Page 14 - India Vs Australia

Of Australian team and its warm tradition of family get-together at MCG

Families do keep elite sportsmen grounded in every sense of the world. Twenty four hours prior to the start of a high-octane Boxing Day Test, the gargantuan MCG resembled an annual function of a nursery school, with families of Australian cricketers joining them for a customary stroll of the G and savour the traditional Turkey roast. There was Pat Cummins' wife Becky and Mitch Marsh's better half Greta, and they were seen enjoying some light moments along with their children. Steve Smith had his father Peter for company while Andrew McDonald's teenager son Ollie was seen taking throwdowns at an adjacent net alongside Travis Head. Sam Konstas' family has flown in from Sydney to see him wear the Baggy Green for the first time on Thursday. The kids ran around with their fathers, who didn't want to miss even a second of this precious family time, which is a rarity for international cricketers mostly living out of their suitcases. "It's great. We spend probably more time on the road t

ICC Test ranking: Bumrah reaches bowling pinnacle as Boxing Day drama looms

Bumrah achieved the joint-highest rating ever by an Indian player, equalling the record held by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the ICC Ranking for bowlers

IND vs AUS 4th Test: Melbourne pitch report, India's key stats at MCG

The iconic match up has valuable World Test Championship points at stake as well with the 5- match series currently tied at 1-1 after 3 matches.

Boxing Day Test: Pujara highlights Starc's Impact, India's bowling concerns

India's senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara provided a detailed analysis of Mitchell Starc's performance and raised concerns about India's bowling strength ahead of the crucial India vs Australia 4th Test

What is Boxing Day Test? India, Australia's Test record at MCG | IND vs AUS

India and Australia will face each other in Melbourne Cricket Ground with hopes of taking a 2-1 lead in the ongoing 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy

IND vs AUS: Australia announce playing 11, Travis Head fit to play

Head, who had suffered a minor quad strain while batting in the Brisbane Test, underwent a rigorous fitness test on Christmas Day.

IND vs AUS: Matthew Hayden's advice to Virat Kohli ahead of Boxing Day Test

With scores of 5, 100 not out, 7, 11, and 3 in his last five innings, the former Indian captain has managed only 126 runs at an average of 31.50.

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be dangerous and hungry: Ravi Shastri

They may not have been at their dominant best so far but Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, feels former India head coach Ravi Shastri. Part of the celebrated 'Fab Four' that also comprises Joe Root and Kane Williamson, both Kohli and Smith have endured struggles with the bat in recent times, though they have scored a century each in the first three Tests of the five-match series. "I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you've got the likes of Root taking off, there's Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players," Shastri said in the ICC Review. "In a situation like this, you know they'll be dangerous because they'll be hungry." Smith's scores read 0, 17, 2, 101, and 4 in five innings, while Kohli has managed 126 runs at an average of .

IND vs AUS, 4th Test: Let's not worry about who bats where - Rohit Sharma

Ahead of the Boxing Day Test, India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday dismissed fears about the knee injury he suffered during practice, saying it was fine, while keeping the suspense over his batting position. Rohit had got hit on the left knee during the training session at the MCG on Sunday and there was speculation about the seriousness of the injury. "My knee is fine," said Rohit during a media interaction ahead of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test here from December 26. Rohit missed the opening Test Down Under to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He was expected to reclaim the opener's spot but KL Rahul's impressive 77 in India's win at Perth prompted a rejig of the batting order with the skipper moving down to No.6. The change though has not been fruitful for Rohit as he has managed 10, 3 and 6 runs in the last three innings, while Rahul has encashed on the opportunity by notching up a fine 84 in the first innings at Brisbane in the third Test. The skipper s

AUS's Playing 11 changes for 4th Test: Debut for Konstas, Head may miss out

Konstas, 19, will become the 468th Australian men's Test cricketer when he takes the field for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on December 26.

IND vs AUS: Here's why Rohit not worried about Pant, Gill, Jaiswal's form

Rohit, when speaking about the trio ahead of the Boxing Day Test, emphasized the importance of allowing the young players to retain their natural approach.

Over-tinkering of technique: Ponting on reasons behind Gill's poor form

Ponting weighed in, pointing to Gill's over-tinkering with his batting technique as primary reason for his struggles, suggesting that young cricketer must trust his instincts to rediscover his form

IND vs AUS - Modern-day great will figure out: Rohit on Virat Kohli's form

Across five innings, Kohli has amassed just 126 runs at an average of 31.50-a far cry from the consistency fans have come to expect

IND vs AUS 4th Test: Rohit reveals why Tanush picked ahead of Kuldeep-Axar

Tanush Kotian, a 26-year-old cricketer from Mumbai, has been a standout performer in domestic cricket. He has taken 101 wickets in 33 first-class matches, with an impressive average of 25.70.

IND vs AUS: Boland fine-tunes length in net session before Boxing Day Test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is where Scott Boland truly feels at home. Out of his 40 Test wickets so far, the most memorable debut came at this very ground. Boland's first impression was so strong that it remains the most lasting one to date -- blowing away England with figures of 6 for 7 in the second innings during his debut, buoyed by his loyal supporters. Now, as another Boxing Day Test approaches at the 'G', Boland is ready to step in once again for Josh Hazlewood, continuing the role of the perfect first substitute that has defined his 11-Test career. And just like a true workhorse, his practice sessions are as regimented as they come. On Monday, during Australia's first session ahead of the fourth Test, Boland's focus was clear. Known for hitting hard lengths, Boland practiced single-net spot bowling without any batters. His aim was to fine-tune the length ideal for the MCG track. Boland is not a conventional swing bowler and relies more on pace and movement off the

IND vs AUS: Tanush Kotian set to be Ashwin's replacement, says report

Kotian, currently playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Hyderabad, is expected to fly out to Australia on Tuesday

Achilles healed, yet Shami not ready for last two IND vs AUS Tests: BCCI

BCCI, through a press release on Monday, confirmed that Shami will not join Team India in Australia

IND vs AUS: Tackle Bumrah with discipline, not aggression, says Katich

Katich said that going for boundaries against Bumrah will lead to losing early wickets for Australia

McSweeney's tough start may lead to return at No. 4 or 5: Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan sympathised with Nathan McSweeney for his struggles against star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah that led to his axing from Australia Test squad, and said he could comeback as a middle-order batter in future. McSweeney was dismissed by Bumrah four times across six innings and the Australia selectors have replaced him with teenage sensation Sam Konstas for the Melbourne and Sydney Test. "I look at McSweeney and think I don't think there's a player who has had a harder start to their career. I feel for the kid, because of all the people that I've seen come into Test cricket over the last 10 years, I don't think anyone's been given a harder challenge," Vaughan told Fox Sports. McSweeney, 25, who made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, struggled at the top with scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his six innings. "To face Bumrah in the conditions that he's had to face now, the pink ball under lights in his second game, in Perth it d

Problems in India's transition: Gautam wants his team, but will he get it?

Transitions are never easy. More so when a dressing room is dotted with superstars, who are in the Twilight Zone of their glittering careers. And it's for this reason, India head coach Gautam Gambhir finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Indian cricket's big transition has started with Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement. And Gambhir might have to be the 'Harbinger of Doom' for some of the megastars if the currently tied Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia does not end up being decisively in India's favour in Melbourne and Sydney. While Ashwin took the hard call himself, anyone with a basic understanding of Indian cricket would know that Gambhir's decision to include Washington Sundar at the senior pro's expense was the biggest trigger. Skipper Rohit Sharma wasn't even in Perth when the decision was made. There are four big names Virat Kohli, Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami in the Indian dressing room right now. Shami isn't playing this series but