Australia Vs India : Boxing Day Test Preview

After facing the embarrassing setback in the first test match of Border Gavaskar trophy, team India will step out fresh at the MCG for the boxing day test match. For the Indian team, it will be a new day under a new leader.
In the absence of Virat Kohli, it will be a test of newly appointed Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership down-under.

As far as the playing 11 is concerned, India has made 4 changes into their side. Shubham Gill substitutes out of form Prithvi Shaw, Pant comes in place of Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammad Siraj replaced injured Mohammad Shami and the most shocking change is in place of Kohli, management has chosen Ravindra Jadeja instead of KL Rahul.
With the addition of Jadeja, India will now play with 2 spinners and 3 fast bowlers. If India wants to win this boxing day test, then they have put at least 350+ runs on board which will give something to the bowlers to defend.
As far as India’s bowling is concerned, it was excellent in the first test but the problem lies in batting where the openers were unable to give a good start which the team needed. Not to forget that this time there is no Virat Kohli to score vital runs for the team. Therefore, because of his absence, all eyes are now on Chesteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari to guide the team from the front by scoring a good amount of runs. If anyone of them succeeds in spending some time on the wicket and able to make 100, then the chances of winning this game for the Indian team will automatically increase.
All these middle-order batsmen can score runs, not to forget the 2018–19 series where Pujara, Rahane and even Rishabh Pant outclassed Australian bowling attack. Though this time the batsmen are not in good touch, it will only take one good inning to be back in form.

If we talk about Australia, the playing 11 likely to remain unchanged. For the hosts, to win this test match, everything will be dependent on how Smith and Labuchagne plays. Both have failed to score big in the first test which resulted in the first inning lead to India.
Australia’s Batsmen seemed uncomfortable while facing R Ashwin, and this might be the reason why Indian team management brought Jadeja into the side instead of KL Rahul.
Australian batsmen need to be very careful in the second test with the spin bowling. They have to play it with great technique and temperament. Not to forget that team like India won’t give them another chance if they fail to take lead in the first inning.

As I conclude, The hosts have an upper hand in the second test, It will be interesting to see how Indian batsmen answers to the lethal bowling attack of Australia. Whoever succeeds in taking the first inning lead in Melbourne will surely have a decisive edge to win this test match.