Good morning.
It is the time of the year, the iconic Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The series is tied 1-1 and we hope we have a humdinger in store.
Third session update:
It has been Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara all the way and India is on top at the end of Day One.
The duo saw off the entire session and stitched together an unbeaten 92-run partnership for the third wicket. The partnership is also India's highest of the series, so far.
Mitchell Starc was venomous with the second new ball, a few dropped catches and half-chances hurt Australia but Kohli and Pujara kept their composure and averted any danger.
Second session update:
50 for Mayank Agarwal on debut. How long it has been before we saw an Indian opener make a telling contribution with the bat? Mayank has looked solid and looks unstoppable now.
India has dominated two sessions on the first day. Mayank and Pujara almost saw off the entire session with a mix of caution and aggression.
Mayank, however, perished at the stroke of tea and India would go into the tea break as the more confident team.
First session update:
A fruitful session for India. Opening with two new openers — Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal — who have an experience of two Test matches combined, the duo started confidently with a positive approach.
With spin introduced in the eighth over, the batsmen had no qualms in using the feet to the pitch of the ball and safely negotiate and rotate the strike.
Pat Cummins was lethal with the ball. He pitched it up, mixed his length with some telling bouncers — one that hit Hanuma Vihari on the helmet, one that hit him on the shoulder, one that Mayank got on his shoulder — but the batsmen managed to negotiate it well.
Cummins, however, had the last laugh when he got one to rise and the ball hit Vihari's gloves and looped to the slip cordon.
However, debutant Mayank and Cheteshwar Pujara have guided India to take the honours in the first session.
India wins toss, elects to bat first.
Virat Kohli at the toss: We are taking this Test as the last Test. We want to give it all. We played better in Adelaide, they came back in Perth which we expected. This is the most crucial Test of the series. Mayank plays his first game today, he is an exciting talent. Hanuma is solid. He is opening for us after batting at No. 3 in first-class cricket. We have Rohit at 6 and Ravindra Jadeja replaces Umesh Yadav in the bowling department.
Archie Schiller, the cynosure of all eyes, at the toss: With a baggy green cap, he waits patiently and when the presenter asks him for advice, all he had to say was, "Hit sixes and get wickets."
Tim Paine, at the toss: I wasn't too sure what to do, so I am happy to be bowling. We have a pretty inexperienced team, so a win certainly helps. I would have laughed if someone would have told me last year that I will be the skipper for the Australian team in the next Boxing Day Test. Archie wanted to bat 100% but I told him that I was not entirely sure.
Allan Border at the pitch report: There is a nice covering of grass on this pitch. The pitch curator has experimented with the playing surface a lot. This pitch doesn't crumble and captain who wins the toss should elect to field first.
India is up with a new opening combination — Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal. Read their stories:
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