Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, with the series poised at 1-1. With games in Melbourne and Sydney to come, many even fancied India to win the series. However, the comeback of a certain player for the final two Tests swung the tide in favour of the hosts, leading to a 3-1 series win in the end. That player was pacer Scott Boland. Looking back, Ashwin felt that had Boland not played, India would’ve won the series.

Boland took 21 wickets in three Tests in the series, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker. He starred, in particular, in the final Test, picking up 10 wickets and being named the ‘Player of the Match’.

Ashwin deduced that Josh Hazlewood‘s injury, which allowed Boland to come back into the side for the final two Tests, was a blessing in disguise.

“Everyone said that Pat Cummins had a great series, but he struggled against left-handers. Australia were lucky that Scott Boland came into the team. If Boland hadn’t played, India would’ve won the series,” Ashwin said, speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.

“No offence to Josh Hazlewood; he’s a fantastic bowler. But if they continued with the same attack, we would’ve won. Boland’s round-the-wicket deliveries to our left-handers were a major factor,” Ashwin added.

India’s batting lineup in Test cricket is packed with left-handers in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Boland dismissed Jaiswal and Pant a couple of times in the series, whilst also regularly feasting on Virat Kohli‘s wicket.

At 35, Boland may already be at the business end of his career, but has made himself a real contender to break into Australia’s famed pace trio for good. In 13 Tests, Boland has taken 56 wickets at an astonishing average of just 17.66.

An out-of-sorts India was knocked out of the World Test Championship final as Australia cruised to a six-wicket victory in the fifth Test in Sydney on Sunday to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years, leaving the visitors with several points to ponder in a difficult transition phase. Australia won the five-match series 3-1 and also qualified for the World Test Championship final against South Africa slated at the Lord’s from June 11 to 15. A target of 162 could have been trickier had new Test captain Jasprit Bumrah been in a position to bowl despite painful back spasms but once Virat Kohli led the team out, it was as clear as the Sydney skyline that defending the total would be next to impossible.

Bumrah deservedly claimed the player of the series honour for his astonishing haul of 32 wickets in five matches but that was hardly a consolation for the shambolic team performance that India managed.

“Little frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body, you can’t fight your body. Disappointing, probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series,” Bumrah said of his inability to bowl in the second innings during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Prasidh Krishna (3/65 in 12 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (1/69 in 12 overs) were not a patch on Bumrah and despite multiple breakthroughs, they bowled too many poor deliveries to make it easy for the hosts to canter home in just 27 overs.

Usman Khawaja (41), Travis Head (34 not out) and debutant Beau Webster (39 not out) completed the formalities, putting an end to India’s misery in a tour that has exposed all of the team’s batting frailties and an unhealthy reliance on Bumrah.

Once Bumrah was ruled out after he tried some shadow bowling during the morning warm-up session and didn’t feel comfortable, the writing was on the wall.

The magnificent Scott Boland (6/45) and the ever-reliable Pat Cummins (3/44) polished off the Indian tail for just 157 in 39.5 overs. If one takes out Rishabh Pant’s fiesty 61 and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 22, the other nine players collectively contributed a mere 74 runs.

The series would leave the men who matter in Indian cricket establishment with a lot on their minds when they deliberate on ways to get the house back in order.

With six of the completed innings yielding less than 200 runs, one doesn’t need a soothsayer to tell what went wrong on the tour.

Regular skipper Rohit Sharma and batting talisman Virat Kohli flopped with technical issues troubling them throughout the season.

Jaiswal (391 runs) was the top-scorer despite three ducks followed by rookie Nitish Kumar Reddy (298 runs), KL Rahul (276 runs) and Pant (255 runs).

As much as one wants to take a nuanced view of Rohit and Kohli’s poor form but it is undeniable that both veterans are finding it increasingly difficult to stem the rot that has set in their batting.

There are a few good youngsters in the fringes and the new World Test Championship cycle would demand that they be given a chance to develop over time.

While a tough call on Kohli and Rohit is awaited, the BCCI brass also needs to seriously look at whether coach Gautam Gambhir is the right man to be in-charge across formats.

Under Gambhir, India have lost six Tests out of 10 during the season going by apart from being defeated in an ODI series in Sri Lanka.

If Kohli and Rohit are held accountable, Gambhir can’t be let off merely because the team is in transition.

The head coach’s head-strong approach is an pen secret and it is not earning him too many friends in the dressing room.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement after Brisbane and Rohit’s eventual call to drop himself happened in a manner that can best be described as abrupt.

Messing with a player’s gameplan isn’t the best way to manage as Rishabh Pant demonstrated by oscillating between too careful at times that only disrupted his natural rhythm.

But more than batting, it would be the bowling – both pace and spin that would be a huge concern for the national selection committee as well as the team management.

Bumrah’s absence showed what India missed on the final day even though it was heavily tilted towards Australia.

As Glenn McGrath put it, had Bumrah not taken 32 wickets, there was no chance that India would have managed a 1-3 margin.

In Brisbane, they were saved by rain and in Melbourne, Rohit let the game drift away during the final session on day four.

It has taken Mohammed Siraj 36 Test matches to complete 100 wickets and these are not exactly great figures.

Akash Deep is still raw but has potential while Prasidh Krishna can swing between bowling unplayable deliveries and pedestrian work.

Harshit Rana is simply not prepared for this level and would need to play loads of Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and India A games to get ready for big Tests.

In the spin department, Ravindra Jadeja is now more of a batter and less of a spinner unless the wicket has something to offer from day one like it happens in India.

Washington Sundar’s 12 wickets in Pune should be looked in isolation and he is also more of a batter than a competent off-spinner on batting-friendly wickets.

Only silver lining of the series is Jaiswal taking over the mantle as the next batting superstar and the raw talent exhibited by Nitish Reddy.

Reddy’s bowling, if it develops, would give India a chance to play three spinners at home on decent tracks.

Rohit Sharma had a worried look on his face as Virat Kohli was almost dimissed for duck.© X (Twitter)

Star India batter Virat Kohli earned a valuable lifeline on the opening day of the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Fans around the world were left shocked after regular skipper Rohit Sharma was rested and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was named the stand-in captain for the final Test of the five-match series. Opting to bat first, India faced early blows as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were sent back with only on the board. After their dismissals, Kohli joined hands with Shubman Gill, where he survived a close call on the very first delivery that he faced. 

Australia pacer Scott Boland almost trapped Kohli as the ball went on to hit the edge and Steve Smith, who was placed at the second slip, took a blinder to dismiss the Indian batter. Smith dived towards the right, grabbed the ball and tossed it upwards as Marnus Labuschagne took the catch. 

Just missed a beat there!

ICYMI, #ViratKohli was dropped by #SteveSmith on the very first ball he faced!#AUSvINDOnStar 5th Test, Day 1 LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/iLhCzXCYST

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 3, 2025

As the Australians were celebrating, the on-field handed over the decision to the third umpire, who then revealed that the ball first touched the ground before Smith got his hands on it. Hence, Kohli got a crucial lifeline on the first delivery. 

The drama did not end over here. After the completion of the over, both Kohli and Smith were seen exchanging some words. 

During the lunch break, Smith opened up on the incident and stood firm on his stance. He stated that he had got his hands beneath the ball and it was a complete catch.

“100%. No denying it whatsoever.”

Steve Smith weighs in on whether he got his hand underneath the ball in the biggest moment of the morning. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bqIy8iGIRm

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2025

Even former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting completely disagreed with the third umpire’s decision. 

“As far as I was concerned, if (the ball) had’ve come out of (Smith’s) hand, he wouldn’t have been able to scoop it up. That’s what I’m saying, I think his fingers are clearly underneath the ball … look where his pointer figure is there, it’s still underneath the ball,” Ponting said on-air during the commentary with 7Cricket.

The Australian bowlers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland achieved a historic record of surviving 50 balls across both innings during the fourth Test against India at Melbourne, being the second 10th wicket partnership pair to do so. The Australian lower-order continued to frustrate the Indian bowling as the latter aimed for a massive victory to take an upper hand in the series at Melbourne during the final day of the Test. Once reduced to 91/6, the Aussie lower order made a huge comeback into the match, ending day four on 228/9, leading by 333 runs.

During the first innings of the Test match, Boland and Lyon stitched a partnership of 19 runs, taking Australia to 474 runs from 455 runs. They survived a total of 51 balls before Lyon was trapped leg-before-wicket by Bumrah.

During the second innings, they did even better, frustrating the Indian bowlers who looked on track to help India get a massive win by sinking Australia to 91/6 and then 173/9. They put on 55 runs in 110 balls, with Boland impressive with his solid defence, making 10* in 65 balls, with a four. Lyon was the aggressor, scoring 41* in 54 balls, with five fours.

