Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne (L) inpects the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 25, 2024, ahead of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India starting December 26
| Photo Credit: AFP

Gurgling babies clinging to their mothers, children running with abandon, a group of women sitting on the grass and having a chat, and seasoned cricketers becoming all melting chocolate with their partners and off-spring, constituted a slice of utopia on Christmas Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, once Thursday (December 26, 2024) dawns, sport’s metaphor of a battle without guns will be on view as a packed venue witnesses the commencement of the fourth Test.

Pat Cummins and his men had a relaxed vibe on match-eve and as their families converged and they all got together for their annual Christmas lunch, cricket’s angst was temporarily kept at bay. The positivity was further reinforced when Travis Head, India’s nemesis so far in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, was declared fit for the contest. Head was grinning while sitting next to Marnus Labuschagne, and the latter played the chauffeur, and drove some of his teammates to the hotel.

The Indians, meanwhile, opted to rest but were also conscious about the series being at its tipping point at 1-1. The next fortnight that features two Tests will determine the outcome of a tussle that has acquired a distinct halo over the years even if it may not have the emotional resonance of the Ashes or the ones involving India and Pakistan.

Australia steps in with a comeback wind rustling through its ranks. Having put behind the Perth debacle, the host seized the Adelaide game and was holding the reins in Brisbane too before persistent rains and the Indian lower-order proved to be an insurmountable obstacle. But with mostly Head scoring the runs while Steve Smith and Labuschagne have belatedly joined the party, worries linger even if there are expectations over debutant Sam Konstas throwing some punches.

The bowling, though, has been incredible with Mitchell Starc and Cummins leading the way and even if Josh Hazlewood is out with injury, Scott Boland can be a handful as was evident in Adelaide. Countering this attack and piling on the runs is mandatory for Rohit Sharma’s men to prosper. So far, K.L. Rahul’s consistency and Bumrah’s potency have influenced India’s fortunes. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli scored tons at Perth but after that the two have been lukewarm, an attribute that has also derailed Shubman Gill, Rohit and Rishabh Pant.

Indian Test squad without Ashwin

This game at the MCG will mark a mini transition for the visitors. Rare is an Indian Test squad that does not have R. Ashwin. A regular presence since his debut against the West Indies in Delhi in 2011, the great off-spinner’s retirement after the third Test, marks the end of an era.

Washington Sundar and newly drafted Tanush Kotian get a chance to prove their mettle. Whether Ravindra Jadeja would be the lone spinner in the eleven or have company remains to be seen. A heat wave predicted for Thursday and a surface with its tinge of green would keep the rival captains mulling over their options at the toss.

The teams (from):

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Tanush Kotian.

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head (vice-captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster.

Match officials: Umpires: Joel Wilson and Michael Gough; Third umpire: Saikat; Match referee: Andy Pycroft.

Match starts at 5 a.m. IST.

India’s batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot in the nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 24, 2024, ahead of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India starting December 26.
| Photo Credit: AFP

A city that can throw up four seasons in a single day, decided to stick to the straight and the narrow on Tuesday (December 24, 2024). Melbourne’s whimsical skies turned a bright shade of blue, the sunlight was of the blinding type, hardly a leaf stirred and as the dry heat rose, a whiff of eucalyptus scent wafted in from the trees of the same name in the vicinity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Also read:Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Jasprit Bumrah could take a wicket with every ball, says Sean Abbott

In this afternoon of oppressive warmth, while the rest of the city slipped into the Christmas-eve mode, Rohit Sharma’s men turned up to train. Fielding drills happened in the main venue while key batters and bowlers moved to the outdoor nets. The fans, standing on the mezzanine floor, had a bird’s eye-view, and at times yelled ‘Kohli’, ‘Bumrah’ and ‘Rohit’, much to the discomfort of the players fine-tuning their craft.

That Jasprit Bumrah now exudes a rockstar vibe was evident when there was spontaneous applause when he walked in. Prior to this, he along with Rohit and coach Gautam Gambhir had a look at the pitch. Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar had their initial stints with the bat.

Throwdowns, spin and pace were all pressed into service. While Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and a few net bowlers provided by Cricket Australia, wheeled their arms over, among the speedsters, Bumrah turned up late and initially preferred to fire his thunderbolts from a short run-up.

Meanwhile, Rohit, who had suffered a blow on his left knee during training here on Sunday, stood for a long time. He exchanged notes with Gambhir and chief-selector Ajit Agarkar, and when it appeared as if he might not bat, Rohit strode into the net and spent a long session against throwdowns. While fine-tuning his defence seemed a priority, the Indian skipper was not averse to loft and pull when an opportunity arose.

A snatch of Kannada too was heard when Rahul squared up to Prasidh Krishna. Most batters, be it Kohli, Rohit or Rahul, kept telling the seamers to focus on the fifth-stump line on the off-side. In between, a fan kept repeating Jaiswal’s name and when the perplexed batter looked up, he was told to just wave his hand once! Hopefully when the Boxing Day Test commences here on Thursday (December 26, 2024) the Indian batters will collectively put their hands up and perform.

Ravichandran Ashwin being greeted by Ravindra Jadeja. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

After a long stint at the nets followed by a workout in the gym, Ravindra Jadeja gulped a beverage and had a tiny bite of a savoury to fortify himself. He then walked towards the assembled media personnel on the fringes of the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s turf.

Also read:Ashwin’s wife pens heartfelt tribute after his sudden retirement

It was a Saturday (December 21, 2024) afternoon of clear skies, rustling wind and birdsong from mynahs. Understandably the first question was about his just-retired senior ally R. Ashwin, and the all-rounder replied: “Obviously he was a mentor on the field. We have been passing messages to each other for so many years. What is the match situation, how is the batter reacting, what can we plan against him and so on. Yes, will miss him. But this situation also presents an opportunity for a youngster to step up and perform.”

But was he aware of the retirement? “Through the day we were talking but I never knew. I got to know about it at the last moment when he went for the press conference. I got to know some five minutes before that as someone told me. He didn’t give any hint. Well that’s Ashwin, only he knows what’s in his head,” Jadeja said with a bemused smile.

‘My responsibility as a spinner is more’

Asked for a self-appraisal following his performance in the third Test at Brisbane, that included a none for 95 with the ball and a solid 77 with the bat, Jadeja had his response in order: “If I make runs for the team, then it gives me good satisfaction. And as a player, my confidence will be high. In the upcoming matches, I will try to continue this momentum. Whether batting or bowling, I have to react to the situation of the match.”

Queried about his responsibility as a player, Jadeja said: “My role in the latest match will be the same as my last match. But yes if we are playing in India, my responsibility as a spinner is more. I didn’t get to play the first two Tests here but I practised during that break, learnt about the conditions. I then tried to implement what I learnt in the match. Rohit (Sharma) told me a day before that I am playing the third Test.”

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series level at 1-1, Jadeja reflected on a roller-coaster sojourn Down Under: “The good thing is after three matches, we are 1-1 in this series, and the two remaining games will be interesting.” 

And when probed about his batting colleagues up the order, he added: “When we play in Australia and South Africa, for instance, it is important that we have runs from the top-order, and if that doesn’t happen then there is pressure and more responsibility on the lower-order. But if all of us together score runs then we will be in a good position.”

He then left to join his teammates in the bus. With 3312 runs and 319 wickets in Tests, the 36-year-old has a bigger responsibility now following Ashwin’s departure. And Jadeja knows that.