does not appear much India can do about the batting order in terms of personnel, instead they will hope someone can follow the lead of KL Rahul.

There has not been a lot of actual cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide was over little more than an hour into the third day and rain was a constant menace in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia have dominated. Yet it sits at 1-1 and there is not much wriggle room for them to have a bad day.

Australia's top order remains under scrutiny amid the call to drop Nathan McSweeney in favour of Konstas at such a crucial moment in the series while senior batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain low on runs. Travis Head, who picked up a quad niggle in Brisbane but is good to go, has been the game-changer while Steven Smith's hundred was timely and by the end of it he was playing very fluently.

The fact that Scott Boland can slot back in at a ground he has enjoyed so much success on (headlined by his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the pace-bowling depth Australia have. It may just be what makes the difference, although don't count out Bumrah being able to win it almost on his own for India, who have not lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.

Pitch Report and Weather Forecast:

The MCG has made adjustments to its Test pitches to benefit pace bowlers more. As the match progresses, spinners are likely to have an impact. Notably, the ground does not provide a clear edge to teams batting first or second. While the MCG may not offer the bounce seen in Perth or the seam movement typical of the Gabba, the pitch will still favor pace with a 6mm grass covering.

India and Australia in Melbourne is expected to witness hot conditions that will test the players out on the field, as per the city's weather forecast for Boxing Day (December 26).

With the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy series tantalisingly poised at 1-1, weather is expected to add 'heat' to the proceedings, which have already seen tempers flaring on multiple occasions during the previous three matches.

According to Accuweather.com, Thursday in Melbourne will be "breezy and very hot with a thick cloud cover", with a warning that "extreme heat can be dangerous for outdoor activities".

Pitch Stats (in Tests)

• Matches Played: 116
• Batting First Won: 56
• Batting Second Won: 43
• Draws: 17
• Average 1st Innings Score: 307
• Average Second Innings Score: 280
• Average 3rd Innings Score: 250
• Average 4th Innings Score: 230

Head-to-Head

Wins 46(Aus) 33(Ind)
Losses 33 (Aus) 46 (Ind)
Draws 30 30
Win % 41.82% (Aus) 30% (Ind)

India has played a total of 14 Test matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Here’s a look at their record:

• Wins: 4
• Losses: 8
• Draws: 2

Last 5 Meetings

• December 2024: Match drawn, Brisbane
• December 2024: Australia won by 10 wickets, Adelaide
• November 2024: India won by 295 runs, Perth
• March 2023: Match drawn
• June 2023: Australia won by 209 runs, WTC Final

In the spotlight: Usman Khawaja and Virat Kohli

Usman Khawaja is coming towards the end of what is his leanest Test year since 2013 (when he averaged 19.00 from just three matches). In 2024 he has a return of 337 runs at 24.07 including just one fifty. However, the Australia camp is taking the view that he is out of runs rather than out of form, similar to Smith before his Gabba century. Khawaja has spoken about having next year's Ashes on his radar with a potential finishing point of the SCG in just over 12 months' time, but whether he gets there may depend on these next two Tests and the Sri Lanka series.

There has been one India great retire in this series. And the rumours are bubbling about who might be next. Virat Kohli ended a century drought with his second innings in Perth but at the moment it is looking like an outlier with a pattern in his dismissals aside from that - pushing hard at the ball outside off stump. In Brisbane he was reaching out to drive a particularly wide delivery. In 2014 he enjoyed a spectacular Test at the MCG with 169 and 54, then in 2018 made a hardworking 82 as captain to help lay the foundation for a famous victory which ultimately decided that series. He missed 2020 when India won again. What will 2024 bring?

When: Australia v India, 4th Test, December 26-30, 2024, 10:30 hrs Local Time, 10:30 AEST, 05:00 hrs IST

Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

What to expect: It could well be the hottest Boxing Day in recent memory, but the heat will add an intriguing element to how the toss goes, and what decisions get made with regards to team composition as well. Worry about the weather and bat first on a pitch that has been the friendliest for seam bowling since 2021, when Scotty Boland ran through England? Or back your fast bowlers to make the most of the surface conditions and roll over the opposition batting line-up to give yourself the early advantage. Either way, with no rain really forecast over the five days, it'll be interesting to see how long the Test really lasts. Oh, the MCG will be packed, noisy, with the energy levels around the iconic venue at fever-pitch.

Team News

Australia

Australia don't get Test debutants too often, so the arrival of Konstas on the big stage will be a major moment. But it's not just about who's come into the mix, but also how the under-firing Australian top-order responds to the relentless Jasprit Bumrah challenge. Boland, meanwhile, will fit back in seamlessly, and even more so since this is the 'G, and this is where he's at his most dangerous. The Victorians will find their voice every time Scotty has the ball in his hands, and he rarely disappoints.

Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India

As has been the case throughout this series, we head into a Test with a lot of intrigue surrounding the make-up of the Indian team, not just in terms of who'll play but also where they'll bat. While Rohit Sharma was non-committal when asked about whether he'll be sticking to the middle-order, new reports have emerged about the captain potentially returning to the top with KL Rahul dropping a position to No 3. There's also been talk of two spinners playing, which could either mean Washington Sundar coming in for Nitish Kumar Reddy or even Shubman Gill, who's not got going so far in this series after missing the first Test in Perth. We'll find out soon enough either way.

Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj

Pitch and conditions: Sizzling temperatures on Boxing Day

The MCG pitch, which has become a goldmine for the quicks, has been in focus. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula which has been a success in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it's normally a surface where you bowl first, but things may be different this time. The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch quicken up earlier than normal. There is a chance of showers on the second day but otherwise the forecast is fine and a more pleasant temperature from day three onwards.

Stats and trivia

Bumrah needs six wickets for 200 in Tests. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be the joint second-fastest for India behind R Ashwin

Since the 2018-19 season, there have been six Test centuries scored at the MCG - the lowest of all Australian venues to host more than a single match

Australia's current average from their top three is their lowest ever for a home series of at least three Tests (note: includes Pat Cummins as nightwatcher in Perth)