India vs Australia Highlights, 4th Test Day 1: AUS 311/6 vs IND at Stumps in Melbourne

Well, that's day done and dusted. Good old-fashioned cricket from the overall perspective. We had wickets and runs both. Bumrah took a bit of pasting in the morning thanks to debutant Sam Konstas's innovativeness however, as the day went on the Bumrah came into his groove and especially in the third session he pulled the game but scruff of its neck by picking Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. As per Australia, they would be extremely satisfied with the way their top order has responded amidst questions over their places after dropping young McSweeny. The likes of Marnus and Khawaja could have converted into a ton but not today. We will be back tomorrow folks both Smith and Cummins will walk out to the middle in the morning. 

NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test
Final Day 1 attendance is 87,242.
This is a record for a day of Test cricket v India in Australia.

Akash Deep strikes it was a fabulous delivery from the bowler this is what happens even when you are not picking wickets just keep at it and bowl that accurate length and the odd-ball because of the new seam just took of and Carey who was batting well was surprised by the bounce and edged it to the keeper.  Pat Cummins has walked into the middle for Australia and with 10 minutes to it can get quite tricky for the Aussie captain. Will India try and bounce him it in this mini passage is something to be seen. However, the most important thing for Cummins now is to take as much strike as possible and protect Steven Smith.

Nitish bowled one more over and a second new ball has been taken now. Tricky 20 minutes or so for Australia now. Bumrah too who walked away to take some treatment has returned and has taken the ball with the change of ends. Interesting passage of play it can either end up with Australia scoring 20-30 quick runs or losing a couple of quick wickets. As we update Carey and Smith have put on 50-run partnership. Indian batters need to observe this carefully and replicate a similar style while they are batting. Which is to keep building partnerships and not lose wickets in clusters. As long as that is happening the rest takes care of itself.

Rohit has been very good with his captaincy today. He looked a bit late in the first two games he has returned as skipper but today there seems to be a spring in the step of his captaincy. He made some bold choices with team selection and the bowling changes too have been proactive. The moment he realised spin was not working he went to pace and the moment he realized the pace was taken apart in the morning he brought in Jadeja to pick Konstas. The only thing that India could have done better is bowl a bit fuller in the morning. Apart from that it has been top notch.

We are four overs away from the new ball and India has somehow managed to pull this back. The new ball coming up might play a crucial role here. Australia will have their hopes on Steve Smith to negotiate it and India will be hoping Bumrah will create further inroads. We also have to see if Rohit will take the new ball immediately or if will he wait a bit because Bumrah and Siraj have extended spells in the last 40 minutes or so and Bumrah also walked off the field getting some treatment so we have to wait and see. As of Nitish Kumar Reddy is operating for India and he would love to pick one here as well.

Mohammed Siraj has been brought into the attack for a spell. Siraj once again has given his 100 percent but the lengths seem to be a tad bit shorter. Like many times before in the series, he just doesn't seem to have the same effect and oomph as say Mohammed Shami or Cummins to back up the strike bowler. The difference in letdown is way too much for India's liking. Akash Deep on the other hand similar to Siraj though has given his all just lacked that extra bit of pace to hustle the batters hence it has been a good accurate bowling with not much to show for the Indians unless and until Bumrah comes in for a spell.

Amidst all the chaos Steve Smith has got to his 50 as well. It has been a lovely innings he has breezed through his knock a mark of remarkable players playing in their prime. In the second half of his ton in Brisbane he did look like his older self and here today he has looked even better. However, the job is not done yet with Australia losing a few wickets in quick succession now the onus is on him and Alex Carey to build a partnership here and ensure they are there to face the new ball. And from an Indian perspective, with one more wicket here India will be into the Australian tail.

Bumrah is on a roll here especially after what has happened this morning this has been a fabulous spell from him. All of a sudden the ball seems to do a little more and the batter's feet moment have become less subtle and the breeze across the ground seems to inflict that swing in the air. As per the dismissal,, there is not much to it. It was a hard length ball that Marsh tried to pull and got the edge to the keeper Rishabh Pant. Marsh has apart from the second innings in Perth where he played a cameo and picked a few wickets with the ball not contributed much for the hosts. 

That was brilliance from Rohit in terms of captaincy he brought in Bumrah as soon as he saw Travis Head walk in and the field was set in for a short ball but Bumrah delivered a length ball on off-stump and Head with already doubts in his mind about the short ball left it hoping it would miss the stumps but the ball brushes off-stump and Bumrah get his man. It is a duck for Head a sight of joy for the Indian fans not so for the Aussies. Given how the Aussie lower order has played so far the game might just open up here in the next 30 minutes or so especially with the new ball still dew.

