The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) kicked off with vibrant enthusiasm as Australia faced India on December 26, 2024. After winning the toss, Australia chose to bat first, setting the stage for what promised to be another riveting chapter of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Day 1 saw Australia notching up 311 runs for the loss of six wickets by stumps, presenting them with the upper hand at the end of play. The Australian innings was characterized by outstanding performances from several batters, with notable mention going to debutant Sam Konstas. The 19-year-old made waves with his audacious 60 off just 65 balls, showing no fear even against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, one of the leading bowlers globally.
Konstas opened the innings alongside Usman Khawaja, and their partnership carved out 89 runs for the first wicket, giving Australia the perfect start. Khawaja himself contributed significantly, adding 57 runs before being dismissed by Bumrah, who found some rhythm as the day progressed.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith continued building on the foundation laid by the opening pair, with Labuschagne scoring 72 runs off 145 balls and Smith standing tall at 68 not out by the end of Day 1. Their resilience showcased Australia’s depth and the ability to recover after losing their opener early on. Labuschagne’s aggressive opening eventually came to an end after he mistimed one straight to Virat Kohli, who took the catch off Washington Sundar's bowling.
India’s bowlers had a mixed outing throughout the day. Jasprit Bumrah was the star of the Indian bowling attack, capturing three pivotal wickets for 75 runs and making a valiant effort to dismantle the Australian defense late in the day. His breakthrough came first with the dismissal of Travis Head, who, surprisingly, was bowled without scoring—a significant scalp for the Indian side.
Following Head’s dismissal, Bumrah’s intensity surged, as he quickly followed up with the wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, both adding to Australia's woes. Carey fell victim to Akash Deep, who also managed to snag his first wicket of the innings, putting India on the path to restrict Australia from accumulating too many runs.
The second session of the day saw Australia control proceedings, accumulating 112 runs with solid contributions from their top order, leading to India’s frustration. Despite the series of close calls and edges finding the slips without any catches, Australia expertly navigated their innings—especially through the steadying influence of Smith and Labuschagne.
The atmosphere at the MCG was charged, fuelled by roughly 82,000 passionate fans witnessing the contest. Virat Kohli's confrontation with the debutant Konstas solidified the day's drama, hinting at the fierce rivalry present on the field.
Entering the final session, having ended their respective drinks breaks, both teams felt the weight of the match on their shoulders. With India’s hopes pinned on Bumrah and the other strike bowlers, it was imperative they dismissed Smith before he could accumulate too many runs, which is all the more important considering the excellent form he displayed during his innings at the Gabba.
At stumps, Australia found itself at 311 for six, with the Indian bowlers aiming to make early inroads on Day 2. The pressure on India continues to mount as they look to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy—a trophy they could uphold with victory on this occasion.
With Day 2 looming, all eyes will be on the Indian batting lineup and how they will respond to the scores set before them. The conditions at the MCG, expected to evolve as the match progresses, will demand resilience from both teams.
