Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne (L) inpects the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 25, 2024, ahead of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India starting December 26
| Photo Credit: AFP

Gurgling babies clinging to their mothers, children running with abandon, a group of women sitting on the grass and having a chat, and seasoned cricketers becoming all melting chocolate with their partners and off-spring, constituted a slice of utopia on Christmas Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, once Thursday (December 26, 2024) dawns, sport’s metaphor of a battle without guns will be on view as a packed venue witnesses the commencement of the fourth Test.

Pat Cummins and his men had a relaxed vibe on match-eve and as their families converged and they all got together for their annual Christmas lunch, cricket’s angst was temporarily kept at bay. The positivity was further reinforced when Travis Head, India’s nemesis so far in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, was declared fit for the contest. Head was grinning while sitting next to Marnus Labuschagne, and the latter played the chauffeur, and drove some of his teammates to the hotel.

The Indians, meanwhile, opted to rest but were also conscious about the series being at its tipping point at 1-1. The next fortnight that features two Tests will determine the outcome of a tussle that has acquired a distinct halo over the years even if it may not have the emotional resonance of the Ashes or the ones involving India and Pakistan.

Australia steps in with a comeback wind rustling through its ranks. Having put behind the Perth debacle, the host seized the Adelaide game and was holding the reins in Brisbane too before persistent rains and the Indian lower-order proved to be an insurmountable obstacle. But with mostly Head scoring the runs while Steve Smith and Labuschagne have belatedly joined the party, worries linger even if there are expectations over debutant Sam Konstas throwing some punches.

The 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. Countering this attack and piling on the runs is mandatory for Rohit Sharma’s men to prosper. So far, K.L. Rahul’s consistency and Bumrah’s potency have influenced India’s fortunes. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli scored tons at Perth but after that the two have been lukewarm, an attribute that has also derailed Shubman Gill, Rohit and Rishabh Pant.

Indian Test squad without Ashwin

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.

Washington Sundar and newly drafted Tanush Kotian get a chance to prove their mettle. Whether Ravindra Jadeja would be the lone spinner in the eleven or have company remains to be seen. A heat wave predicted for Thursday and a surface with its tinge of green would keep the rival captains mulling over their options at the toss.

The teams (from):

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Tanush Kotian.

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head (vice-captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster.

Match officials: Umpires: Joel Wilson and Michael Gough; Third umpire: Saikat; Match referee: Andy Pycroft.

Match starts at 5 a.m. IST.