India Vs Australia Highlights, Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, Day 4, Full Cricket Score: Gill, Rahane guide visitors to 8-wicket win

Australia’s 100th Test:

v England: Won
v West Indies: Won
v India: Lost

Did you know?

 None of Ajinkya Rahane’s 12 Test hundreds came in a losing cause. 9 of them in wins and rest three in draws. Excellent!

Visiting captains to win Man of the Match award at MCG in Tests:

— Sachin Tendulkar, 1999

— Ajinkya Rahane, 2020*

Visiting teams to win a Test at MCG after losing the toss this century:

— South Africa won by 9 wickets in 2008

—India won by 8 wickets in 2020*

Surely deserves its place among India’s greatest Test wins ever!

Perth ‘08, Headingley ‘02, Melbourne ‘81: away wins that India pulled off when few gave them a chance. Now they have won in Melbourne without 4 of their first-choice players against one of the best Australian attacks. A victory that will be spoken of for a long long time

— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) December 29, 2020

Huge praise coming from the man who masterminded another epic Indian victory 19 years ago

WOW!! Incredible comeback. What a win. Fine display of mental strength and character. Congratulations to each and every member of the Squad. @BCCI #INDvAUS

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 29, 2020

Tim Paine, Australia captain: Obviously we’re very disappointed. Played very poor cricket for the majority of the four days. Made number of mistakes, particularly with the bat. You’ve got to give the Indian attack the credit. We didn’t adapt as well as we would’ve liked. But there’s still two to go, and we’ll work hard and try to rectify our mistakes. (On Green) He’s started his career really well, and will blossom into an outstanding player. (On gap between 2nd and 3rd Tests) I think we’ll be staying together. Potential for some guys to go and play some Big Bash, and then we might see where we head from there.

India skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Man of the Match: Really proud of all the players. I would really give credit to the debutants (Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj). They showed great character after the Adelaide loss. Character was important for us, especially after losing Umesh in the second innings. Our five bowler plan worked out nicely for us. Shubman, we all know about his first class record and in this game too, he showed that he can play shots at this level. Siraj has shown that he can bowl with discipline. It’s really difficult for debutants to bowl with discipline but that’s where I think the First-class experience comes in handy. Australia applied themselves with their last five wickets. Umesh is recovering well, management and medical staff will take the call about his inclusion in the next Test.  We’re excited about Rohit coming back. Spoke to him yesterday, he’s waiting to join the team.

— Record Alert:

MCG becomes the first overseas ground where India have now won four Test matches.

— Home teams losing most Tests at a venue:

32 : AUSTRALIA, MCG*
32 : England, Lord’s

— India under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane in Tests:

v Australia, Dharamsala, 2017
v Afghanistan, Bangalore, 2018
v Australia, Melbourne, 2020*

— India have won each of the three Tests

— Indian players part of most winning Tests in SENA countries:

8 – Ishant Sharma
7 – Rahul Dravid
7 – Sunil Gavaskar
7 – VVS Laxman
7 – Sachin Tendulkar
7 – Cheteshwar Pujara*

— Test matches won by India in Australia:

Till 2017 : 5 out of 44
Since 2018 : 3 out of 6*

After 14 overs, 70/2 after 15.5 overs ( Shubman Gill 35, Ajinkya Rahane (C) 27)

Lyon continues. Deservingly, Rahane pulls and collects the winning run. India have beaten Australia by 8 wickets. They showed great character, bouncing back after their abysmal show at Adelaide. The four-match Test series stands levelled at 1-1.

After 15 overs,India 69/2 ( Shubman Gill 35 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 26)

Bowling change as Labuschagne comes into the attack. Gill whacks the second wide of mid on for a boundary while Rahane takes a triple off the last. Nine runs off the over. Just one needed now.

FOUR! Full delivery from Labuschagne and Gill whacks it wide of mid on.

After 14 overs,India 60/2 ( Shubman Gill 30, Ajinkya Rahane (C) 22)

Lyon continues. Starc drops Rahane, a tough chance at long-on and the stand in skipper sneaks a double. A single off the penultimate ball from the blade of Rahane. The equation down to 10 runs as India cruise towards victory.

