AUS vs IND: What are India's chances of winning Boxing Day Test after Day 1?
AUS vs. IND, Boxing Day Test: Does India still have a chance to win the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) match after Australia reached 311 for six at Stumps on Day 1?
Ankush Pandey
INTRO
- At the MCG, Australia ended the first day at 311 for 6.
- Jasprit Bumrah scored 75 runs with 3 wickets.
- The Melbourne Cricket Ground has seen four Test victories for India.
India's current Boxing Day Test match against Australia does not leave much opportunity for complacency. On the first day at Stumps, the Australians reached 311 for six in 86 overs. The other batsmen performed well at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), despite Travis Head, the series' leading scorer, being dismissed for a seven-ball duck.
In a Test match against India, the top four batters in an Australian XI scored fifties in an innings for the first time in a decade. With his thunderous 60-run knock on his Test debut, Sam Konstas set the stage. Usman Khawaja, who had been struggling, got back to his best after scoring 57 runs off 121 balls.
Steve Smith scored his tenth fifty-plus at the MCG after Marnus Labuschagne contributed 72 runs at No. 3. Alex Carey made an impression as well, scoring 31 runs. Australia never experienced a great deal of pressure.
Jasprit Bumrah again took a significant amount of India's workload, taking three wickets. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep each claimed one wicket. India still has a lot of work to do if they want to win the Boxing Day Test, which is in four days.
India with the need to script history
Australia, who scored over 300 runs in the first inning, have only lost five times at the MCG. They were defeated by South Africa in 1953 and 2008, despite England's three victories in 1895, 1928, and 1962. The fact that no Asian team has defeated Australia at the MCG after giving up more than 300 runs in the opening innings is important to remember. Consequently, it is obvious that India must come up with a surprise to win.
Also read: Australian strategy: Indian team will get traditional pace and bounce in Gaba
Australia's losses at MCG after hitting more than 300 in the first innings
Not impossible by any means
Australia scored more than 300 runs in their opening innings in two of the ten Test matches that India won. Despite Australia's overwhelming 556 in the opening innings in 2003, Rahul Dravid's 233 and 72 helped lead India to victory in Adelaide. India won the historic Gabba Test after giving up 369 runs in the first innings, with Rishabh Pant's 89 not out taking centre stage. Thus, they are not entirely unable to take the current MCG Test.
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India's victories in Australia after giving up more than 300 runs in the opening innings
India not out of it, just yet
India is still in the game, even though Australia is far ahead. India has won matches after fielding first four times on Australian soil. Bishan Singh Bedi's team crushed the hosts by an innings and two runs back in January 1978. India chased down 230 at the Adelaide Oval in 2003.
In 2020, India chased down 70 and won by eight wickets at the MCG. In 2021, India chased down 328 in the Gabba Test. Given the numerous opportunities for a comeback in the Boxing Day Test, India has no reason to give up the ghost.
Also read: IND vs AUS: Team India's special preparations before the Gabba Test, now Australia is in trouble!
Test match victories for India in Australia, where they fielded first
Need of the hour for India
India's top priority heading into Day 2 is to limit Steve Smith, who has established himself in the series. Smith bounced back from a poor showing in the Perth and Adelaide Tests with a brilliant century in the Brisbane Test. With five fours and a six, he stayed not out at 68 off 111 balls, giving Australia a reasonable lead.
India would look to Jasprit Bumrah to provide vital breakthroughs during the morning session. Smith has been fired by Bumrah previously, and he faces another challenge. Australia could easily defeat the visiting team in the MCG Test if they surpass the 350-run threshold early.
