MCG will host the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia. Photo: X | MCG MCG will host the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia. Photo: X | MCG

India are set to clash with Australia in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) starting on Thursday, 26th December. (More Cricket News)

The Boxing Day Test match is expected to be a thrilling contest with the series levelled at 1-1 after three matches already played. India won the first Test but lost the second one in Perth. The third Test match in Adelaide ended in a draw.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) may not offer the bounce found in Perth or the seam movement available at the Gabba, but it will still be favourable for pace bowlers, thanks to the 6mm of grass covering the pitch. MCG curator Matt Page noted that the surface won't dry out enough to assist spin bowlers.

"Seven years ago, we were quite flat, we want to create exciting contests and exciting Test matches, so we will leave more grass, that brings the bowlers into the equation.

"But it is still good for batting once the new ball goes off. We keep 6mm grass and we would monitor that as we get in," Page elaborated.

The decision to make it bowler-friendly was taken in 2017 after the MCG track was deemed as a flat deck.

"In 2017, we sat down as an organisation and discussed where we wanted to go and we agreed that it was about producing wickets for thrilling Test matches.

"It gives bowlers a chance to come into the game but also batters if they play well."

"All quick bowlers get excited when they come here now although it is not as quick as Perth and Brisbane but we have managed to get some pace on it," Page answered to the question if Jasprit Bumrah should be excited to bowl here.

fruit mania

"Every wicket in Australia is different and we have also got our unique character."

The strip at the MCG may not offer a lot to the spinners like Nathan Lyon and Ravindra Jadeja.

While Ravindra Jadeja is more of a batting all-rounder in overseas conditions, Page said there is not much help for spinners now.

"Doesn't really break for spinners here and if you see long-format games over the last four to five years, you will see, it has been more seam-friendly than spin," Page observed.

The Boxing Day Test match will start from Thursday, 26th December at the MCG.

India Vs Australia - Boxing Day Test

Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Tanush Kotian, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana

India Win Gold Medal In Hero Asian Champions Trophy Moqi China 2024#hact2024#asiahockey pic.twitter.com/UgHJdtbgh9fc188