After 13 overs,India 57/2 ( Shubman Gill 30 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 19)

Hazlewood continues. After playing four dots, Gill pounces on the width offered by the pacer, pulling the ball for a boundary towards deep mid wicket. Four runs off the over.

FOUR! Pulled with disdain. Gill waited on the backfoot, swivelled on his feet and whacks it towards the vacant mid wicket region.

After 12 overs,India 53/2 ( Shubman Gill 26 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 19)

Bowling change as Nathan Lyon comes into the attack and the off spinner begins with an economical over, giving away just a single off it. India inching closer to victory, just 17 required now.

After 11 overs,India 52/2 ( Shubman Gill 25 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 19)

Hazlewood continues. Rahane collects a boundary off the first after slapping one past point. He then top edges one towards the leg side but the ball falls between two fielders. Luck escape there. An elegant cover drive off the last from the blade off Rahane. 10 runs off the over. Doesn’t seem like a Test match.

FOUR! Ajinkya Rahane crisply drives it through the covers. All class!

FOUR! Rahane punches it on the up through the off-side. Positive intent from him.

After 10 overs,India 42/2 ( Shubman Gill 25 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 9)

Cummins into his fifth over. Does well to induce an outside edge against Gill off the fourth but the ball takes an outside edge and races away towards point for a boundary. Six runs off the over.

FOUR! Gill goes for the cover drive but the ball takes an outside edge and races away towards point.

After 9 overs,India 36/2 ( Shubman Gill 20 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 8)

Bowling change for Australia as Josh Hazlewood comes into the attack. The pacer mixes up his line and length really well as Rahane chooses to see off the over.

After 8 overs,India 36/2 ( Shubman Gill 20 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 8)

Cummins continues. Huge appeal for LBW off the second delivery against Rahane but there was an inside edge there. The stand-in skipper wanted to cut the fourth through point but there wasn’t enough room on offer. A triple off the last after five consecutive dots. India need 34 runs.

After 7 overs,India 33/2 ( Shubman Gill 20 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

Starc concedes two boundaries in his fourth over, both from the blade of Gill. The Punjab batsman cut one through point and the ball took his outside edge for the second boundary. 10 runs off the over. India seem in a hurry to wrap things up.

Memories of THAT session at Adelaide starting to surface again for some

1 billion people’s blood pressure up . Pharma companies stock up :)

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) December 29, 2020

FOUR! Outside edge and it runs down to third man. Second boundary off Starc’s over.

FOUR! Bit of width from Starc and Gill pounces on it, cutting it through point for a boundary.

Pat Cummins has dismissed Pujara in each of his last three Test innings.

Players dismissing Pujara most times in Tests:

10 : Nathan Lyon
7 : James Anderson
5 : Pat Cummins*

After 6 overs,India 23/2 ( Shubman Gill 11 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 4)

Cummins continues and he joins the party, removing Pujara, who holes out to Green. Aussies won’t go down without a fight. Stand-in skipper Rahane announces his arrival with a well-timed pull shot that fetches him a boundary. Four runs and a wicket in the over.

FOUR! Cummins dug it real short and Rahane pulled it with disdain. The stand-in skipper looked really confident there.

OUT! And now Pujara departs. Cummins gets the breakthrough. The delivery was shaping away from Pujara, who poked at it and edged it to Green at gully. Is there a twist in the tale here?  Pujara c Green b Cummins 3(4)

After 5 overs,India 19/1 ( Shubman Gill 11 , Cheteshwar Pujara 3)

Starc into his third over. And he draws first blood for Australia, removing Agarwal with an away angler that took the batsman’s outside edge and carried to Paine. Pujara joins Gill at the crease. Four runs off the over.

OUT! Starc picks up the first wicket for Australia. Agarwal departs. The ball was angling away from Mayank, he could have left it. Instead, the ball took the outside edge of his bat and carried into Paine’s gloves. Mayank’s poor run on the tour continues. Agarwal c Paine b Starc 5(15)

After 4 overs,India 15/0 ( Mayank Agarwal 5 , Shubman Gill 10)

Cummins continues. Shubman has looked more assured at the crease but Mayank has faced some really good deliveries from Starc and Cummins. Just two runs off the over as Mayank drives one through the covers.

