Match Preview :India vs Australia 3rd test Melbourne December 26, 2018
India and Australia are facing each other on December 26 , 2018 at Melbourne.This is the historic boxing day match.The series is already balance with 1-1 result.India won the 1st test at Adelaide Oval and Australia won 2nd test at Perth.
India has decided to change both opners.
Both opner scored 97 runs in 8 innings.
In 26 innings they have scored 543 runs with average of 20.88.This is the worst test opening pair in Indian test cricket history.
Lokesh Rahule has scored only 48 runs in last four innings of two test vs Australia.
In Australia Tour Lokesh Rahule has scored 140 runs in 8 innings of Australia Tours.
Rahule highest score in four test innings is 44 at Adelaide. At Perth he scored only two runs in two innings.
In nine tests abroad he has scored only one fifty plus score and now average 20.94.
Murali Vijjay has scored 49 runs in 4 innings of two tests vs Australia in 2018 tour.
In first match of tour vs CA XI Murali scored 129 runs.
In 2018 in 8 test he scored with average of 18.18.He scored only one hundred vs Afghanistan. In 7 test abroad his highest score is 46 in 7 test matches with average of 12.64.
Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari will open the Indian Innings at Melbourne.
Agarwal will make debut at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Agarwal has scored 3599 runs in first class with average of 50 plus with 8 hundred vand 20 fifties. 27 years old Agarwal belong to Karnataka.
Rohit Sharma is fit and will be part of playing XI.
Ravidra Jadeja will also play because R Ashwin is still unfit.Umesh Yadav is dropped from the team.
India will include three fast bowlers Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah and one spinner Jadeja.
Australia has made only one change in Perth XI, Mitchell Marsh is in and Peter Handscomb has been dropped.
Handscomb has scored 68 runs in 4 innings vs India in 2018 series.His highest score is 34.
If India win this will be first time that India will win series vs Australia in Australia.If Australia keep his winning records Australia will retain Gavaskar-Border Trophy.
Hardik Pandya is also fit and may be consider for 4th test at SCG starting from January 3 ,2019.
India Playing XI for 3rd Test:
Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia Playing XI for 3rd Test:
Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
AUS vs IND
3rd Test India tour of Australia
Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Sunday, December 30, 2018
Time: 11:30 PM GMT
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: Ian Gould, Marais Erasmus
Third Umpire: Richard Kettleborough
Match Referee : Andy Pycroft
.