Australia win toss, to bat in fourth test at MCG
MELBOURNE :Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth test against India on a scorching day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Alex Carey Sport News
"Won't Be Surprised If...": Pat Cummins' Big Verdict On MCG Pitch For 4th Test Against India
Ahead of the fourth Test against India at Melbourne, Australian skipper Pat Cummins said that the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch looks "nice and firm" with a "bit of grass coverage" and it could help spinner Nathan Lyon as well. With the series level at 1-1, both sides will be playing the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test with an aim to secure an all-important series lead needed to push a case for the ICC World Test Championship final. Speaking ahead of the game in a pre-match presser, Cummins said about the pitch, "Pitch looks really good, quite consistent to what it has here for the last few years, I think, you know, a bit of grass coverage, feels nice and firm, so they (curators) have done a great job here for, you know, probably the last five, six years, their pitches and I suspect the same this year."
Boxing Day Test Weather Forecast: Rain Drama Likely On These Days
India are likely to ring a few changes when they take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test, starting December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Reports have claimed that India captain Rohit Sharma will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while KL Rahul will drop a slot down to no. 3. India could possibly line-up with two spinners -- Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja -- with either Shubman Gill or Nitish Kumar Reddy likely to face the axe. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will keep their place in the pace bowling department.
"Can Virat Kohli Do That?": Ex-India Star Namedrops Sachin Tendulkar In Massive Advice
Virat Kohli's struggles with the bat continued in the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane as the star batter was dismissed cheaply once again. Kohli's problems with balls outside the off-stump once again proved to be his downfall as he edged a delivery off Josh Hazlewood to Alex Carey behind the stumps. Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes that Kohli should have left the ball alone considering his struggles against similar deliveries. Chopra also recalled Sachin Tendulkar's 241 in Sydney where he did not play a single cover drive and remarked that Kohli should take inspiration from that knock.
Bad light halts play with India needing 267 runs for Gabba win
:India were eight for no loss when tea was called early due to failing light on day five of the third test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday, with the tourists needing 267 runs for victory.
Akash Deep Apologises Following Bizarre Exchange With Travis Head During Brisbane Test - Watch
Akash Deep apologised to Travis Head following a bizarre exchange on Day 5 of the third Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah looked quite confident at the start of the day's play and the former looked to play some aggressive shots against Nathan Lyon. While going for a slog sweep, Akash Deep missed the ball completely and it got stuck inside his pads. He quickly took it away and threw it on the ground. The Indian cricketer did not notice that Travis Head thought he will hand him the ball and that led to a chat with the Australian batter.
"Technique Isn't Made For...": Cheteshwar Pujara's Blunt Verdict On 'Struggling' Virat Kohli
It was a disappointing show from Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli once again as he was dismissed cheaply on Day 3 of the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane on Monday. Kohli managed to score just three runs before he was caught behind the wicket by Alex Carey off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. Besides the century in the first Test, Kohli has been extremely inconsistent for the team and at stumps, India were left struggling on 51/4. During his analysis, Pujara pointed out that Kohli's strength lies in playing against the old ball. With India's top-order batters also struggling for runs, he has been forced to play the new ball, and his 'technique' has not helped.
Sunil Gavaskar's Unfiltered Verdict On Virat Kohli's Yet Another 7th Stump Dismissal
It isn't often that one sees India's great Sunil Gavaskar mincing his words. As Virat Kohli departed after scoring just three runs in the first innings of the third Test against Australia, Gavaskar was quick to call out the India batter's poor shot selection. Facing Josh Hazlewood, Kohli edged the ball into the hands of Australia's wicket-keeper Alex Carey despite the fact that the ball was quite far from the stumps. Gavaskar, in his blunt criticism of Kohli, said that there was no need for him to play the 7th or 8th stump delivery.