AUS 311/6 in 86 overs at Stumps
Bumrah. Probably the last over of the day. Cummins is doing well to leave anything outside off. Yorker, Cummins does well to work it towards leg side. Three runs from the last over. Stumps.
AUS 308/6 in 85 overs
Akash Deep. Two balls, both down the leg. Comes wide off the crease, induces an edge off Cummins’ bat and the ball goes for four past the slip cordon.
AUS 303/6 in 84 overs
Bumrah. An appeal for LBW against Cummins but not much interested and discussion after umpire gives it not out. Bumrah shaping the ball both ways. Smith has negated it well so far.
AUS 300/6 in 83 overs
Akash Deep. OUT!! Induces an edge off Carey’s bat straight to keeper. Much deserved wicket for him. Length ball, shaped away from Carey.
Pat Cummins at the crease. He’s off the mark with a single. Good over for India.
AUS 299/5 in 82 overs
Bumrah is back. India has taken the new ball. Coming around the wicket, Carey comes down the track, gets a top edge but the balls in no man’s land in the midwicket region. Carey has managed to get two doubles. Another swinging delivery, Carey manages to chip on the leg side for another double. Seven runs off the over.
AUS 292/5 in 81 overs
Second new ball is available now. India hasn’t taken it yet. NKR continues his spell. Bowling in the fifth stump channel, Smith is happy to defend. Just one run from the over.
AUS 291/5 in 80 overs
Sundar bowling an extended spell. Boundaries have dried up though. A maiden over. Sundar didn’t allow any room for Smith to free his arms.
AUS 291/5 in 79 overs
Easy singles on offer. Looks like India is just waiting for the second new ball. Five runs in the last two overs.
AUS 286/5 in 77 overs
Nitish Kumar Reddy is back. Inside edge and Smith almost chops onto the stumps! Bowling in good channel, NKR. Australia adds four more runs to the total.
AUS 282/5 in 76 overs
Bumrah is off the field. He was getting treated on his calf during the break.
Sundar continues. Four runs off the over. Easy singles on offer for both batters.
AUS 279/5 in 75 overs
Siraj. Indians have been slightly sloppy in the field today. Two misfields on consecutive deliveries. Three runs off it. Shouldn’t have been more than if the misfields didn’t happen.
AUS 276/5 in 74 overs
Sundar continues. Now Carey launches Sundar for a six. Slightly full and he goes over long-on. Another good over for Australia, seven runs off it.
AUS 269/5 in 73 overs
Siraj is back. Smith plays a classy cover drive and gets a triple. SIX! Smith pulls the half-tracker over midwicket for a maximum. What a way to end the over.
AUS 258/5 in 72 overs
Sundar. Induces an outside off Carey’s bat but way past the first slip for a single. Smith cuts towards backward point for a double.
December 26, 2024 11:23
50
AUS 254/5 in 71 overs
Bumrah. Two singles in first three balls. Fifty for Steve Smith! Another good knock by the number four. Carey gets a double off the last ball, Australia add six more runs to the total.
AUS 248/5 in 70 overs
Sundar. Smith takes a single which brings the new batter Alex Carey on the strike. He’s off the mark with a single. Two runs in that over.
AUS 246/5 in 69 overs
Bumrah continues. A single for Smith on the first delivery through covers. FOUR! Marsh with a commanding cover drive to get off the mark. The next delivery bounces off a length and hits Marsh on the handle, goes to gully on a bounce. WICKET! Marsh is caught behind as he misses this pull shot.
Mitchell Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 4(13)
AUS 241/4 in 68 overs
Washington to Smith, runs it through square leg for a single. Marsh blocks off his front foot.
AUS 240/4 in 67 overs
Jasprit Bumrah back into the attack. Three runs for Smith with a drive through mid off. OUT! Head falls for a duck! He shoulders arms to this nip-backer and sees it crash into his off stump.
Travis Head b Bumrah 0(7)
Mitchell Marsh is the new batter in.
AUS 237/3 in 66 overs
Sundar continues. OUT! Right after the drinks break, India gets the breakthrough. Labuschagne is gone. He came down the track and tried to go over the mid-off fielder but couldn’t. Labuschagne falls for 72.
Travis Head in at five. Isn’t able to get off the mark in this over. A successful one for India.
AUS 237/2 in 65 overs
Akash to Smith, nearly squared up, gets an edge through covers for a single. An edge for Marnus but there’s no fielder at point, two runs. Chance! The fourth delivery takes off from a length, just misses Marnus’ edge. A single through point on the fifth, again off the edge.