After 3 overs, IND 13/0 (Gill 10, Agarwal 3)

Starc continues. Gill shows the second ball the full face of his blade as it runs down the ground for a boundary. That apart, he chooses to see off the over.

FOUR! Shubman is so easy on the eye with his classy drives. This time the Punjab batsman shows the ball the full face of the bat. Straight as an arrow!

After 2 overs, IND 9/0 (Gill 6, Agarwal 3) 

Pat Cummins comes into the attack. Gill collects a boundary with a classy cover drive before taking a tight delivery off the second. The fifth delivery nearly takes Agarwal’s outside edge. It does not jag back in as Agarwal expected. A double to end the over, from Mayank’s blade. Seven runs off the over.

FOUR! Gill plays a majestic cover drive. Class written all over that!

After 1 over, IND 2/0 (Gill 1, Agarwal 1)

Starc with the first over for Australia. The first delivery is a nip backer and it hits Mayank on the pads. The batsman was clearly last in his reaction. Another nip backer off the third before Mayank gets off the mark with a flick towards backward square leg. Gill flicks the penultimate ball and it hits Matthew Wade at short leg. Another flick from Gill to end the over. Two runs off the first.

Lowest average runs per wicket for Australia in a home Test against India: (20 wickets lost)

18.85, Melbourne, 1977
19.70, Sydney, 1978
19.75, Melbourne, 2020*

Right, we’re back live for the second session. Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill begin the chase for India while Mitchell Starc takes the new ball.

The last time before this Test when Australia didn’t have a fifty-plus score in a home Test was against West Indies at MCG in 1988/89.

Players dismissing most lefties in Tests:

192 : Ravichandran Ashwin*

191 : Muttiah Muralitharan 

186 : James Anderson

Lowest fourth innings target set by Australia against India in Tests:

50, Chennai, 2013 

56, Delhi, 1996

70, MCG, 2020*

After 103.1 overs,Australia 200 ( Mitchell Starc 14 )

OUT! Ashwin bags the final wicket of the innings, clipping the top of off with a delivery that doesn’t turn as much, Hazlewood paying the price for a misjudgedment while looking to leave the ball alone. Australia are bowled out for 200, and India need 70 to win the Boxing Day Test and level the series!

With that, it’s lunch on Day 4 of the second Test!

Hazlewood b Ashwin 10(21)

After 103 overs,Australia 200/9 ( Mitchell Starc 14 , Josh Hazlewood 10)

Change of ends for Bumrah. Hazlewood steers the ball past gully for a single off the second delivery, with Australia breaching the 200-run mark for the first time in the Test series with that run. Elicits a loud cheer from the MCG crowd. Bumrah ends the over with a searing yorker to Starc for a dot, with just run being added to the Aussie total in this over.

After 102 overs,Australia 199/9 ( Mitchell Starc 14 , Josh Hazlewood 9)

Ashwin brought back, replacing Bumrah 10 minutes before lunch in the extended morning session with a slip and a forward short leg in place. Starc pulls towards deep square leg off the fourth, coming back for a second run. Big appeal for lbw off the last delivery as Ashwin raps Starc on the front pad with a knuckle ball, with umpire Paul Reiffel turning it down. Rahane goes for the review after a bit of a discussion. Wickets ‘Umpire’s Call’ as India retain their review.

After 101 overs,Australia 197/9 ( Mitchell Starc 12 , Josh Hazlewood 9)

Siraj starts off with three dots in this over, before Starc guides a length ball towards deep backward square leg for a single off the fourth. Just the one off the over, with the remaining deliveries going for dots.

After 100 overs,Australia 196/9 ( Mitchell Starc 11 , Josh Hazlewood 9)

Starc clips the ball behind square on the leg side for a single off the first delivery. Hazlewood pokes at a delivery nipping away late two balls later, not getting any bat on it, before ducking to a steep bouncer off the fourth. Hazlewood drives the ball wide of mid off for a brace off the fifth. Well-directed bouncer to end the over.

After 99 overs,Australia 193/9 ( Mitchell Starc 10 , Josh Hazlewood 7)

Siraj focuses on the short stuff while bowling to Hazlewood in this over, collecting six dots on the trot. The match officials meanwhile, have signalled the extra half hour to be taken before lunch today.

After 98 overs,Australia 193/9 ( Mitchell Starc 10 , Josh Hazlewood 7)

Bumrah returns to the attack in place of Jadeja. Hazlewood lobs the ball towards square leg for a single off the first delivery. Starc gets a steep bouncer next ball that he chooses to duck to. Single off the third as Starc steers a yorker towards fine leg. Dot off the next two, before Hazlewood retains the strike with a single off the last delivery. Three off the over.

After 97 overs,Australia 190/9 ( Mitchell Starc 9 , Josh Hazlewood 5)

Siraj gets India one step closer to entering their fourth innings as he gets Lyon caught behind with a back-of-length delivery down the leg side. Hazlewood the last man out, and gets off the mark with five off his first delivery, four of which are collected in overthrows. Swing-and-a-miss by Starc to a short delivery off the last ball.

OUT! Siraj removes Lyon minutes before lunch, the latter gloving the ball to pant while looking to pull the back-of-length delivery, as Australia lose their ninth wicket with the lead a little over 50 at the moment. AUS 185/9

Lyon c Pant b Siraj 3(15)

After 96 overs,Australia 185/8 ( Mitchell Starc 9 , Nathan Lyon 3)

Couple of close shaves for Mitchell Starc in this over as Rahane brings Jadeja in place of Ashwin, the ball travelling narrowly to Starc’s outside edge off the second before landing just short of midwicket off the third. Starc clips the ball through the leg side for a brace off the fourth. The left-arm spinner nearly gets rid of Starc off the final delivery — the southpaw getting adjudged caught at slip initially, but replays showing him hitting his foot with his bat, the ball remaining untouched before deflecting off his pad. Nothing on LBW either as the ball’s missing leg.

After 95 overs,Australia 183/8 ( Mitchell Starc 7 , Nathan Lyon 3)

Faint appeal for lbw off the third delivery against Lyon after Siraj pitches this full, one the umpire chooses to ignore in the end. Lyon however, makes it a point to set off for the non-striker’s end, with a leg bye being added to the total. Starc clips the ball behind square on the leg side off the last delivery to retain the strike. Two off the over.

After 94 overs,Australia 181/8 ( Mitchell Starc 6 , Nathan Lyon 3)

Australia’s lead swells to 50 as one run is added to their total — courtesy a single to Lyon off the third delivery — in this over.

After 93 overs,Australia 180/8 ( Mitchell Starc 6 , Nathan Lyon 2)

Bumrah has a word with Siraj just as the latter walks to his mark at the start of the 93rd. Lyon pokes the ball around for the first three deliveries without looking to set off for a run, before pulling the ball towards fine leg for a single off the fourth. Dot off each of the last two balls.

After 92 overs,Australia 179/8 ( Mitchell Starc 6 , Nathan Lyon 1)

Nathan Lyon walks to the crease, and Rahane brings in a fellow off-spinner in Ashwin at the same time, phasing Jaddu out for now. Just two off this over, including a single off fourth that gets Lyon off the mark.

Mitchell Starc has been dismissed by Ashwin six times in Tests – the most any bowler has dismissed him. Can Ashwin get him against today?

Nathan Lyon walks to the crease, and Rahane brings in a fellow off-spinner in Ashwin at the same time, phasing Jaddu out for now. Just two off this over, including a single off fourth that gets Lyon off the mark.

After 91 overs,Australia 177/8 ( Mitchell Starc 5 , )

Siraj appeals for lbw against Starc at the start of the over, getting a shake of the head in return with the ball appearing to have pitched outside off and jagged back in sharply. Fine stop by the man at mid on off the second to restrict Starc to just a single. Green then moves to 45 with a lovely push wide of mid on for a boundary off the fourth. Just when the all-rounder was closing in on his half-century, he throws his wicket away with a wild pull straight into the hands of Jadeja at midwicket, resulting in the fall of the eighth wicket.