Marnus Labuschange tried to clear the mid-off fielder to hit a boundary against Washington Sundar and was caught by Virat Kohli. It is not much of a bad shot but it came immediately after the drinks break hence it can be attributed to the slightest bit of lapse in concentration. Much needed a breakthrough for India as it was looking like Marnus might score a big one today. Travis Head has walked into the middle with Australia in an exceptional position with 14 overs for the next new ball no prizes for guessing what Head might try and do. Will it come off or does India have any backup plan to counter it we have to wait and see.

The colour of the pitch has changed significantly from the morning. There was a green texture to it but now it is increasingly looking biscuit colour indicating the flatness of the wicket. It has been hot and muggy. Though there has not been much sun shining today the wicket still changed it is nature and if it sun shines tomorrow and the day after and temperatures remain hot, this we might see it deteriorate further, and will happen quickly. We might even see the wicket start turning by Day 4. It is not like Perth and Brisbane where the cracks open up and the wicket becomes quicker and up and down but just might play like a subcontinent wicket start out flat and start turning later with bounce getting even.

India is playing six bowlers and we did see Rohit use Bumrah with a burst coming in just before the breaks however since there is an extra bowling option the Indian think tank might have considered giving Bumrah that extra over or sneaking in another spell in the first two sessions just to be more attacking and pick that one more wicket which will in turn restrict Australia to lower score. Time and again we have seen in this series India did manage to pick wickets but they have come a little too late after the damage has been done. Whatever might be the reason to pick the sixth bowler but using Bumrah more with the new ball might have enforced that extra wicket and maybe things would have been different by now.

Sundar is brought into the attack with two right-handers at the crease with the ball coming back into them it might be an easier match-up compared to facing Ravindra Jadeja. He did bowl an over before the Tea break there is not much of a turn for him to work with and unusually this has been one strange wicket there has been not much bounce either hence he might have to bring his T20 bowling skills into display or ODI bowling skills till the new ball is taken and also since Rohit and modern Test captains love their in and out fields this might be the right time to deploy them.

Another 50 partnership between Smith and Marnus is now the fourth in a row for the Australian side. Now the wicket is looking conducive for batting and this is something we have seen in Gabba as well where India just sat behind in the game and waited for the new ball to be taken in the meantime Australia ran away with the game with Head and Smith scoring over fours given how the 20 minutes have gone by in the session the intent from Smith and Labuschange seems to be the same. They are looking to attack both Akash and Jadeja a touch more proactiveness and going down the wicket from time to time to disturb the lines too is happening.

Marnus has reached his half-century here and he batted splendidly well. He took his time initially but whenever the opportunities to score were presented he did manage to do it. The top three of Australia have now all scored half-centuries which is a huge positive for Australia. There were plenty of questions about them but seems like the positivity brought in from Konstas early on against Bumrah has injected the much-needed momentum and positivity in the Australian top order here. India now needs to be wary of Marnus opening up and accelerating. 

Welcome back for the final session. This will be an important session in terms of where this game will head. The pendulum might swing either way. We may see Australia come all guns blazing or India picking a few quick wickets and getting into Australia's lower order.

Well, that's the session done and dusted. Marnus too has got a start now. They are all chipping in here the Aussie batters however, they have not run away with the game either a couple of quick wickets post Tea might pull India back into the game but for now it is still Australia who would be happy after winning the toss and opting to bat first but not by much. Tactically too there is not much Rohit could have done differently in this session. Maybe bowlers could have bowled better in the morning session, but in the noon session, bowling tight lines and lengths were the order of the day, and that is what they did. We will be right back after the break for the post-tea session.

We are 10 minutes away from the Tea break here. While it is tempting to say it has been Australia's session yet again, India did not let Australia run away with the game either. If they were to pick a couple of quick wickets here they would be right back in the game which is what they had to do after their initial Konstas assault. The post-tea session would be more or less the same until the second new ball is taken. Also, Jadeja has bowled much better in this Test match which has helped to keep things tight for India which did not happen in Gabba hence Rohit was struggling to tighten things up then.

Steven Smith has walked in with his unusual technique yet again. It is ironic to use the word unusual with his technique as he is very unorthodox however, we did see at Gabba he was aware of that ball coming back in from Bumrah and that packed leg-side field for him and the possibility of getting LBW and to negate that he is trying this technique however, we have also seen once he got himself in and felt more comfortable he has restored his older technique when his feet where moving well and started to get the boundaries away. We have to see how it transpires today two-techniques in the same innings.

Well, there is the breakthrough. Bumrah had a sheepish smile on his face and KL Rahul did take the catch at mid-wicket but was unsure what had happened and so was Usman Khawaja. It was a gentle losner a short ball that was nowhere and was asked to get hit for a boundary and that is what Khawaja tried and was caught. Soft dismissal after all the hard work done. Khawaja would be kicking himself. He got himself in and after all the hard work done ton was there for the taking but not to be today. Also interesting that Rohit has decided to give Bumrah another spell before Tea with 30 minutes to go.

India's selection for this game is quite a bit of a surprise. It was not much of dropping Shubman Gill which might have raised eyebrows but the personal brought in place of him. India has decided to go with Sundar who is a capable bat but with all due respect, he does not possess the pedigree of someone like Shubman Gill. India does have the option of Devdut Padikkal or even Dhruv Jurel who did well for India A and looked solid with his technique. Additionally, if India were looking to push Rohit up the order Jurel would have been an ideal candidate to come down to at six who once again at least technique-wise a better batter than Washington Sundar.

Both Marnus and Usman have now put on another 50-run stand here for Australia. The longer these two bat the more impactful Head's counterattack later can become. We have seen what he can come and do once the ball is 40-50 overs and the bowlers are tired. He can punch the ball through square on the off-side of balls hitting the top of the off-stump, making it impossible for the bowlers to contain him. However, getting back to the present the entire Australian team is to have a batting set up which can take the shine off the ball and let their hitters cut lose later. Today it has happened in a more unorthodox way which they will take with both hands if delivered consistently. 

One noticeable thing with both Siraj and Akash in the series has been the lack of ability to strike early especially Siraj who is the lead bowler in this unit alongside Bumrah. Yes, Siraj has picked up 13 wickets at 23 in the series but those numbers flatter to deceive as those wickets have come after the bowler has bowled 20 overs into his spell after getting one he picked a couple quickly however, what India would love is to him get that wicket early on in his spell which will help Bumrah and exemplify his impact as well. At the moment it is all too a bit for Aussies to score big runs.

Rohit is bringing in the bowling changes. Both Siraj and Nitish have replaced both Akash Deep and Bumrah here. After the tough interrogation both Khwaja and Labuschange have faced after the lunch break for 30 minutes now is the time they would look to capitalize. The ball too is old and soft now and whatever the initial moisture would have been there in the morning would have dried up now. While both Nitish and Siraj do possess the ability to pick wickets they are also susceptible to give away few runs. The next 30 minutes might be a make-or-break for India. 

We have seen this last couple of times India has been here an odd ball keeping low on Day 1 and we are seeing the same again. The edges are not carrying it seems a little damp which will make it double difficult for the batters to pick wickets. Because of the lack of bounce, they have to pitch the ball up for wickets, and because the ball is old and there is no seam moment on offer for now those full balls will be easy drive-me balls. As we update Usman Khawaja has got to his 50. Important innings for him considering the poor run of form he has been in.

Marnus too is looking good here. He is having a quiet tournament compared to his standards he did chip in with a  60 in Adelaide and looked good for his stay in Gabba but had nothing much to show for. Today too so far he has looked comfortable. He is not at his prime but compared to how out of sorts he looked at Perth things have improved significantly as the series went on. It is just that fine-tuning of getting that sharpness in the technique to put away that boundary ball that has not come yet but will come if he stays in the middle. The ball gets a bit softer and the bowlers get tired.

The innings from Konstas seem to have rubbed on Khawaja as well who is playing a lovely knock here. Not only has he spent time in the middle his foot moment is looking positive than it has looked for the entire series. However, since lunch, India has bowled well. They are stacking up the maidens one after the other and this is what the doctor ordered after what has happened in the morning session. However, having said that they will need a wicket by the end of this spell, and if Australia does manage to get away they will pick runs against the likes of Jadeja and Nitish who are the follow-up bowlers. 

Akash and Bumrah have started the session here. The former has settled into a nice rhythm here today yet again. We have seen this at Gabba as well where Akash tends to keep his lines and length accurate even if he does not pick wickets and that is what India needed after that initial Konstas assault. However, now that things have calmed down India might look to push for wickets. The ball is about 25 overs old now it will increasingly lose its seam and plenty will depend on what sort of other skills India can portray in addition to Rohit's creative field setting.