AUS 233/2 in 64 overs
Washington to Smith, FOUR! Dances down the track and creams this through mid off. Labuschagne drives through covers for two runs. Seven from the over.
AUS 226/2 in 63 overs
Akash to Smith again. A short leg and leg slip in place. Akash bangs this in, Smith pulls and collects three runs.
AUS 223/2 in 62 overs
Two runs from Washington’s over. Marnus tries to reverse sweep on the first delivery but does not middle it.
AUS 221/2 in 61 overs
A maiden over from Akash. Another appeal for lbw as an in-nipper hits Smith on the pad. This one is also going up and India is aware enough to not employ its review.
AUS 221/2 in 60 overs
Washington back into the attack. Four singles in the over.
AUS 217/2 in 59 overs
Akash to Marnus, beaten! Too far wide and Marnus chases it, goes past his outside edge. Marnus pulls the next through the jammed on side field to add three runs. An edge for Smith past second slip, another three runs as Kohli cuts this just inside the ropes. Nine runs from the over in total.
AUS 208/2 in 58 overs
Jadeja to Marnus, picks a quick single through the on side. FOUR! Swipes this past mid on. FOUR again! Lifts this over the bowler’s head. Smith joining in on the party now.
AUS 199/2 in 57 overs
Akash to continue. Smith is struck on the pad again as he shuffles across and this time India goes up. Too much movement on that and the ball is going down leg, India loses its second review. Just twi off that over.
AUS 197/2 in 56 overs
Jadeja again. A single for Smith before Marnus late cuts again for two more. FOUR! Marnus hits it pierces the gap between covers and mid off.
AUS 190/2 in 55 overs
Akash Deep to Smith. An appeal for lbw, the umpire denies and India opts not to review this. Smith shuffles across and is struck on the back leg. The height was in question there and the ball tracker shows Umpire’s Call. FOUR! A trickle down to fine leg for Smith. Three runs through covers on the next delivery. Marnus gets an edge through gully and gets to his fifty with a couple.
AUS 181/2 in 54 overs
Jadeja to bowl the first over. Smith on strike. The first run comes on the third delivery as Smith works it away to long on. FOUR! Marnus steps out and lofts this down the ground.
3rd Session
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to carry on for Australia in the final period of play.
AUS 176/2 at Tea
Washington Sundar for the first time today. Beats Labuschagne with a loopy delivery. Four! Labuschagne comes down the track and drives the ball past mid-off. That will be Tea.
AUS 168/2 in 51 overs
Bumrah continues to bowl on length and Labuschagne defends the ball back to him. Labuschagne pulls for a single. Smith gets a single as well.
AUS 165/2 in 50 overs
Jadeja. Smith pulls the ball straight past mid-on for four. Just that boundary from the over. He’s going through his overs very quickly.
AUS 161/2 in 49 overs
Bumrah. Squares up Labuschagne off the third ball. Rohit wanted to appeal but Bumrah says no. Yorker, Labuschagne gets a thick outside edge over gully and takes a double.
AUS 157/2 in 48 overs
Jadeja. Smith is off the mark with a drive towards cover for two runs. Only two runs from the over.
AUS 155/2 in 47 overs
After another quick-fire over by Jadeja, who conceded one run, Bumrah continues from the other end. Labuschagne not getting any opportunity to get off the strike. A maiden over.
AUS 154/2 in 45 overs
Bumrah is back. OUT! Khawaja is gone. Half-tracker and Khawaja ends up hitting the ball straight to short midwicket. A soft dismissal, Bumrah knows this too as he has a laugh as Khawaja walks back to the pavillion. He goes for 57, India gets a breakthrough.
Steve Smith is here; with his exaggerated movement across the stumps. Bumrah induces an edge, but the ball doesn’t carry to the slips.
AUS 154/1 in 43 overs
Siraj with his bail changing antics again against Labuschagne. However, this time he doesn’t say anything. Instead, follows it up with a cracking straight drive for four. Another great shot by Marnus. Flick of the wrist and guides the ball towards midwicket for three.
AUS 146/1 in 42 overs
Jadeja. Another three-run over: single by Khawaja and a double by Labuschagne.
AUS 143/1 in 41 overs
Siraj to Khawaja: around the wicket, on the pads, clipped towards square leg for a single. Over the wicket to Labuschagne, wide of the crease, attacking the stumps, defended. A single off the fifth ball. Khawaja keeps the strike for the next with another single off the last ball.
