Boxing Day Test poised to deliver a thrilling final day

If there is still someone left under a rock, it’s time to come up as the Boxing Day Test has set up a thriller script for the final day. The action that started, of course, on December 26 at the iconic MCG has seen all the drama. From an intense sporting battle to heated banters to the audience playing their own cards, the India vs Australia clash has emerged as the defining Test match. With four days of the game concluded, it is safe to say that both India and Australia have more than something left for them in the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy fixture. Day 3 and the subsequent day witnessed the visitors making inroads into the game. A splendid partnership down the order between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar revived the Indian hopes. As the page turned to the penultimate day, Jasprit Bumrah banked on those hopes, rattling through the Australian batting order.

India's resurgence and Australia's fightback as it unfolded on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test

While India rejoiced in the emergence of a new star as Nitish Kumar Reddy, at 21 years old, scored his maiden Test ton, the visitors had a lot more lined up ahead of them. Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test started with a drama staged by the Australian skipper Pat Cummins. In an attempt to claim the last wicket, Steve Smith appealed for a catch as India's tailender Mohammed Siraj nicked a delivery by Cummins. Australia celebrated the fall of the final wicket, but the umpires reviewed the catch, which turned out to be touching the ground first before falling into Smith's hands. The decision was overturned, and Siraj held the crease, but the Australian captain asked for another review. Essentially, in a fit of frustration, Cummins was asking for a review over the umpire's review, a case not allowed on the field in any circumstance.

However, the conclusion of India's batting innings followed soon after as Mitchell Starc caught Nitish Kumar Reddy at long off in the very next over by Nathan Lyon. As Reddy's fighting knock came to an end at 114, Australia had a 105-run lead over the visitors. India's bowling attack once again saw the mastery of Jasprit Bumrah. Not in the mood to entertain the young Aussie opener any further than his antics in the opening innings, Bumrah claimed Sam Konstas as his first victim of the day. Siraj made his presence count as he followed Konstas's fall with a ripper against Usman Khawaja. At lunch, Australia were 53 for 2.

The afternoon session had India mourning their lost chances as the young opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, dropped Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins after his first session fumble against Khawaja. Both Labuschagne and Cummins made their presence count, significantly building the lead with a half-century and 41* run knock, respectively. However, Bumrah earned yet another breakthrough as he dismissed birthday boy Travis Head at a paltry 1 (2). Mere moments later, the Indian spearhead claimed Mitchell Marsh for a four-ball duck. With Siraj and Bumrah breathing fire, Australia tracked a downfall from being 80-2 to 85 for 5 in the matter of two overs. Bumrah, who completed his 200 Test wickets when he claimed Head, secured yet another four-fer in the match as he scalped Carey at 2 for 7.

Luck finally favored India as Rishabh Pant completed a direct hit to dismiss Mitchell Starc, reducing Australia to 157 for 8 after Siraj claimed the hard-earned wicket of Labuschagne at the score of 70. However, not the ones to let any visitor dominate them like that, Australia's last-wicket partnership between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland had India rumbling. The last wicket saw India losing all of their remaining reviews as Lyon and Boland notched a 55-run partnership, taking the lead well past 300.

Now, as Day 5 starts on Monday, December 30, India's first task would be to remove the Australian tailenders. After that, a mammoth chase of over 300 awaits with Australia currently at a 333-run lead. The onus, once again, will fall on the Indian batters, who have fared hot and cold so far, colder than hotter, to be specific. The visitors would count on Yashasvi Jaiswal to undo his fielding slips with the bat. Moreover, India will need a revival in the forms of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to win the Boxing Day Test. India has a fair chance at the series with the last Test scheduled in Sydney. Moreover, a lead here would significantly boost their chances for WTC Final qualification.