Both Australia and India, after celebrating Christmas, are set to begin their rivalry in the third Test of the four-match series on the Boxing Day. The visitors are currently trailing the series 2-0 and would be hoping to narrow that margin at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Where to watch 3rd Test, Day 1 Live Streaming & Live Score Updates
The Australia vs India 3rd Test, Day 1 is scheduled for a 05:30 pm IST (10:30 local | 00:00 GMT) start at Brisbane Cricket Ground. The live score updates will be available HERE, HERE & HERE. Catch the live streaming of Australia vs India, Day 1 HERE & HERE.
India does not have a great record at the MCG and the touring party was hammered inside four days in 2011. This time, however, the Indian team would be looking to turn the tide as they have fought pretty hard in last two Tests.
The margin of defeats was pretty close in Adelaide and Brisbane, as one-session-madness on each occasions cost India the games. Team India lost the first match by a 48-run margin, while they went down by four wickets in the following game.
Despite losing regular skipper Michael Clarke owing to injuries, Australia’s winning juggernaut didn’t stop in the second Test, as Steve Smith led the team pretty well. It was a perfect captaincy debut for Smith as Australia took an unassailable lead in the series.
“He has got a good core group of senior guys to help him out if he needs it, but things are going well,” Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said. “He’s got his own thoughts on the game, he is a good thinker about it, he still wants to learn.”
What came as good news for Smith-led outfit is all-rounder Shane Watson is declared fit, while pacer Ryan Harris has also gained match fitness. Watson was rattled by James Pattinson’s bouncer in the training session but the 33-year-old is not fit for the Boxing Day Test.
Meanwhile, everything is not going India’s way at the moment and they have a number of issues to resolve, leave alone the speculated dressing room rift during the second Test. Faltering at crucial junctures has been India’s problem in this series and they would be looking to resolve it.
Bowlers are struggling for quite some time now and there are always question marks over their ability to take 20 wickets. Pacers did bowl well in the last match but lack of consistency is hurting the team pretty badly and the visitors would be looking to resolve it.
Team India could consider making a couple of changes in the squad, with Suresh Raina might be included in the playing XI on expense of Rohit Sharma. Rohit has struggled to maintain his limited-overs form in Tests and Raina, who is in good form lately, is not a bad option.
Squads: India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, R. Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Axar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron.
Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steven Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathon Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.