We are back for the noon session here. It is going to be another absorbing one, and India needs to pull back this one to stay in the game. Otherwise, it might turn quickly into what happened in Brisbane. Since no rain is predicted, the prospect of a  draw is out of the cards.

Vinayakk: It remains to be seen how seriously the ICC handles the Kohli - Konstas incident. For a precedent, Kagiso Rabada Rabada received three demerit points after being charged with a Level 2 offence in 2018 after he made physical contact with Steven Smith.
The three demerit points took Rabada’s total to eight within 24 months that led to a suspension of two Test matches. If Kohli is deemed guilty of instigating the contact, it will then be up to ICC to determine if it was Level 1 or Level 2 (1 demerit point or 3). When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. Kohli himself has received 1 demerit point in the past for shoulder contact with Beuran Hendricks in September 2019.

That's the morning session done and dusted and it has been Australia's morning thanks to Sam Konstas' brilliant debut. India has fought back decently once Akash Deep and Jadeja have returned to the attack but there is still a long way to go in the Test match. Batting will only get easier from here on and India must be patient and be more creative with their field sets. Australia still has Steve Smith and Travis Head to follow who are in good form. We will be right back after the break do stay and join us for the noon session.

Jasprit Bumrah has been brought back into the attack here with 10 minutes to go for the lunch break. He has been taken for a pasting in the morning did Bumrah here and despite the wicket of Konstas India has to come back and bowl better spells in the noon session.

“It’s quite surreal. Look at the turn out. I’m just trying to play with some freedom and just back myself. Hopefully I can get a few more. (Did you think about the ramps last night or when the ball was coming down?) When the ball was coming down. I’ll look to keep targeting him. Hopefully he might come back on. But we’ll see what happens. (Agro with the India players) Whatever [happens] on the field stays on the field. It doesn’t get any better for a debut with this packed stadium.”

Ravindra Jadeja gets Sam Konstas. He did look a little out of sorts against the left-arm spinner and eventually, the experienced guy did have the better of the teenager. India will note this going forward and might target more spin against Konstas. There is no shame in getting out to Jadeja, especially as a young teenager who is not used to playing a spinner of such guile and craft. It is all part of the learning curve nevertheless he would be proud and happy with himself for the way he has played this morning and turned it on the boxing day here at the 'G'

Apart from the first few overs, there has been no sustained pressure applied from the Indian bowlers. Konstas has found a way time and again to get that boundary away to keep bowlers always at arm's length. However, India needs to find a way here the biggest problem they have here is that Konstas is at one end of the spectrum and Khawaja is at the other. While Konstas might ramp four out of the six deliveries Khawaja will defend the balls solidly. We have seen Jadeja introduced to negate Konstas and it will be interesting to see how effectively it might work.

Australia is running away with the game here not only did they go past the hour mark without losing the wicket but also scored at a very good clip especially given that India has won their last two games here. India needs to find a way to create a breakthrough here and given the rate batters are playing it might not be a bad ploy for Rohit to think of introducing spin here for a bit and alter the pace of the game. Once again we have been here with Rohit before every time there is a crisis he just seems to lack the creativity to alter things and things are looking the same here again.

Virat and Konstas have a stare down after coming together between overs. A longer replay later showed Kohli pretty evidently changing the direction of his walk to get in Konstas's way, not much doubt there.

Kohli and Konstas come together and make contact ?#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/adb09clEqd

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024

This is fabulous batting from Sam Konstas he is not having any second thoughts in his mind. It is not very often batters come up with this approach against Bumrah but Konstas here did and it is working well for him. This is an excellent start for Australia thanks to Konstas not only did they survive the new ball but also have taken Bumrah apart here. The onus is now on India to come up with a response here especially Bumrah who is not used to this sort of treatment. We are yet to see a bowling change from India as well only two bowlers have been used 12 overs into the game.

There is quite a bit of grass left on the surface however, Indians have not made the most of it thus far. This is how they started in Brisbane until the rain interrupted and they went back and Bumrah came back with perfect lengths for the surface then and today once again they have been a touch on the shorter side. Mohammed Siraj did bowl well but he has increasingly gone a little back of length as his spell went on. We have to see if there will be any correction in the second spell as it seems like India has wasted this new ball. Also it might be not a bad ploy for Rohit to bring in Akash Deep from Bumrah's end.

Well, folks! There is the fear of youth. Konstas did ramp Bumrah with success this time. He got a couple of sixes and a boundary in that previous over against Bumrah. Maybe this is the answer on how to deal with Bumrah against the new ball we have to see but it is going to be an interesting battle now. Konstas has shown his cards and it is up to Bumrah now to come up with a response to it. 40 minutes into his Test career one thing Konstas has shown is either he will succeed or fail but he will not die wandering like many of these modern-day Test batters are.

Bumrah has bowled probably one incoming ball to Sam Konstas, a inside edge in the last over. That’s his weakness area, the ball the SCott Boland removed him at the same MCG in a first-class game. Konstas’s mentor Shane WAtson has also spoken about that weakness and how Konstas is working on it. India needs to test that a bit more. All well and good, beating him outside off, but a bit more in won’t hurt

Most play and misses in the first two overs of a Test since records began in 2006

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) December 25, 2024

Three overs into the game Konstas has already attempted to play a ramp shot against Bumrah which got the crowd going. It might be an attempt to make the Bumrah Bowl different. It is something not many batters do try against Bumrah but we have to see if does it again. Meanwhile, India has exhausted their first review here. It was Mohammed Siraj's delivery to Usman Khawaja that hit the pads and Siraj appealed and convinced Rohit to take the review however, the ball was going over the stumps. The Indian seamers are getting quite a bit of help here on the surface at the moment.

Japrit Bumrah has taken the new ball for India and bowled a barrage of out-swingers to debutant Sam Konstas which he was beaten by quite comfortably there was an expectation that he would come back in but it never did. It is going to be a huge challenge for Konstas however, as we have seen many times before in the series if the openers do manage to get through Bumrah the batting against India does get quite easier. Mohammed Siraj has taken the new ball from the other end. He has taken 13 wickets at 23 this series thus far which is not a bad thing.

Sam Konstas wears the helmet, asks something to Usman Khawaja , who nods and punches gloves. Sam then runs all the way to the pitch, and taps the middle of the pitch. Usman walks in slowly. One more punch of gloves and Sam goes to the end to face the first ball.

We are done with the national anthems. The sun is shining bright here the crowd is buzzing we have a fabulous day on the cards folks after winning the toss and opting to bat first Australia will be looking to post a good 350-370 on the board.

(Mark Nicholas and Sunil Gavaskar): "Heavy roller is doing a big job on this pitch. There is a lot of grass on this surface. It is a fresh pitch and there will be plenty in it for the fast bowlers. The grass will die down and it will get better for the batters. 

It is slightly tacky, you would rather be batting tomorrow than today. It is going to be tough for the opening batters."

Scott Boland has a heavy strapping on his left knee. There might be some concerns about his fitness but for now, he is good to go.

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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

"We would have batted first as well. We have to bowl well.

The series is at 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 fought really well in the previous game.

We have made one change. Shubman Gill misses out. Washington Sundar comes in. Yeah, I will bat at the top of the order."

"We are going to have a bat today. Looks good, a bit of grass here. Sun is out, feels firm. Yeah, that's right. 1-1, that is what everyone wanted to see. I mean certainly the fans. 

After Christmas, we are itching to get going. Sammy is debuting and he will be opening the batting. Scott Boland comes in for Josh Hazlewood."

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first. No Shubman Gill for India. Washington Sundar comes in for Gill. 

Matches Played - 18

Matches Won - 4

Matches Lost - 11

Drawn - 3

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor presents Sam Konstas with the 468th baggy green cap as the young opener is all set to make his debut in Test cricket.

Sam Konstas receives his baggy green ??#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vIG39jmGND

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2024

For the last three days, the newspapers, TV, and radio in Melbourne have been crackling with palpable concern about this day, the opening day of the Boxing-day Test. Cricket isn’t the main worry; fires in the bushland around the city are, but cricket too features as 90,000 people are expected to be packed under a hot burning sun.

While marking his run up with a coat of paint, Bumrah and Mitch Starc had a laugh and a chat. Lyon too had a talk with Bumrah, before as ever, Lyon sought out the company of his fellow spinner Jadeja. Both had a really long chat in the Brisbane dugout during the final rainbreak as well.

As for bowlers doing practice, it’s been the the regular five: Bumrah, Siraj, Akash, Nitish Reddy, and Jadeja.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Tanush Kotian.

Australia 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