OUT! And just like that, Green throws his wicket away as Australia lose their eighth! Went for the pull a couple of deliveries after his well-timed on-drive past mid on, but failed to get the elevation to clear Jadeja’s outstretched hands at midwicket. End of a wonderful innings from the all-rounder, who has more than justified his place in the side with this knock as well as his handy spells with the ball. AUS 177/8

Green c Jadeja b Siraj 45(146)

FOUR! Lovely from Green! Uses the pace on offer to redirect a full delivery from Siraj, pushing it wide of mid on, the ball then beating the chasing fielder to reach the boundary rope. AUS 177/7

After 90 overs,Australia 172/7 ( Cameron Green 41 , Mitchell Starc 4)

Jadeja brought back with a slip and a forward short leg in place. Starc drives the ball through square leg for a single off the fourth. Green blocks away the last two deliveries. Just the one off it.

After 89 overs,Australia 171/7 ( Cameron Green 41 , Mitchell Starc 3)

Siraj brought into the attack in place of Bumrah in this over. Appeal for run out off the second delivery after the ball appears to deflect off Siraj’s hand before hitting the non-striker’s stumps after the straight drive by Green, with Starc grounding his bat inside the crease in the nick of time. Another run-out scare two balls later, this time Starc being sent back in the last second after an agile collect-and-throw at mid off, the ball failing to get anywhere close to the timber though. Sharp bouncer to end the over, with Siraj starting his new spell with a maiden.

After 88 overs,Australia 171/7 ( Cameron Green 41 , Mitchell Starc 3)

Starc v Ashwin in this over with a slip and a silly point in place. Starc pushes the ball through square leg off the final delivery, getting enough time to come back for a second run in the process.

After 87 overs,Australia 169/7 ( Cameron Green 41 , Mitchell Starc 1)

Four off the fourth delivery, all of them being added to the Australian total as leg byes after the ball brushes past Green’s thigh, flying wide of the keeper before racing away to the fine leg fence. Green ends the over with an impressive cut through backward point for a boundary! Eight off the over, slightly expensive for the pacer.

FOUR! Slightly short and outside off, Green plays an impressive-looking cut behind square to end the 87th over with a boundary — the fourth of the innings so far. AUS 169/7

After 86 overs,Australia 161/7 ( Cameron Green 37 , Mitchell Starc 1)

Green once again manages to keep new batsman Starc off strike, guiding the ball down towards long on for a single off the last delivery after five consecutive dots.

After 85 overs,Australia 160/7 ( Cameron Green 36 , Mitchell Starc 1)

Bumrah starts off with a couple of full deliveries to Green at the start of the over followed by a steep bouncer drifting down leg. Inswinger angling in just outside the off pole left alone by the lanky all-rounder off the fourth. Dot off the fifth, followed by a clip behind square on the leg side off a low full toss, with Green getting enough time to come back for a third and keep the strike.

After 84 overs,Australia 157/7 ( Cameron Green 33 , Mitchell Starc 1)

Field spreads out even as Ashwin continues making use of the new ball. The offie bowls out a quick maiden over.

After 83 overs,Australia 157/7 ( Cameron Green 33 , Mitchell Starc 1)

Green clips the ball through the mid on region off the third ball to increase his score by one run. Bumrah then finally gets the breakthrough that the Indians were desperate for since the start of play this morning, using the bouncer to good effect to get a deflection off Cummins’ glove that lobs over to Agarwal at second slip. Drinks called onto the field after the wicket, with Starc getting off the mark right away off the first delivery that he faces, collecting a single off the final delivery.

