AUS vs IND 2024/25, AUS vs IND 4th test match preview

On By Littum

Big picture: Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line

This is big. If India win at the MCG, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia win, they remain on course for a first series win over India in a decade. A defeat to the home side would raise big questions, while if India lose, their World Test Championship (WTC) fate is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy remains possible. With a good forecast, a draw would seem an unlikely outcome, especially given the ground’s recent history. And whatever unfolds on Boxing Day can take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.

It’s only six days since the soggy end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. In case you weren’t aware of the scoreline, it may feel like India are ahead as Australia have been forced into a change at the top of the order to try to counter Jasprit Bumrah. This means that 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make an extraordinary debut after just 11 first-class games.

But it has also been some curious days for the visitors. Virat Kohli had a meeting with a reporter at Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja took questions only in Hindi at a press conference which irked some people; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India were given second-hand pitches to practice on at the MCG.

Meanwhile, on the important stuff, they are still trying to find enough support for Bumrah and more runs from a flawed top order. It doesn’t look like India can do much about the batting order in terms of personnel, instead they will hope that someone can follow KL Rahul’s lead.

There hasn’t been a lot of actual cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide was over by just over an hour on the third day and rain was a constant threat in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia has dominated. Still, it’s 1-1 and there isn’t much room for them to have a bad day.

Australia’s top order remains under scrutiny amid calls to drop Nathan McSweeney in favor of Konstas at such a crucial time in the series, while senior players Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain low on the field. Travis Head, who picked up a quad niggle in Brisbane but is good to go, has been a game-changer, while Steven Smith’s hundred was timely and by the end of it he was playing very fluidly.

The fact that Scott Boland can play back on a pitch he has been so successful on (head of his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the pace bowling depth Australia have. It just might be the difference maker, although don’t count on Bumrah to win it almost single-handedly for India, who haven’t lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia DWLWW
India DLWLL

Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo