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Australia have bounced back in tremendous fashion after losing the first Test at Perth by 295 runs. They levelled the series with a 10 wicket win at Adelaide and now have taken 2-1 leader after routing India in the fourth Test at MCG ( Boxing Day Test) by 184 runs.
Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first . And his move paid off handsomely as 19- year-old debutant Sam Konstas made a dream start to his International career by smashing an entertaining 60 off 65 balls to set the tone of the match. Due for runs fellow opener Usman Khawaja finally got some runs under his belt a solid 57 . Marnus Labuschagne came up with a fine anchoring innings of 72 . Steve Smith who scored his previous ton at Gabba , carried on that form into MCG and stroked a fine 140 .
Rare failure for Travis Head ( 0). All- rounder Mitchell Marsh’s horror run with bat continued out for 4. Alex Carey chipping in with 31. But it was Skipper Pat Cummins who showed how good he is with the bat when the team needs him most. Cummins hit vital 49 . As Australia scored an impressive total of 474.
For India , Jasprit Bumrah who has been sensational right through the series once again delivered a top notch show with the ball with figures of 4/99. Lack of support to Bumrah has hurt India big in this series. Mohammed Siraj 0/ 122 Akash Deep 2/ 94 , Ravindra Jadeja 3/ 78, Nitish Reddy 0/ 21 , Washington Sundar 1/ 49 .
In reply , India were rocked early . Skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor form continued and his opening gamble failed as he fell to rival skipper Pat Cummins for 3 mistimed a pull shot for an easy catch to Scott Boland. K L Rahul looked good but absolute beauty from Pat Cummins bowled him for 24. The Aussie skipper was leading from the front. Virat Kohli showed intent and looked good for big one till he nicked one from Boland to Alex Carey for 36. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked set for hundred but in a unfortunate mix up with Virat Kohli was run-out for 82.
Rishabh Pant ( 28).Night watch man Akash Deep fell for 0 . Ravindra Jadeja 17 . Had not Nitish Reddy played stunning innings a power-packed first hundred of 117 and Washington Sundar’s gritty 50 . India would have been in dire straits. Reddy’s knock helped India reach 369 . Which gave Australia a crucial leader of 105
Incredible scenes in Melbourne as Australia clinch the fourth Test 🎉#WTC25 | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/5gqRYRTzLQ
— ICC (@ICC) December 30, 2024
For Australia , Skipper Pat Cummins led the show with 3/ 89, Scott Boland 3/ 57 , Nathan Lyon 3/ 96, Mitchell Starc 0/ 86 , Mitchell Marsh 0/ 28
Australia second innings got off shakily with debutant Sam Konstas was out early for 8 . Usman Khwaja fell for 21. Marnus Labuschagne was the rock yet again with a solid 70 . Steven Smith was out for 13 , Travis Head ( 1) , Mitchell Marsh ( 0), Alex Carey ( 2) . Australia were reeling at 91/ 6 . Skipper pat Cummins once again did the rescue act in style scoring a timely 41. The Aussie late order frustrated India . Nathan Lyon a gritty determined ( 41) and Scott Boland’s vital 15 saw Australia reach 234 . Setting India target of 340 to win on the last day at MCG.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah produced a sensational burst to rattle Australia with a fine figures of 5/ 57, Mohammed Siraj 3/ 70, Akash Deep 0/ 53, Ravindra Jadeja 1/ 33 , Nitish Reddy 0/ 4. Washington Sundar 0/ 7
Chasing 340 and batting fourth would not be an easy task as India soon found out . At the total of 25 India were rocked by two double blows by Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins.
Cummins first got rival Skipper Rohit Sharma ( 9) yet again getting the outside edge to Mitchell Marsh and then with a beauty got edge of K L Rahul’s bat to Usman Khwaja at slips. India were further jolted as in stroke of lunch Mitchell Starc found the edge of Virat Kohli to Alex Carey for ( 5). Rishabh Pant played an uncharacteristic slow innings of 30 . Ravindra Jadeja ( 2), First innings hero Nitish Reddy was out for 1. As India stared defeat .
Yashasvi Jaiswal who had dropped three catches batted valiant for his 84 . His dismissal though sparked controversy as DRS showed no snick . He was given caught behind. Washington Sundar not out 5. Akash Deep ( 7) , Jasprit Bumrah ( 0), Mohammed Siraj ( 0) . India were finally bowled out for miserable 155. Australia winning by 184 runs
Australian bowlers were relentless. Skipper Pat Cummins turned things around with his captaincy, bowling and batting and took an impressive 3/ 28. And very rightly Cummins was named Man of The Match. Scott Boland 3/ 39 , Nathan Lyon 2/ 37 includes the final wicket. Travis Head 1/ 14 ( Rishabh Pant). Mitchell Starc 1/ 25
So Australia go into Sydney for the final Test needing a draw to win the series. But given the momentum which is with them at the moment Cummins and his men would love to win 3-1. India on the other hand has lots top ponder. The future of Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Tests is now seriously under intense scrutiny. And already retirement buzz is getting louder for the two greats.
