Join us for updates, analysis and color from day one of the SCG Test
Welcome to our live report on the first day of the Australia-India Test from Melbourne. Join us for updates, analysis and color. You can find the traditional ball-by-ball statement here
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10.10am local time / 4.40am IST: Two more debates in the series
After Chris Green in Adelaide, Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj at the MCG, we have two others as expected: Will Pucovski and Navdeep Saini. Pucovski gave the cap to Andrew McDonald and Saini to Jasprit Bumrah. Australia have opted for a batting, with David Warner replacing Travis Head, and Matthew Wade moving down to midfield. For India, we already knew yesterday that Rohit Sharma will open with Mayank Agarwal handed over the ax, with Saini making his first appearance as Umesh Yadav has flown back home.
Speaking of fast archers, Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Saini have India speed battery with their combined test experience of 17 Tests the support of Australian Tally of 144, thanks to Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. That’s one thing Australia will be excited about not having to change their attack from the first Test.
10am local time / 4.30am IST: More reports of doubts about the fourth trial in Brisbane
And we have news coming in already, even before the coin has been turned. Here is Andrew McGlashan with the Australian brewing for the Brisbane Test:
Cricket Australia will seek clarification from the BCCI following further suggestions that India would not travel to Brisbane for the final Test but maintain that they were not informed of concerns. And a report said Thursday morning that the BCCI had officially written to CA saying they did not want to go to Brisbane. However, ESPNcricinfo understands that the updated plans for the Gabba Test, following the Covid-19 revolution in Sydney that led to border restrictions to Queensland, were agreed with BCCI office carriers on December 29 and did not complaints have since been received.
CA has been largely dealing with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and it is understood he will seek further talks Thursday.
Players are not limited to their rooms when at the team’s hotels in Sydney and Brisbane – which are wholly booked by Cricket Australia – and are able to mix in common areas. The only difference is that the restrictions in Sydney are CA protocols while those in Brisbane are imposed by the Queensland government as terms to grant relief.
9.55am local time / 4.25m IST: Warming up for throwing
Hello everyone and a warm welcome to the third Test of this exciting series which is at level 1-1. Another test, maybe another debating set (at least one has been confirmed from India), another tight race for WTC points and ICC rankings (New Zealand is now at the top), another selection debate , another discussion on who is going to make it open, and much more. I steal Tim Paine’s words and just say that “tension is starting to boil beneath the surface”.
Vishal Dikshit is the senior sub-editor of ESPNcricinfo