High stake Boxing Day Test match is going to bake off tomorrow at MCG

It's time for the most exciting and iconic test match of the year- The Boxing Day Test at the MCG between the top placed side India and the 5th placed, Australia. The test match has turned out to be more exciting as the series is well poised as both the teams are stuck at a deadlock of 1-1. India having won the 1st test match at Adelaide by 31 runs which was neutralised by the hosts with a whopping 146 runs victory at Perth. Thus, the 3rd test is highly important as the losing side in this match will lose their chances of winning the series. 

After some dismal failures in the batting unit, India are expected to make some notable changes in the batting line up. Both the openers from the last match, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are going to be dropped, after their poor show in the previous two test matches. Mayank Agarwal is expected to be included as one of the openers. According to the reports, Rohit Sharma is also expected to make a comeback in the playing eleven after he missed the 2nd test due to a back injury, but his inclusion is highly questioned by many critics as he is very much inconsistent in Test Cricket and he doesn't have a pleasing overseas record in the longest format of the game. 

Hanuma Vihari will retain his place after his quite commendable all-round performance in the 2nd test and he is expected to open the innings with Mayank Agarwal. Although chief selector MSK Prasad iterated that he may not be the permanent option for opening position! With Ravi Ashwin still suffering with his injury, Ravindra Jadeja will be included in the playing eleven as he will also provide an extra batting option down the tail. Thus, India will be going with three quicks- Bumrah, Ishant and Shami with Ravindra Jadeja as the lone full-time spinner with Hanuma Vihari providing a part time option for the Indian Skipper.

On the other hand, the hosts are also due to make a change in their playing eleven. The local boy, Petet Handscomb will be replaced by Mitchell Marsh as the former failed to impress the team management with his repeatitive batting

failures and later can help the Aussie bowling department as well. Nathan Lyon will be key player once agian for Australia in MCG's batting-friendly track.

As a wonderful gesture by Cricket Australia, they have included a "seven-year old leg-spinner", Archie Schiller who has survived three open heart surgeries when he was only three to six months age. Australian captain, Tim Paine has named him as the "co-captain" of the team and he has already joined the team for the training session.

This third test is going to be  very important for both the sides as this match will decide a lot on the fate of this series. With the hosts, beaming with confidence after arriving at Melbourne with a win at Perth and the visitors on the other hand will be highly desperate to turn things around after making few notable changes in the playing eleven in order to repair their batting which is highly questioned by the critics. Overall, a highly exciting encounter is expected at the Boxing day Test at the iconic MCG, starting from tomorrow, 26th instant.

Photo Source: Google

Writer: Avirup Roy

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Read here the review of the first Test here: AUSSIES RULES THE ROOST AND LEVEL THE SERIES BY THRASHING INDIA AT PERTH

Read here the preview of this second Test here: PERTH PREPARED FOR THE BREATHTAKING GRAPPLE STARTS ON FRIDAY

Signing off now. Will come back with the Match review of the third test. Keep Watching Cricket!

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