Australia ready to build on Perth victory

Overview

Australia v India, 3rd Test
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wednesday 26 December, 10.30am local, 11.30pm GMT (-1)

It was a case of contributions all-round that saw Australia to their first Test win since March. Half-centuries from Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch and Travis Head anchored their first-innings total of 326, while Usman Khawaja showed tremendous resolve in the second innings with his 213-ball 72. Australia set India a challenging target of 287, one which proved simply too much for the visitors.

With the ball, Nathan Lyon was superb once more, collecting eight wickets in the match. Despite talk of a fiery Perth pitch being seamer-friendly, it was the Australian spinner who wreaked havoc.

He has developed into a man for all conditions, someone who can be relied on to tighten the scoring, break budding partnerships and run through line-ups. If India are to claim their first series win in Australia, they will have to devise a new plan to tackle the threat of the off-spinner.

The hosts have brought in Mitchell Marsh in place of the struggling Peter Handscomb. Marsh, they believe, will help take some load off the fast bowlers.

For India, some underlying issues from the first Test came back to haunt them in the second, which they have tackled with three changes. The opening pair of Murali Vijay and KL Rahul, who struggled with form, have been dropped for the third Test. Mayank Agarwal is set to make his India debut and likely to open with Hanuma Vihari, who is set to be promoted up the order.

Rohit Sharma, who missed the second Test with injury, slots back in, likely in the middle order.

Another disappointing aspect for the Indians was the crumbling of the tail across both innings, with the foursome of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah contributing 11 runs across the match.

While they should not be relied upon to deliver match-winning totals, a few extra runs and more time spent in the field for the Australians would be beneficial to India over the next two Tests.

With the key figure of Ravichandran Ashwin continuing to miss out as he recovers from an abdominal strain, India have brought in Ravindra Jadeja in place of Yadav. They will hope the move offers them some batting depth as well.

Key players

Ajinkya Rahane (India): India’s vice-captain has looked in good touch, hitting two impressive half-centuries. Nevertheless, his performances have been overshadowed by centuries from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Speaking to the press in preparation for this Test, Rahane was in a confident mood, stating that a ton was well on its way. Having failed to reach three-figures in Tests this year, a hundred to close 2018 would be something special.

Marcus Harris (Australia): After a quiet debut in Adelaide, Harris looked right at home as a Test cricketer in Perth, a first-innings 70 filled with some dreamy drives. The Victoria batsman is now set to return to his home ground with a Baggy Green on, and how Australia would love for him to emulate his state achievements on the international stage. In October, Harris hit a monumental 250 against New South Wales at the MCG in the Sheffield Shield. With Aaron Finch also finding form with a half-century in the last Test, India will have to be wary of the Australian opening duo.

Conditions

Boxing Day is set to see a sunny event, although subsequent days are likely to be a bit cloudier, with potential showers on day four and five. The MCG pitch has a green tinge to it, and is likely to lead towards a slow-scoring game.

Squads

Australia: Tim Paine (c), Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India: Virat Kohli (c), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav