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MELBOURNE: A desperate India will punt on the rookie opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari in their bid to regain momentum against a rejuvenated Australia when the 'Boxing Day' Test starts on Wednesday.
After being deflated by 146 runs in the second Test at Perth, India after a week's break will be putting their best foot forward, an indicator of which is the decision to finally drop their out-of-form openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay.
While there was temptation to play all-rounder Hardik Pandya, a fit-again Rohit Sharma will give the cushion of an extra batsman.Indian team management in a departure from its convention, announced their playing XI, a day prior to the match ending speculations about the possible team combination.
Two matches into the Test series and how the fortunes of both the teams have turned on its head. Australia, who scripted a 146-run victory at Perth (first since the infamous ball tampering fiasco), seems rejuvenated and well settled for the first time in the four-match series. India, on the other hand, have been forced to rethink their strategy and drop openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, which gives youngsters Hanuma Vihari and Agarwal the chance to open the innings and make an impression. A fit-again Rohit Sharma will give the cushion of an extra batsman.
From India’s point of view, a win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will provide the much-needed boost in the morale inside the dressing room which doesn’t seem like a happy one at the moment. The answer to India’s improvement lies in the first Test, where the bowlers and Pujara stood tall and took the game away from Australians. That is something that Kohli and co. should focus back on. Wickets have not been the problem, it is runs at the top that is proving to be India’s nemesis. Whether Agarwal and Vihari have the answer to it is a matter of conjecture but one thing going in their favour is confidence.
Agarwal has earned his place by sheer weight of runs in domestic cricket. Vihari bats at number three for Andhra and has previously opened for Hyderabad earlier in his first-class career. A little bit of support from the other batsmen and India can surpass the 350-run mark which is a match-winning score in the current screnario.
Another important aspect which must be kept in mind is the toss. Teams which have won the toss have gone on to win both the Tests- Adelaide and Perth. Hence, whoever calls correctly on Boxing Day will definitely have the advantage on its side.
Batting at the MCG will be another challenge for the visitors as its big boundaries will not result in easy runs. The MCG has square boundaries of 86m. Run-making at Melbourne is an art that only a few have been able to master. With a hundred on the previous tour at the same venue, Virat Kohli is one person who can definitely help his teammates learn the trick of the trade.
Paine didn’t reckon that the change in the side would impact their momentum after a resounding 146 run victory at Perth to equalise the four-match Test series.
India's third change is pertaining to their bowling attack.After getting the balance awfully wrong in Perth, they have included a spinner along with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja has recovered sufficiently from his shoulder stiffness and takes Umesh Yadav's spot in the playing eleven.This was after off-spinner R Ashwin was ruled out of this third Test, as he still needs more time to recover from his left abdominal strain.
Australia too have made one change to their playing eleven.Peter Handscomb, who is short of runs, makes way for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, albeit the latter isn't in the best form himself.
The hosts have made this change keeping in mind the placid nature of the MCG pitch, which was rated poor by the ICC after a drab draw played out against England here in December 2017.The pitch for this 'Boxing Day' Test sported some grass on the top surface, and both teams talked about the possibility of some moisture in the wicket as well.
However, Australian coach Justin Langer and opener Marcus Harris have previously warned about the grass being not too productive here unlike in Adelaide and Perth, and with the sun beating down, the wicket could yet turn out to be a flat surface thus explaining their one change to bolster the bowling unit.
Team India: Virat Kohli (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami.
Team Australia: Tim Paine (capt & wk), Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood.
-TOI
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