Recent Match
India tour of Australia, 2024-25, 4th Test, , Dec 25th, 2024

Australia

(122.4 ov) 474/10 (83.4 ov) 234/10

India

(119.3 ov) 369/10 (79.1 ov) 155/10

complete Australia won by 184 runs

86.6
Siraj to Smith, 1 run, good length ball around off, Smith defends off the outer half to point and retains strike
86.5
Siraj to Smith, no run, 134.2ks on a length and close to off,
86.4
Siraj to Smith, no run, 134.9ks back of a length outside off, Smith ignores
86.3
Siraj to Cummins, 3 runs, fumble and more runs. Angling into the pads,
86.2
Siraj to Cummins, FOUR, to deep backward point
86.1
Siraj to Smith, 1 run, to point
Mohammed Siraj [15.0-2-69-0] is back into the attack
It was a hot and humid day yesterday and we can expect something similar. India had a huddle early on and Gambhir, Rohit and Kohli had plenty to say to the squad. The players are out in the middle.
India fought back in the final session once Labuschagne gifted his wicket when he tried to take on Washington Sundar and Bumrah struck twice in succession to dismiss Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. Smith, however, was at his fluent best and added a crucial 50+ stand with Alex Carey. That hundred at the Gabba has boosted Smith's confidence and he was back to his old self - taking on the spinners and blunting out the pacers. He remains a key now for Australia as the lower order will bat around him and they will look to stretch that first innings total. India have the second new ball and will once again look at Bumrah to provide the breakthrough. Live action coming up..
What else did Konstas' knock do?
* He faced Bumrah the most in the first spell and that allowed Khawaja, who has been dismissed by Bumrah for four times in this series, to get himself in.
* The 52-ball fifty and Australia's first 50+ opening partnership ensured the top order is not exposed to the new ball and Bumrah in particular.
* Since runs came at a brisk pace in the first session, Australia could afford taking their time in the second session when India were more disciplined and probing.
10:00 Local Time, 23:00 GMT, 04:30 IST: "I do (have a plan). I'm not going to say what it is, but just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers. I think it's just another day for me, obviously it's a bit more special, I've got my parents coming. Pretty simple, just back myself and see ball, hit ball really" - Sam Konstas before the Test. The youngster really walked the talk in his debut innings and did it in front of 85000+ people. India might have felt they came into the Boxing Day Test with a slight psychological advantage having avoided the follow on, keeping the series level at 1-1 and the good memories of MCG in their last three visits, but all that disappeared by the end of the first hour on day one and such was the impact of Konstas' whirlwind knock.
Steven Smith batting on day one of Boxing Day Tests
8 inngs
346 runs
Avg 115.33
18:03 Local Time, 07:03 GMT, 12:33 IST -- Stumps, Day 1:
85.6
Bumrah to Cummins, no run, good length ball swinging in, Cummins defends with a straight bat
85.5
Bumrah to Cummins, 2 runs, low full toss aimed for the base of middle, Cummins jams it to backward short leg and Jaiswal gets a hand
85.5
Bumrah to Cummins, no ball, short of length and angled down leg, Cummins stays inside the line and lets it pass.
85.4
Bumrah to Cummins, no run, attacks the stumps/pads, Cummins leans forward and turns it gently to mid-wicket
85.3
Bumrah to Cummins, no run, full and slants in but after Cummins had shouldered arms
85.2
Bumrah to Cummins, no run, big inswinger on off, Cummins prods forward and blocks it to mid-wicket
85.1
Bumrah to Cummins, no run, on a length and outside off, Cummins lifts his bat and lets it go