OUT! Jasprit Bumrah bounces Pat Cummins out! Pace spearhead gets rid of pace spearhead! The ball lobs off Cummins’ glove, resulting in a comfortable catch for Agarwal at second slip. Dogged innings from Cummins comes to an end as the pacer breaks the partnership. AUS 156/7

Cummins c Agarwal b Bumrah 22(103)

After 82 overs,Australia 154/6 ( Cameron Green 31 , Pat Cummins 22)

Rahane keeps a spinner in play from one end, allowing Ashwin to make use of the brand new cherry. Fine stop by Gill at extra cover to restrict Cummins to just a single off the second delivery, with the 150 coming up for the Aussies in the process. Green then collects the first boundary of the day with a well-timed cut behind square off the fourth delivery, before retaining the strike with a quick single off the last ball.

FOUR! First boundary of the day, with Green cutting the ball behind square, Rahane failing to stop the ball after giving it a chase from slip. Green moves into the 30s with that shot. AUS 154/6

After 81 overs,Australia 149/6 ( Cameron Green 27 , Pat Cummins 21)

Second new ball taken right away, and as expected, Bumrah returns to the attack. The pacer starts off with a couple of deliveries well outside off that are left alone by Green. Appeal for lbw off the third delivery after the ball jags back in sharply and hits Green on the front pad, although the ball would’ve probably missed leg by a big margin. ‘Boom Boom’ starts off his new spell with a maiden.

After 80 overs,Australia 149/6 ( Cameron Green 27 , Pat Cummins 21)

Cummins works the ball down the ground towards long on for a single off the first delivery of the over, bringing up the 50-partnership with Green in the process as the Aussie lead stretches to 18 in the process. Second new ball available now for the visitors. Expect Rahane to hand it to Bumrah right away.

FIFTY of the partnership completed between Cummins and Green for the seventh wicket, the latter bringing up the milestone with a single in the 80th over. The pair has consumed 191 deliveries in the stand in what has been a display of grit and determination by both stakeholders in the stand. Excellent work by the pair to repair the damage caused by the middle-order collapse yesterday.

After 79 overs,Australia 148/6 ( Cameron Green 26 , Pat Cummins 21)

Ravi Jadeja bowls out a maiden in the blink of an eye as Cummins decides to remain defensive for the most part in the over. Second new ball just around the corner for the Indians now.

After 78 overs,Australia 148/6 ( Cameron Green 26 , Pat Cummins 21)

Ashwin continues from the other end. Green pushes the ball through mid off off the first and third deliveries of the over, collecting a brace and single respectively while using his feet to good effect. Cummins taps the ball behind square on the leg side for a single off the fourth. Back-to-back dots to end the over. Partnership worth 49 at the moment.

After 77 overs,Australia 144/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 20)

‘Sir’ Jadeja brought into the attack for the first time today, with the left-arm spinner hitting Cummins’ front pad off the fifth delivery and appealing loudly for LBW — turned down by the umpire due to the healthy bounce on the ball. Fine stop by the fielder at short third man off the last ball to save a single.

After 76 overs,Australia 144/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 20)

The Indians finally go upstairs after another unsuccessful lbw appeal by Ravi Ashwin, this time against Cummins off the third delivery and looking a lot closer to the naked eye. Hawk-Eye though, shows the ball going over leg, resulting in India losing one of their two remaining reviews. Cummins then works the next ball behind square on the leg side for a single. Just the one off the over.

After 75 overs,Australia 143/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 19)

Green drives a full delivery off the third ball of the over, but is intercepted at mid off to result in a dot. Siraj shortens his length in the penultimate delivery after a series of full ones aimed at Green’s pads. Maiden over for Siraj.

After 74 overs,Australia 143/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 19)

Cummins edges the ball wide of Rahane at slip off the second delivery, getting enough time to come back for a second run. Excited appeal for lbw by the offie off the final delivery, but fails to evoke any interest from the umpire. Just the two off the over.

After 73 overs,Australia 141/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 17)

First bowling change of the morning, with Mohammed Siraj replacing Jasprit Bumrah after a three-over spell for the latter. Perhaps Rahane’s keeping the latter fresh for the second new ball? Cummins drives the ball wide of extra cover off the second delivery for a single. The ball then swings back in sharply off the fourth delivery, travelling close to off with Green confidently shouldering to the delivery. Just the one off the over.

