IND vs AUS: Australian Cricket Team playing 11 for 4th test against India, Melbourne, BGT 2024-25 – Predicted

The fourth IND vs AUS test is slated to get underway on December 26 at the MCG.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is locked at 1-1 heading into the fourth test, which is the Boxing Day test at the MCG, Melbourne.

The series has been highly entertaining so far, with both teams recording one emphatic victory each. India won by 295 runs in Perth and Australia by 10 wickets in Adelaide before the teams played out a draw in Brisbane that was marred significantly by rain throughout.

Jasprit Bumrah and Travis Head have been the stars of the series so far, leading the wickets and runs charts currently.

Australia are set to make a few changes to their playing XI for the 4th test in Melbourne.

IND vs AUS: Australian Cricket Team playing 11 for 4th test at the MCG – Predicted

1. Sam Konstas

19-year-old Sam Konstas has got his maiden test call-up and is expected to make his debut in the 4th test at the MCG, where he scored a match-winning 73* against India A in November. Konstas hit two centuries at the start of the Sheffield Shield season. He averages 42 in 11 First-Class (FC) cricket matches.

Konstas replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad. McSweeney scored 72 runs in three tests and was all at sea against Jasprit Bumrah.

2. Usman Khawaja

While McSweeney has been dropped, senior opener Usman Khawaja has been retained having fared as poorly as the youngster. The left-handed opener has scored only 63 runs across three tests with a best of 21.

3. Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne, too, has struggled for most parts of the series to get going. He has one half-century in five innings; in his other four innings, he’s scored a combined 18 runs.

His fifty in Adelaide alleviated some concerns over his place in the side but, the No. 3 Aussie batter would be looking to get a big knock under his belt in Melbourne.

4. Steve Smith

One of test cricket’s greatest, Steve Smith had managed only 19 runs in the first two tests, but rocked back to form in a resounding fashion with a stellar century in Brisbane.

He might have set himself up for a couple of more big knocks in the rest of the series.

5. Travis Head

Travis Head continued to haunt India as he blasted consecutive centuries. His 152 in Australia’s first innings meant the hosts couldn’t lose the Gabba test.

He’s currently the leading run-scorer of the series with 409 runs at an average of 81 with two centuries and one fifty.

6. Mitchell Marsh

Last season’s Allan Border Medal winner, Mitchell Marsh has had a disappointing start in the BGT 2024-25. He’s managed only 69 runs in three tests and picked three wickets while dealing with niggles.

Marsh was one of Australia’s in-form batsmen last season and is yet to hit the right notes in the IND vs AUS series.

7. Alex Carey (wk)

Carey has been Australia’s first-choice keeper-batsman in test cricket since Tim Paine’s retirement. He’s done well in his career so far: in 35 tests, Carey averages 32.

In this series, the left-hander has averaged 40, cracking an attacking 70 (88) at the Gabba.

8. Pat Cummins

Australian captain Pat Cummins didn’t have a great time in Perth but then picked up a five-wicket haul and a four-wicket haul in the next two tests.

He’s taken a total of 14 wickets so far in the series at an average of 24.

9. Mitchell Starc

Starc has been on fire in the last two tests. He picked up a six-for in Adelaide, registered his best career figures of 6/48, and then snapped 3//83 in Brisbane.

That has taken his tally of total wickets in this series to 14 at an average of 22.

10. Nathan Lyon

With the pitches and conditions assisting the fast bowlers in all three tests so far, Nathan Lyon hasn’t bowled a lot. In four innings, he’s bowled 68 overs, picking up only three wickets. He’s maintained a tidy economy of 2.64.

At the MCG as well, the pitch is expected to be spicy and assist the seamers heavily. So Lyon will again have to shift to the supporting role.

11. Scott Boland

Scott Boland is set to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood for the Melbourne test.

Australia were anyway expected to play Boland at the MCG, where he has a stunning record. In two tests at the MCG, he’s taken 10 wickets at an average of only 13. He recorded mind-blowing figures of 6/7 against England here in the 2021/22 Ashes. He has immense experience at the MCG, a place where he’s taken over 110 First-Class wickets.

Boland played in the Adelaide test against India, where he plucked five wickets for 105 runs.

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