Australia will be looking to take an unassailable lead in the ongoing series when they face India in the fourth Test. The penultimate Test of the five-match series will be played from Thursday (December 26) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After rain denied them a good opportunity to take the lead in the series, the hosts would be hoping that they do it in the upcoming Test. The hosts dominated most of the third Test in Brisbane but did not get ample time to go for the kill because of rain.
In the first innings, they scored 445 runs with Travis Head and Steve Smith scoring centuries. In reply, India could score only 260 runs. While KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja scored fighting fifties, the other Indian batters had a disappointing outing.
In the second innings, the hosts lost wickets quickly in their attempt to score quickly and eventually declared on 89/7. Set a target of 275 runs in less than a day, India were on 8/0 when both the captains decided to shake hands due to poor light and rain.
With the hosts now eyeing a crucial win, we are taking a look at Australia Playing 11 for the fourth Test.
Australia Playing 11 vs India- 4th Test, India tour of Australia 2024-25:
Openers: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas
There will be a new opening combination in the Playing 11 for the last two Tests of the ongoing series. The Aussie selectors have decided to drop Nathan McSweeney and call up uncapped Sam Konstas.
19-year-old Konstas is set to be Australia’s youngest batsman to debut in Tests since Ian Craig in 1953. He is also in line to become the youngest Aussie ever to open the batting in Tests. Konstas recently scored an impressive century in the 2-day warm-up game against India and will be hoping to do well in his first Test.
The onus will be on Khawaja to give Australia a good start. The southpaw has struggled in the series so far, troubled mostly by India’s fast-bowling superstar Jasprit Bumrah. In three Tests, Khawaja has scored only 63 runs and will be desperate to score big in the upcoming game.
Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk)
The hosts are unlikely to make any changes to their middle order. Marnus Labuschagne is set to bat at number three. He was out for only 12 runs in the first innings of the previous Test and will be eyeing a big score.
Steve Smith roared back to form with a fine century in Brisbane and will be hoping to make the most of it now. The former Australia skipper knows a thing or two about scoring big against India and he will be eyeing another good outing at the MCG.
Travis Head continued his red-hot form with the bat in the ongoing series by smashing 152 runs in the third Test. The southpaw has form on his side and he would be looking to inflict more misery on India.
Mitchell Marsh struggled in Brisbane, scoring 5 and 2 while also failing to pick up any wickets. The all-rounder would also be eyeing a better performance. Alex Carey scored 70 runs in the first innings of the Brisbane Test before scoring an unbeaten 20 in the second innings.
Bowlers: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
The Australian team management has been forced to make at least one change to their bowling lineup. Scott Boland looks set to be recalled into the Australia Playing 11 after a calf injury sidelined Josh Hazlewood. Boland played in the second Test as well and would be fancying his chances of doing well at his home ground.
Since his first-class debut in 2011, Boland has picked up 117 wickets at the MCG. No player has taken more wickets at the venue during this time and Boland will be keen to make the most of his experience. Captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon are likely to be the other frontline bowlers in the Australia Playing 11.