Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs IND 2nd Test Preview Dream11 Possible 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs India Boxing Day Test Key Players | MCG Pitch Report

Quite the backstory, isn’t it? After an Adelaide Test that shaped up to be similar to the one in 2018/19, it all unravelled on one of the most incredible and unbelievable third day’s play in recent history.

Australia, led by the brilliant Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, produced an exhibition of pace and seam bowling that once again ignited the conversation of where this attack sits among Australia’s best in history. Two of Australia’s linchpins in Test cricket since the disappointing 2018/19 series bowled with venom and discipline in equal measure in a perfectly-executed attack on the outside edge of India’s batsmen.

However, not all was smooth sailing for the Aussies in Adelaide. And captain Tim Paine pointed it out. Their batting performance of 191, which was only possible thanks to Paine’s effort and India’s horrendous fielding, is cause for significant improvement. That will be high on the agenda at a ground where Australia historically score well.

Even then, bouncing back to level the series looks an incredibly difficult task for India. Virat Kohli, who played beautifully in the first innings in Adelaide, is now on paternity leave. Mohammed Shami, who makes up a crucial part of India’s attack, joins their other important cog, Ishant Sharma, on the sidelines via injury. Question marks remain about the opening combination, whether the bowling attack can deliver with two key players out and, of course, whether the batsmen can bounce back after such an abomination.

These questions and more will be answered on Boxing Day. Of course, as Adelaide showed, a good start alone isn’t enough to win a Test. But, one feels that if India start poorly in this one, the task will only be made tougher. For starters, their fielding, which was awful at Adelaide, must improve.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Australia:

• It was a quiet Test for Steve Smith at Adelaide (1 and 1*). Now, the great batsman returns to the MCG – a ground where he has enjoyed incredible success at: 7 matches, 908 runs, avg. 113.5.
• Marnus Labuschagne, who looked scratchy at Adelaide, will be key for Australia. He scored 63 against New Zealand at the MCG last season, and still averages above 60 in 15 Tests (60.48).
• Can Tim Paine influence this game, as he did in Adelaide? The skipper is coming off a man of the match display (73 and 7 catches), and scored 79 on this ground vs New Zealand last year.
• Pat Cummins enjoys bowling at the MCG. The world number one Test bowler has 18 wickets in three Tests on this ground at an average of 16.17. He took 6/27 vs India in 2018/19, one of the finest spells in Border-Gavaskar matches at the MCG. Also, Cummins is coming off seven wickets in the Adelaide Test (3/48 and 4/21).
• Josh Hazlewood, who has broken into the top five Test bowlers in the world, took a remarkable 5/8 in Adelaide. Interestingly, however, Hazlewood hasn’t had the best of times at the MCG with 13 wickets in five Tests at an average of 38.15. Mitchell Starc has a similar record, with nine wickets in three Tests at an average of 38.67. Can they deliver here?
• Nathan Lyon has taken 31 wickets in nine Tests at the MCG (avg. 34.35).

India:

• If India are to bounce back, so much rests on Cheteshwar Pujara to perform. The patient right-hander had a tour to remember in 2018/19 (521, avg. 74.42, 3 centuries), which included 106 (319) in the Boxing Day Test in that series.
• Mayank Agarwal will also be key for India. The opener played well at the MCG two years ago, scoring 76 (161) and 42 (102).
• Ajinkya Rahane has enjoyed success at the MCG. The stand-in India skipper scored 147 on this ground in 2014/15.
• Can Jasprit Bumrah produce the goods? India’s star seamer must lead the way. He has enjoyed success at the MCG, with arguably the greatest spell in Border-Gavaskar MCG Tests (6/33, in 2018/19).
• R Ashwin will also be key for India. He is coming off a fine display at Adelaide, where he took 4/55 and 1/16.

Stats and Facts

• Australia lead India 8-3 in MCG Boxing Day Tests. India won the last meeting between the sides at the MCG in 2018/19 by 137 runs.
• Steve Smith scored 192 in his only Test vs India at the MCG, back in 2014/15.
• There is pressure on Travis Head to perform, given that Warner will be due back soon. He returns to a ground where he scored a century (114) vs New Zealand last season.
• Ravindra Jadeja performed well at the MCG in 2018/19. He took 2/45 and 3/82 at an economy rate of just 2.23.

Possible Playing 11

David Warner and Will Pucovksi were ruled out of this Test. So, Australia should stick with the same XI, with eyes again on Joe Burns who scored a second-innings fifty at Adelaide.

Australia: 1. Joe Burns, 2. Matthew Wade, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Pat Cummins, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood

India have named their XI for the Test, but in no specific order. Prithvi Shaw has been dropped. As has Wriddhiman Saha, with Rishabh Pant selected. Shubman Gill will make his debut, as will Mohammad Siraj. Ravindra Jadeja is also in.

So, the decision will be whether to open with Vihari or Gill.

India: 1. Mayank Agarwal, 2. Hanuma Vihari, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Shubman Gill, 5. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 6. Rishabh Pant (wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mohammad Siraj

MCG Pitch Report and Weather

Last year, the MCG groundstaff made a conscious decision to leave grass on the surface after years of flat, slow tracks for Boxing Day Test matches. Ahead of this Test, pictures have shown that there is a grass covering on this surface as well, which ensures that the bowlers have something to play with.

However, batting first is a must. The team batting first has crossed 400 in four of the last five Tests at the MCG, with the only exception being Australia’s 327 in the 2017/18 Ashes.

The weather forecast looks good for the majority of the five days, except for the third evening where there is a chance of showers.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

One can never write off India. However, their backs are well and truly against the wall, which requires their batting to step up as best they can. Without Kohli, as well as the absence of Shami with the ball, that will be a tough ask. Australia to win.

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