After three exciting matches of the border Gavaskar trophy, both teams are all set for the boxing day test match. This fourth test match of the series will decide both teams’ fate for the World Test Championship final in the summer of next year at the mecca of cricket, Lord's Cricket Ground.

The 4⃣th #AUSvIND Test is upon us! #TeamIndia is Melbourne 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬! 👍 👍 pic.twitter.com/ZxsRigf2fw

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2024

Border Gavaskar Trophy Till Now

 

In the earlier three test matches of the series, India won the first test match dominantly by 295 runs. The game features magnificent centuries by Yashavi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli in the second innings. In the second test match, Australia made a strong comeback, beating India by 10 wickets in a very small chase of 19 runs in the fourth inning of the test match. Travis Head scored an outstanding century, and the game also featured a controversy between him and Mohammad Siraj after his dismissal in the first innings.

 

The third test match of the series was affected by rain, which washed out most of the first day, and only 225 overs were bowled in the five days of the test match. In this match, Travis Head once again scored a century, while from the Indian side, Jaspreet Bumrah and Akashdeep had an impressive partnership for the last wicket. This partnership shifted the mood in the Indian dressing room. While at the tea of the day, the match was declared drawn due to the rain.

Both Teams Playing XI For The Test Match

 

Australia has announced its playing XI for the match, where we will see young Sam Kontas in the playing XI along with Scott Boland, who will replace injured Josh Hazelwood for the last two matches. India is also expected to make some changes to its XI playing. Most likely, team India will drop Nitish Reddy to make way for Washington Sundar. There can also be a wildcard entry of an extra pacer in the XI. 

 

Green Top Pich For Boxing Day

 

Melbourne Cricket Ground is known for its bouncy pitches, and the same is expected for the fourth test. Due to the grass on the pitch, extra movement can be seen, which can help pacers early in the innings. Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page, while talking to the media, downplayed the likelihood of the pitch breaking down significantly as the game progressed. He reassured that while there was some visible grass, it was unlikely that there would be a major change in pitch conditions as the days went by. It is expected to remain relatively even throughout the Test without significant deterioration.

 

Fierce Battle For The Last Two Matches

 

As the test series moves towards its end, the battle between the two teams is going to be fiercer and fiercer. The series has shown some bad performances and some good performances. From the Indian side, Jaspreet Bumrah is showing a stopper in all three test matches and from the Australian side, Travis Head's form has become trouble for India. 

 

The last two matches will be very exciting as the series is levelled at one all, and in the upcoming two test matches, it can go either side. The series has reached a point where it will get interesting session by session.

MCG And The Boxing Day Test Match

 

Everyone knows what kind of atmosphere will be there for the Boxing Day test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. When there will be over 90000 people cheering for their teams, the pressure and expectation will be felt by both teams. These matches are very important for both teams in the context of the World Test Championship final. Both teams must win the last two games to secure a spot in the finals.