AUS 140/1 in 40 overs
Ravindra Jadeja is back. Beats Labuschagne off the first ball. Jadeja is right on the money, keeping stumps in play throughout the over. A maiden.
AUS 140/1 in 39 overs
Siraj. Two back-to-back fifty-plus partnerships for Australia today. Singles are coming easily for the duo - in this over, two more added to the total.
AUS 138/1 in 38 overs
Nitish for his second over. Khawaja clips the fourth delivery through mid wicket, gets a single. Another over with just a single off it.
AUS 137/1 in 37 overs
Siraj from over the stumps to Khawaja. On the pads and Khawaja flicks it off his toes for a single. That’s the only run from the over.
AUS 136/1 in 36 overs
Nitish Kumar Reddy is the next change for India. Marnus drives to deep cover for a single. Khawaja is interested in the second but he turns back seeing Jadeja field the delivery. A leg bye for Khawaja on the next delivery through fine leg.
AUS 134/1 in 35 overs
Siraj to Marnus. FOUR! A bouncer attempt from Siraj, Marnus pulls and gets a top edge over the keeper. Marnus flicks the fifth through square leg for another couple. A single to fine leg to finish the over.
December 26, 2024 08:19
50
AUS 127/1 in 34 overs
Akash to Khawaja. FOUR! On drives this past the mid on fielder. Edged and FOUR! The second slip is moved away and the ball goes right through that region. Fifty for Khawaja!
AUS 119/1 in 33 overs
Siraj replaces Bumrah now. Gets the first to nip in and hits Marnus on the box. The second one hits him right on that spot again, Marnus is down on his knees in pain after this one. The physio is out on the field to check on him now. He is good to carry on. Another maiden over.
AUS 119/1 in 32 overs
Akash to Marnus, rolls his wrist as he flicks this delivery from outside off towards mid wicket, one run. Another edge that does not carry to slips. Just one from the over.
AUS 118/1 in 31 overs
Bumrah to Marnus, EDGE, does not carry to second slip. Almost! Marnus leaves this delivery on length, it moves back in sharply and goes just over the stumps. A bouncer from Bumrah, not quite directed on target and it flies over Marnus’ shoulder. A single off the final delivery, it’s a no ball as well.
AUS 116/1 in 30 overs
Akash to Khawaja, FOUR! Slightly short from the bowler and Khawaja pulls it to the fence in a flash. Akash beats him on the drive on the next two deliveries. Khawaja rocks back to defend the fourth, sees the ball leave him and his edge again. The last is again offered for a drive, Khawaja lets it pass this one.
AUS 112/1 in 29 overs
Bumrah to continue. He stays outside off to Marnus. There is one that comes in sharply but Marnus blocks it off his front foot. The fourth maiden.
AUS 112/1 in 28 overs
Akash to Khawaja, beaten! Just leaves the left hander after pitching on the off-stump line. Another maiden, making it three in a row since the restart.
AUS 112/1 in 27 overs
Bumrah from the other end. Marnus shoulders arms on the first delivery. The second is angling into him and hits him on the thigh. He defends the third. Appeals for caught behind as the fourth flies down the leg past Marnus’ midrif. Back-to-back maidens for Australia.
AUS 112/1 in 26 overs
Akash starts the afternoon session with a maiden over to Usman Khawaja.,
2nd Session
We return for the second period of play on this first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Can India claw their way back into this contest?
Lunch, Day 1
The first session going Australia’s way courtesy of some thrill-a-minute batting by debutant Sam Konstas. He piled on the pressure on the Indian attack early on and picked up a 60 on his debut. Ravindra Jadeja got his wicket but the innings has set Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne to really press on and establish a course towards a mammoth total.
AUS 112/1 in 25 overs
Jadeja to Khawaja, two runs, squares him up but the edge runs between slip and gully. He goes for a slower one on the fifth, Khawaja able to clip it to fine leg and get a single.
AUS 109/1 in 24 overs
Akash to Marnus, on the pads and the batter shuffles across to flick through mid wicket, two runs. A quick single to mid on on the second delivery. Khawaja drives through the off side on the final delivery, Siraj’s misfield at mid off allows two additional runs.
AUS 103/1 in 23 overs
Bumrah back into the attack. Khawaja on strike. A maiden over, he sticks to the line outside off stump, Khawaja happy to get in line and defend these deliveries.
