Boxing Day Test: Follow the latest on Day 1 as Australia look to take series lead against India
Sam Konstas had an unbelievable debut on the Test stage as Australia finally saw solid top-order runs only for Jaspirt Bumrah to haul India back once again.
Relive all the action from the MCG here!
REVIEW - Khawaja survives
India go upstairs for an LBW call against Khawaja.
The veteran is a long way down the track after leaving his crease, and perhaps India didn’t quite factor that in as much as they should have. Ball tracker shows it going over the stumps.
Khawaja opens his account with a tickle down to fine leg a couple of balls later, and Australia are 0-6.
Konstas away!
Sam Konstas scores his first runs in international cricket with a nudge off his hip behind square for a couple against Bumrah.
“What a feeling that is for the young man,” Ricky Ponting says on Seven’s broadcast.
A couple of balls later he attempts a reverse lap shot - without making contact - that has Khawaja smiling at the other end!
It’s 0-2 after an eventful first three overs...
Plays-and-misses aplenty
Khawaja makes a shaky start against Siraj, with ball reigning over bat in the early stages.
But the new opening duo survive the first two overs without scoring. Plenty of tension around the packed stadium already!
Australia 0-0
Konstas survives the first over - but only just!
Bumrah produces not one, not two, not three, but FOUR plays-and-misses... but they pass the outside of the bat each time.
The kid shows some steel as Khawaja gets set for his own examination from Mohammed Siraj.
Let’s go!
Sam Konstas appeared to be singing the anthem in full voice - just minutes before padding up to face Jasprit Bumrah for the toughest challenge in cricket!
We’re ready to go here. It’ll be Khawaja - who needs some runs of his own - at the non-striker’s end, with Konstas facing Bumrah to get us underway. Crowd at fever pitch!
All in readiness
Adam Gilchrist and Irfan Pathan bring out the trophy, and the teams come out for the anthems.
How would Sam Konstas be feeling right now? Got to be tough for a kid who’s only 19.
There’s been eight Aussies to make their Test debut on Boxing Day across the past three decades... from future legends like Brett Lee to one-Test wonders like Matthew Nicholson. Here’s the list of them all and how they fared!
Eyes on selection
The above is an interesting call from India, with Gill making way having averaged 20 in his three innings on tour so far.
They’ve put plenty of faith in the all-round trio of Jadeja, Reddy and Sundar. The former two have runs under their belt in this series, however.
Australia pull no surprises, but there’ll be plenty of eyes on whether Mitch Marsh can provide more support as their fifth bowler than he did in Brisbane - when the attack was one man short.
We’re just 15 minutes away from the first ball at 7.30am (WA time) as a PACKED MCG awaits!
TOSS: Australia win and will bat!
Konstas will be STRAIGHT into the action as Pat Cummins correctly calls the flip of the coin!
“Looks good... looks firm,” is the short summation of the pitch from the skipper.
Boland confirmed in for Hazlewood, as well as Konstas for McSweeney.
Rohit Sharma says he also would have opted to bat.
The big team news for India is that Rohit will head back to the top of the order, nudging KL Rahul down to No.3, with Shubman Gill dropped. Washington Sundar is back and will bat at No.6.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Boxing Day Test!
It’s a significant one for a number of reasons, aside from the fact that it’s the showpiece fixture on the Aussie cricket calendar.
Sam Konstas is locked in for his debut at the tender age of 19 as he looks to help shore up the top order.
And even though it seems like Australia have the series in hand after dominating the past two Tests, it’s 1-1 and the series is on a knife edge! Stay tuned for the toss and teams...
