Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first first in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 26. (IND Vs AUS 4th Test Day 1 Blog | More Cricket News)
Check Playing XIs:
Australiaπ (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 (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar ΰΉReddy, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
ཧSpeaking at the toss, Cummins said. "We gonna have a bat today. There's a bit of a grass like an old MCG wicket. It's been a great series so far. As a child in Australia when you wake up, you have a good night's sleep after Christmas, and you look forward to the first ball. Sam will open the batting and Scott also comes in for Hazlewood."
βRohit too asserted that they would have batted first here. Here's what he said at the toss, "We would have batted as well. The series is 1-1, a lot to play for, it gives us a perfect opportunity to show what we are as a team. Whatever situation lies in front of you, you have to fight. It's a new day and we are looking forward to it. We have one change - GIll misses out and Washington comes in. (On whether he will bat at the top of the order?) Yes, I will."
Weather could play a key part in the Test with temperatures rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had suggested that Boxing Dayβs hot weather forecast for Melbourne β up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) could encourage India to pick two spinners, despite veteran Ravichandran Ashwin π€ͺretiring and flying back to Chennai after the Gabba Test in Brisbane.
India Vs Australia: Head-To-Head Record In Tests
Matches: 110
Australia wins: 46
India wins: 33
Drawn: 30
Tie: 1
According to recent performances and form, and with respect to the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia start as favourites.