AUS 103/1 in 22 overs
Jadeja to Khawaja, two runs with a ramp sweep through fine leg. A single through fine leg on the third. FOUR! Marnus late cuts this past backward point. FOUR again! Identical to the previous delivery and gets the same treatment. That’s the 100 up for Australia.
AUS 92/1 in 21 overs
Akash to continue. Another tight over, a leg bye and a single off that.
AUS 90/1 in 20 overs
WICKET! Konstas is given lbw off Jadeja. He simply misses the line on this defence. He thinks of a review for a second but begins the long walk back to the dugout.
Sam Konstas lbw b Jadeja 60(65)
Marnus Labuschagne in next. Gets off the mark with an edge through slips.
AUS 89/0 in 19 overs
Konstas comes down to Akash, heaves this over covers for three runs. Edged but just short of second slip. Five dot balls on the trot for Khawaja.
AUS 86/0 in 18 overs
Jadeja to Konstas, strikes on the pad with a quicker one. A loud appeal for leg before but this one is angling down leg. A single to long off on the next. Khawaja punches square off his back foot, one run. Another single for Konstas through long off. Just the three runs from the over.
AUS 83/0 in 17 overs
Akash to Khawaja. He misses a pull shot in the over, the delivery is not as short as he anticipates and passes under his swipe. Khawaja shoulders arms to the third. A maiden over by India.
AUS 83/0 in 16 overs
Jadeja into the attack. Khawaja to face him. FOUR! Gets on his back foot and pulls this between square leg and fine leg, too short from Jadeja. He pushes the fifth through cover point for a single.
AUS 78/0
Akash Deep. Khawaja gets a top edge but over the mid-on fielder. Tried to pull the ball but didn’t time it at all. Konstas comes down the track, tries to punch the ball but is beaten.
December 26, 2024 06:07
50
AUS 77/0
Siraj. Inside edge towards the leg side and Konstas gets a double to complete his fifty. What a debut. He celebrates coming down the track and pulling the ball towards midwicket region for a four. Nip backer, Konstas is beaten and hit in the groin region. Painful. He gets a quick medical attention. Takes a single off the next ball.
AUS 69/0
Akash Deep into the attack. Full on the pads, Khawaja flicks towards midwicket and gets a double. He gives the strike to Konstas. A decent start, just four from the over.
AUS 65/0
Siraj. Konstas has got into the Indian bowlers and fielders. Constantly trying to shuffle, charging down the pitch and also his gestures have been messing with the visitors. A half appeal for caught behind against Konstas but not much of a discussion by Indians.
AUS 62/0
Bumrah. Konstas begins over with a terrific four towards long off. This is some sensational hitting. Full ball, Konstas launches the ball over long on for a SIX! Makes room on the leg side, full toss and he guides the ball behind point for four. Terrific stuff. Length ball, hits it over mid off fielder and gets another double. 18 runs added in that over.
AUS 44/0
Siraj. Konstas defends, that’s a rarity. Comes down the track on the next ball, punches the ball towards cover region and gets a double. Beaten! Nip backer and the ball goes past the inside edge. Comes down the track, smacks the ball straight but Siraj manages to get hands behind the ball to save a boundary. Has a word with Konstas too. FOUR! Length ball, outside off, Konstas cuts towards backward point. Konstas pulls towards square leg for one. Well, this is interesting. Kohli and Konstas just had a argument sort of. Khawaja tried to keep things calm but don’t think that’s going to help. Plenty of things happening here.
AUS 37/0
Bumrah. An appeal for LBW against Konstas. Umpire isn’t interested. Bumrah, too, knows the ball isn’t hitting the stumps. Almost! Squares up Konstas who gets an outside edge but ball falls short of the slip. India has appointed a deep third man for Konstas. Bumrah comes around the wicket to Khawaja and beats the outside edge. Full on the pads and Khawaja flicks the ball towards deep square leg for four.
AUS 32/0
Siraj. Shorter length, Khawaja pulls and gets three more runs. Konstas on strike again. A busy, busy player. Scoops, ramps, and using of the feet - everything inside first 30 balls of international career. Runs coming in easily for Australia now.
AUS 26/0
Bumrah. Konstas ramps the ball towards fine leg for four! Follows it up with SIX playing a reverse scoop! What a guy this is! Terrific. ANOTHER ONE! Fuller length and Konstas reverse scoops him again and the ball falls just short of the rope. 14 runs off the over.
