For the fourth Test of the five-match series, starting on Boxing Day 2024 at Melbourne, Australia and India have both named changes to their playing XIs.
Australia make two changes, bat first
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss in the fourth Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and opted to bat. Australia had already announced two changes to their playing XI from the third Test, at Brisbane. They were forced to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood, and left out opener Nathan McSweeney, who had debuted in the first Test, at Perth.
Australia brought in Scott Boland, who had also replaced Hazlewood when the latter had been injured for the second Test, at Adelaide. They also gave out a Test cap to teenager Sam Konstas, who is set to become the youngest Test opener in their 147-year history.
India pick Sundar over Gill
India, meanwhile, dropped specialist batter Shubman Gill, who has been batting at one-drop for them. They drafted in Washington Sundar, who bowls off-breaks as well as adds to batting depth. This means India are going in with four specialist batters – captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli.
At the toss, Rohit announced informed that he would have preferred to bat first as well. He also confirmed that he would open batting, presumably with Jaiswal. In that case Rahul, the most reassured of India’s specialist batters in this series, will have to occupy Gill’s place at three.
It is worth a mention that Australia have lost only once since 2010-11 after batting first at Melbourne – to India in 2020-21.
More to follow...
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