The fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will be played on Thursday, December 26. Australian captain Pat Cummins has announced the final playing XI for this Boxing Day Test, which will take place in Melbourne. During a pre-match press conference, Cummins declared Travis Head fully fit. Alongside him, Scott Boland, who has an excellent record at the MCG, has also been included in the squad.
Pat Cummins revealed that Australia has made two changes for the Melbourne Test. Sam Konstas has replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad. This match will mark Konstas’ debut in Test cricket. Additionally, Boland has been selected in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood. Earlier, it was speculated that if Travis Head was not fit, Josh Inglis would be included in the team instead.
Konstas Set to Debut
Sam Konstas will become the youngest Australian player to make his Test debut after Pat Cummins, who debuted in 2011 at the age of 18. Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, stated, “We wanted clarity regarding our batting unit before the team meeting. We usually do not reveal such details in advance, but we wanted everyone to know their role in the squad.”
Australia’s Playing XI:
Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland.
First Boxing Day Test Played in 1950
The first Boxing Day Test match was played in 1950. Any Test match starting on December 26 in Australia, England, New Zealand, or South Africa is referred to as a Boxing Day Test. India has played 16 such Tests so far.
The term ‘Boxing Day’ has no connection to boxing or any other sport. Instead, December 26, the day after Christmas, is known as Boxing Day in several countries. Different stories are associated with this day across the world. Some believe it originated from ‘Christmas boxes’ given as gifts, while others link it to boxes distributed to the poor by churches during festivals.
The term ‘Boxing Day Test’ was first used in cricket in 1892. This time, Rohit Sharma will captain India for the first time in a Boxing Day Test match.