Pakistan’s Afaq Hussain and Haseeb Ahsan were the first tenth-wicket pair to do so, surviving 56 balls and 109 balls in the Lahore Test in 1961.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Half-centuries from Konstas (60 in 65 balls, with six fours and two sixes), Usman Khawaja (57 in 121 balls, with six fours), Marnus Labuschagne (72 in 145 balls, with seven fours) and 34th Test ton from Steve Smith (140 in 197 balls, with 13 fours and three sixes) took Australia to 474/10 in their first innings.

Bumrah (4/99) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/78) were the lead pacer and spinner for the team, while Akash Deep got two wickets and Washington Sundar got one scalp.

India lost two quick wickets and was reduced to 51/2, but a century stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (82 in 118 balls, with 11 fours and a six) and Virat Kohli (36 in 86 balls, with four boundaries) stabilised the innings. However, Jaiswal’s run-out and Virat’s outside off-stump woes made India end day two on 164/5.

Then it was a 127-run stand between Washington Sundar (50 in 162 balls, with one four) and Nitish (114 in 189 balls, with 11 fours and a six) helped India reach 369. Scott Boland (3/57), skipper Pat Cummins (3/89) and Nathan Lyon (3/96) were the top bowlers for Aussies.

In their second innings, Australia was reduced to 91/6, but Labuschagne (70 in 139 balls, with three fours) and skipper Pat Cummins (41 in 90 balls, with four boundaries) took Australia to 228/9.

Indian cricket team fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah© AFP

India vs Australia 4th Test, LIVE Score Updates© AFP

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Streaming and Live Telecast: The fourth chapter of the riveting Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 starts with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. With the series tied at 1-1, and a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at stake, the game is expected to be a hard-fought one. India will be hoping that their top order can fare better and take early control of the game, while Australia will be aiming to continue their good momentum from the second and third Tests. A win for either side in this Test match would ensure that they cannot lose the series anymore.

Here are the details for the India vs Australia 4th Test, LIVE Streaming and LIVE Telecast of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25: Check Where and How to Watch

When will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 take place?

The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will take place on Boxing Day, December 26 (IST).

Where will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 be held?

The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne.

What time will the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 start?

The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will start at 5:00 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?

The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be televised live on the Star Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?

The India vs Australia 4th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will live streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is where Scott Boland truly feels at home. Out of his 40 Test wickets so far, the most memorable debut came at this very ground. Boland’s first impression was so strong that it remains the most lasting one to date — blowing away England with figures of 6 for 7 in the second innings during his debut, buoyed by his loyal supporters. Now, as another Boxing Day Test approaches at the ‘G’, Boland is ready to step in once again for Josh Hazlewood, continuing the role of the perfect first substitute that has defined his 11-Test career.

And just like a true workhorse, his practice sessions are as regimented as they come. On Monday, during Australia’s first session ahead of the fourth Test, Boland’s focus was clear.

Known for hitting hard lengths, Boland practiced single-net spot bowling without any batters. His aim was to fine-tune the length ideal for the MCG track.

Boland is not a conventional swing bowler and relies more on pace and movement off the track, striving to hit the good length area, typically around five metres.

With assistant coach Daniel Vettori present, Boland was seen trying to land the ball on four yellow cones placed approximately five metres from the batter’s popping crease. For some time, he tried to hit the hard length but there were a few over-pitched deliveries, falling into what could be considered a drivable length.

After few deliveries, Boland went back to his run-up and had a chat with Vettori. While the discussion’s content couldn’t be deciphered from a distance, Boland could be seen walking down the track to readjust the cones. This time, they were placed about seven metres away, slightly back of the length.

During the session, Boland bowled that length more consistently, generating steep bounce, which could spell trouble for the Indian batters.

Smith, Labuschagne slog it out; Webster in better touch than Marsh

With literally no gap between his feet, Steve Smith’s stance looked unconventional and far from aesthetically pleasing, but no one can question the man who has 33 Test hundreds to his name.

As usual, Smith faced an extended session of throwdowns. Despite his laboured century in Brisbane, which must have boosted his confidence, his net session didn’t quite reflect that.

After being bowled by a throwdown, Smith cursed himself loudly and seemed ready to smash the wicket in frustration.

At the other end, Marnus Labuschagne played and missed repeatedly, remaining busy as pressure mounts on George Bailey’s selection committee to consider new options for his position.

But perhaps the middle order replacements currently available may not be half as good as Labuschagne.

Mitchell Marsh, too, had a tough time. Clean bowled once, Marsh didn’t look as comfortable as Beau Webster as they took turns to bat in the same net. While Webster’s footwork was assured and he carried an air of confidence, Marsh looked more circumspect in comparison. 

Australian cricket team in action© AFP