Border Gavaskar Trophy: Key Australians who can trouble India in the Boxing Day Test

When India and Australia prepared to clash at the Gabba, the Brisbane Test was hailed as the most significant match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The third encounter in the India vs Australia series was anticipated as the tie-breaker. India staged a surprisingly commendable effort in Perth to clinch the series opener. While stunned by the 295-run defeat in the Perth Test, Australia revived swiftly as Mitchell Starc dominated with the pink ball in Adelaide. Australia’s home advantage was on full display during the second BGT Test, as they brought the visitors down with a 10-wicket victory in the day-night fixture. Consequently, the Brisbane Test held a critical place in the series, as India returned to the Gabba after their historic fortress breach in 2021.

India and Australia coming to the Boxing Day Test

The Gabba Test delivered a thrilling contest. However, India and Australia faced an additional challenge as rain played spoilsport in Brisbane. During the brief windows of play allowed by the weather, Travis Head notched his second ton of the series, while Steve Smith regained his form with a century. India narrowly avoided a follow-on as tailenders Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah managed to fend off Pat Cummins. However, rain had the final word in Brisbane, as persistent downpours over the five days forced the Test to end in a draw. Now, as the Border Gavaskar Trophy enters its decisive phase, India and Australia are level with one victory each, gearing up for the iconic Boxing Day Test.

India arrived at the Gabba on the back of their unforgettable victory at the venue in 2021. The visitors now head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the memory of their 2020 Boxing Day Test triumph still fresh in their minds. Based on the performances so far in the BGT, neither team seems to hold a decisive advantage. The top-order batting for both sides has emerged as the weakest link in the series. India is expected to retain their trust in Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.

Jaiswal began the series with a seamless second-innings century. However, the young debutant, playing his first series in Australia, has struggled since. KL Rahul, meanwhile, has been the only consistent performer in the batting lineup. While India is unlikely to make significant changes to their squad from the Gabba Test, the team will hope for improved performances from Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and captain Rohit Sharma.

Australians to watch out for in the Boxing Day Test

Ahead of the fourth Test, Australia has addressed their top-order issues by dropping Nathan McSweeney from the squad. While the decision might seem harsh, Australia cannot afford to persist with an underperforming combination in their quest to reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade-long drought.

Nathan McSweeney managed just 72 runs across three matches, often looking out of depth against India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Although McSweeney might have future opportunities, the Australian management has turned to Sam Konstas. The teenage batting sensation has been in red-hot form, and the decision to prioritize McSweeney over Konstas during initial selection now appears questionable.

Sam Konstas

The Boxing Day Test, scheduled to begin on December 26 at the MCG, is expected to see Sam Konstas make his Test debut. The 19-year-old has been in sublime form this summer. Konstas began his campaign with consecutive centuries in the Sheffield Shield, becoming the youngest since Ricky Ponting to achieve the milestone. Despite his brilliance, Nathan McSweeney edged him out for the BGT opener. However, Konstas maintained his stellar performances, including another century in a pink-ball practice match against India in Canberra. The teenager, confident in his ability to tackle the Indian bowlers, has the potential to significantly challenge the visitors at the MCG.

Travis Head

No matter the strategy, India has yet to find an answer for Travis Head, who has become a nemesis for the visitors. The middle-order batter has consistently negated India’s potent bowling attacks. He smashed a fiery 140 off 141 against the pink ball in Adelaide and followed it up with another century in Brisbane during an uninterrupted Day 2. If India fails to address their vulnerabilities against him, Head could once again play a decisive role in the Boxing Day Test. While the batter experienced some discomfort towards the end of the Gabba Test, Australian skipper Pat Cummins confirmed that it would not hinder his participation in Melbourne.

Scott Boland

Initially brought in as a replacement, Scott Boland has seamlessly filled the void left by Josh Hazlewood, who suffered a side strain after the Perth Test. Boland has proven equally effective in troubling the Indian lineup. With Hazlewood ruled out for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will continue to feature in the remaining fixtures. The 35-year-old complements Mitchell Starc perfectly, dismantling the already struggling Indian batting order. With impressive outings against India in the 2023 WTC Final and the second BGT Test, Boland has firmly established himself as a key figure against the visitors.