AUS 12/0
Siraj. A disciplined start by the Indian bowlers. Bowling in the right channels and keeping the outside edge in play. Half tracker and Khawaja pulls the ball towards midwicket. Doesn’t time it that well but will get three for that. Nip backer for Konstas and the ball hits his pads. Siraj appeals, umpire says not out, and Rohit is quick to suggest ball going down the leg. Konstas charges down the track and is beaten. Next ball, he once again comes down the track, Siraj bowls on the pads so Konstas gets a three.
AUS 6/0
Bumrah to Konstas again. He does it again! Konstas once again tries to reverse scoop a delivery outside off and is beaten. Rohit and Virat are all smiles from the slip cordon. An inswinger off the last ball. Konstas didn’t see that coming but manages to get an inside edge. A maiden.
AUS 6/0
Siraj. A loud appeal for LBW. Siraj with his celebrappeal. Umpire doesn’t give in though. Ball came back sharply into the left-hander. Must be a height issue. India has reviewed. Yes, the ball is going just over the stumps. India loses a review. Khawaja yet to a middle a ball or get the ball on the bat in general. Slightly full and on the pads, Khawaja managed to flick it very fine past the keeper for four.
AUS 2/0
Bumrah. First runs for Konstas in international cricket. On the pads and he tucks the ball towards square leg and gets a double. He’s happy to leave anything outside off at this time. Well, well! Konstas just tried to reverse scoop Bumrah! Misses the ball but there are smiles post that - from both Khawaja, Konstas and the Indian team.
AUS 0/0
Mohammed Siraj from the other end to Khawaja. Too wide outside off and Khawaja is happy to leave. Beats off the next ball! Length ball on off stump and holds line to go past the outside edge. Similar delivery on the third and fourth balls with similar results. Khawaja shoulders arm off the fifth. Two maidens to begin the Test.
AUS 0/0
Bumrah with the new ball and Konstas to face. A confident decision by the young batter to face the new ball. Shoulders arms off the first ball. Beaten off the second, a close to fifth stump on a good length and the ball goes past the outside edge. Beaten again off the fourth ball! Similar to the second delivery. Squared up off the fifth. Slightly back of the length, off stump line and the ball shapes away. Bumrah beats Konstas again off the last ball. A challenging over.
National Anthems
Irfan Pathan and Adam Gilchrist hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and bring it to the centre. Teams line up for the anthems starting with India’s followed by Australia.
All done. Konstas and Khawaja stride out in the middle. Big day for the young man who will be facing Jasprit Bumrah first.
Young and Old
Sam Konstas is making his Test debut at the age of 19. He will be opening with Usman Khawaja, who is now 38.
Pitch report
The heavy roller is doing its bit on the surface. A lot of grass on the surface; there will be plenty in it for the bowlers. Batting will become easier as the sun beats down. 7mm grass on the surface, it might be slightly tacky at the start. The conditions are really hot, reckon Mark Nicholas and Sunil Gavaskar.
Interesting call by India
India has left out Shubman Gill for this Test and brought in Washington Sundar, a spin bowling all-rounder. Rohit Sharma has also confirmed he’s going to play at the top, which is number three.
Playing XIs
Australia: 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: 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
Toss - Australia
Australia has won the toss and has elected to bat.
Cummins: There’s a bit of a grass like an old MCG wicket. It’s been a great series so far. Sam will open the batting, and Scott also comes in for Hazlewood.
Rohit: We would have batted as well. The series is 1-1, a lot to play for. Whatever situation lies in front of you, you have to fight. We have one change - GIll misses out and Washington comes in.
What is India’s record at the MCG?
Played: 14
Won: 4
Draw: 2
Loss: 8
Momentum with Australia?
This game at the MCG will mark a mini-transition for the visitors. Rare is an Indian Test squad that does not have R. Ashwin. A regular presence since his debut against the West Indies in Delhi in 2011, the great off-spinner’s retirement after the third Test, marks the end of an era.
Here’s the preview:
Australia’s bowling, though, has been incredible with Mitchell Starc and Cummins leading the way and even if Josh Hazlewood is out with injury, Scott Boland can be a handful as was evident in Adelaide.
Live streaming info
The LIVE telecast of the fourth Test match between India and Australia can be watched on the Star Sports network. The LIVE stream can be watched on the Hotstar website and app.
Welcome
Welcome to the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy set to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Stay tuned for the live updates.