After 72 overs,Australia 140/6 ( Cameron Green 23 , Pat Cummins 16)

Green users his feet to Ashwin, shuffling down the track to the fourth delivery to drive the towards long on for another single. Ball lobs off Cummins’ pad towards the vacant leg slip region off the last delivery, getting a bit of bat along the way, and he sets off for a run to keep the strike for the following over. Two off the over.

After 71 overs,Australia 138/6 ( Cameron Green 22 , Pat Cummins 15)

Green rides the bounce off the third delivery, clipping a back-of-length delivery from Bumrah towards fine leg for a single. Bumrah then bowls the first steep bouncer of the day off the fourth delivery to Cummins, which the latter has no option but duck to. Just the one off the over.

After 70 overs,Australia 137/6 ( Cameron Green 21 , Pat Cummins 15)

Green drives the ball down the ground towards long on for a single off the first delivery. Dot off each of the remaining deliveries of the over.

After 69 overs,Australia 136/6 ( Cameron Green 20 , Pat Cummins 15)

Bumrah creates a chance off the third delivery of this over as Cummins edges a full delivery towards the slips, with the ball however landing short of the first slip fielder. Maiden over for Boom Boom in his second of the day.

After 68 overs,Australia 136/6 ( Cameron Green 20 , Pat Cummins 15)

Rahane gives Ashwin the ball from the other end at the start of the penultimate day, and the Tamil Nadu off-spinner starts off the day with a maiden over.

After 67 overs,Australia 136/6 ( Cameron Green 20 , Pat Cummins 15)

Green starts off with a brace off the first delivery, tapping the ball to cover and getting enough time to push for a second. Bumrah drifts down leg next ball, followed by a series of defensive blocks from the all-rounder playing just his second Test match. Green retains the strike with a quick single off the last delivery.

Right then, we begin with what is widely expected to be the final day of cricketing action in this Boxing Day Test. Jasprit Bumrah’s handed by the ball for the first over of the morning by Ajinkya Rahane, with Cameron Green ready to face the first delivery.

Glenn McGrath on the MCG pitch ahead of start of play on the fourth day:

“I thought it’s been a very good wicket. Yesterday was probably at its best for batting. Still looks like a very good wicket. There’s still a tinge of green, but it’s flattened a little bit.”

Rishabh Pant to the broadcasters ahead of start of play on Day 4:

“It was a very good day for us. We need to concentrate and keep it simple. (On Umesh Yadav) I’ve no idea about that, but it’s difficult I guess. (Returning to XI) It’s been good. I’ve been training and practising well. Part and parcel of the game. Good to be back in the side. (On Aussie conditions) I’ve been adjusting to the bounce, have opened my right leg, sometimes left leg for the bounce. That’s about it. (Keeping to Ashwin) The key is to give yourself a little more space because the ball bounces a little more off Ashwin, and sometimes off Jaddu. (Banter with Wade) Yes I enjoy every bit of that. He was looking for some banter as well.”

Meanwhile, India captain Virat Kohli on Monday headlined the ICC top honours for the decade, winning the Sir Garfield Sobers award for the best male cricketer of the past 10 years. Kohli was also picked for the ODI Cricketer of the Decade award.

Australia’s Elysse Perry swept the women’s awards, securing the ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade honours alongside ODI and T20 Cricketers of the Decade award.

Check out the full list of award winners

There were no demons in the MCG pitch but very, very poor batting by the Australian batsmen, said the legendary Ricky Ponting, lashing out at the home batters for playing rash shots against the Indian bowlers in the second Test.

Following the debacle at Adelaide, India brought in four replacements for the Melbourne Test match, two of them debutants. The four replacements have all contributed towards the advantage India hold at stumps on Day 3 at Melbourne.

A warm welcome to the penultimate day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the MCG. After seeing off India for 326, Australia gained a two-run lead in the second innings, albeit losing their prime batsmen, and now find themselves in a spot of bother. Their score reads 133-6. The visitors, meanwhile, will look to wrap up the remaining batsmen before lunch. Stay tuned for more updates from the match.