While the four-match Test series is currently at the level position by 1-1 with two Tests to go, the third Test of the series will begin on Wednesday (December 26) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne). Prior to the Test series, both played a T20I at this venue and that had no result after it was washed out due to rain.

India won the first Test of the series at Adelaide by 31 runs while the hosts levelled the series after winning the second Test by 146 runs at the new Perth stadium (Optus Stadium).

Australian cricket team

After suffering a close defeat in the Adelaide Test, the hosts made a solid comeback in this Test series by claiming a dominating victory in the Perth Test.

All the bowlers are in a very good form. While surprisingly the off-spinner Nathan Lyon is leading the bowling side, the other bowlers have also the good rhythm.

The Australian top-order batting is still struggling to perform consistently. They have to need to take more responsibilities. The Australian middle-order batting seems better and that means the better top-order batting can provide them to dominate a Test match.

Indian cricket team

Indian cricketers’ morals haven’t down yet despite their defeat in the Perth Test. All the Indian bowlers are in a very good form and everyone has the great ability to take the leadership role in any circumstances.

However, Indian batsmen are struggling to perform consistently. While the visiting openers have failed to play the good starts, the other batsmen are mostly struggling to play the big knocks regularly. In addition, India’s recent lower-order batting performances are not upto the mark.

Full squads

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

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

Key Stats Preview:

• India has played 12 Tests at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne) where they have won only twice and lost eight times (drawn two times). Last time, India won a Test at Melbourne in February 1981.
• India has never won a Boxing Day Test match in Australia. India has played 14 Boxing Day Test where they have won only once and that too in South Africa in 2010 Durban Test.
• Last time, Australia lost a Boxing Day Test match in 2010 against England (at Melbourne).
• Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (196 Test wickets) needs to take four more wickets to complete his 200 Test wickets. After Mitchell Johnson (313 Test wickets), Starc will be the second Australian left-arm bowler to claim 200 or more Test wickets. In overall, Starc will be the 17th Australian bowler to claim 200 or more Test wickets.
• India has lost seven Tests in this year and all in the away. Currently, it is the equal number of India’s most Test defeats in a calendar year. Meanwhile, in this year, India has already lost most number of away Test matches in a calendar year.