India have been aggressive, vocal and competitive with the bat but they still trail Australia 0-2 as the two sides get ready to clash in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India came close in Adelaide and held the edge in Brisbane for a bit but mistakes at crucial junctures ruined their chances of registering a rare win Down Under. The hosts meanwhile, grief-stricken and injury-ridden have shown depth in talent and resolve to pull ahead half-way through the four-match series. (Live Scorecard | Live updates )
Indian team must win Melbourne Test against Australia to have hopes of leveling the 4-Test series. (Agency image)
India have had their fair share of problems in what has been an interesting Test series so far despite Australia's twin victories. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was ruled out of the opener after failing to recover in time from a thumb injury while Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed the first two matches, recuperating from an ankle problem. The spinners have failed to deliver, picking up only seven of the 28 Aussie wickets to fall so far while the pacers have been impressive only in patches. The batting has revolved around Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli with useful contributions from Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan. However, those innings have not been enough to power India to positions of strength. Rohit Sharma has flopped at number six and the Indian team management could be looking at Suresh Raina as a replacement.
India have also been in the news for the wrong reasons after an Indian daily revealed an apparent fight between Kohli and Dhawan after the latter refused to resume his innings on the fourth morning citing pain from a blow during practice earlier in the morning. However, Dhoni played it down typically, joking about the entire incident. What really is brewing in the Indian team?
Australia, meanwhile, have coped well after Steve Smith took over the captaincy reins from Michael Clarke. Smith has led from the front with the bat and has shown good aptitude on the field, marshaling his resources smartly. David Warner has carried on his enviable form, slamming two hundreds in Adelaide while fellow opener Chris Rogers silenced his critics with a fifty in each of the two innings at the Gabba. Mitchell Johnson, who looked out-of-sorts in the first three innings, bounced back in style, dismantling India with sheer pace in their second innings in Brisbane. Josh Hazlewood was a revelation on debut and Nathan Lyon has been brilliant, snaring 17 wickets from two matches so far. Ryan Harris is set to play, giving the Australian attack some extra teeth. All eyes will of course be on Joe Burns, the debutant, who is set to bat at number six.
India Won't Tone Down Verbal Spats, Says Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Thursday sledging had nothing to do with India's losing performance in the series against Australia and he encouraged more of it in this week's third Test in Melbourne. Dhoni said he saw nothing wrong with sledging despite India coming off second best in their efforts to distract Mitchell Johnson during last week's second Test in Brisbane. (Full report )
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Backs India to Turn it Around in Melbourne
India might be 0-2 behind in the series but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has utmost belief that his team can turn the tables on Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. "It is possible to turn things around. We have been competitive in the series so far," the Indian captain said Thursday. (Full report )
Virat Kohli to Have Anushka for Company at Boxing Day Test at MCG
Virat Kohli hopes to overturn his lackluster batting show in the second Test at Brisbane at the crucial third Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. Apart from his batting skills, Virat Kohli should enjoy a big slice of Lady Luck as girl-friend Anushka Sharma is expected to be in the stands watching the Test match as India aim to recover from two-nil down in the four-Test series. (Read in full here )
Dhoni's Boxing Day Test Dilemma: To Play or Not to Play Two Spinners at MCG
India have relied heavily on their pace attack so far on the tour of Australia but former captain Anil Kumble feels Mahendra Singh Dhoni should review his bowling strategies ahead of the Boxing Day Testat the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Read )
India Don't Believe They Can Win Away From Home, Says Matthew Hayden
Not too impressed with the Indian cricket team, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden feels the tourists do not seem to believe that they can win away from home and have gone "missing" during key moments of the ongoing Test series. (Read report )
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