Ravi Shastri expecting plenty of spice and a classic contest at the MCG Boxing Day Test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a special place for Ravi Shastri, a venue at which he drove the Aussies nuts, in which drove an Audi and from which an Indian Test resurgence was born.

There is nothing quite like the ‘G. What a venue. What a setting. I know people talk about Lord’s and The Oval with a lot of reverence, but for me, the MCG is special. It’s something else. And I’ve got memories, memories, and memories all the way. Some of my best ever as a cricketer, followed by some more as a coach.

I get very nostalgic whenever I come here. It’s home to some of the great Indian performances. Plus, the fact that nearly 40 years ago, I drove a car around this ground, literally. I’d have never imagined I’d be back here some 40 years later for another Boxing Day Test. And it never ceases to be special.

To start with, it’s the size of the ‘G. It can be intimidating to any youngster or even to those who’ve come here before. It’s got a proper colosseum feel to it, and you feel the magnitude of the MCG when you’re in the middle of it.

I played my first Test here when I was 24 in 1985. I got 8 wickets for the match and scored a half-century. We dominated Australia right through the five days. But for the thundershowers after tea, we’d have won that Test. It was all India, and we only needed 126 to win in the fourth innings. Every Boxing Day Test is special in its own unique way.

It was the same year when we won the World Championship of Cricket here beating Pakistan in the final, which culminated in me driving the Audi that I’d won for being crowned the champion of champions. What a day it was.

#OnThisDay in 1985, India beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final to win the World Championship of Cricket 🏆

And we witnessed an iconic Audi ride around the MCG 🚗 https://t.co/vNuWzcHXw4pic.twitter.com/aJeObi2PM5

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 10, 2024

My three visits here in the last decade, firstly as the Director of Cricket with the Indian team before returning as head coach on two occasions were equally memorable. With great humility, I want to say that India have not lost a Test in Melbourne since I became involved with the team in 2014.

While we will talk about our victories during the Indians’ last two visits here, I want to start with the draw 10 years ago. It was such an important one for us and what the future was for that Test team. To bat out the last day at the MCG against a gun Aussie attack. That’s when I realised this team was really on the up. We did it in Sydney again a week later. But something about the way we saved the game in Melbourne in 2014 told me this team is ready to go places.

That was an Indian team which is similar to the current Australian team, in terms of being in a state of transition.

Australian cricketer David Warner (front) dives for a shot from Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara on day five of the 2014 Boxing Day Test. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

We played great cricket to win in 2018 and 2020, doing it by batting first the first time around and then fielding first the second time around. Four years ago, we came to Melbourne on the back of being humbled in Adelaide, and we were flying high at the ‘G following a magnificent victory. Bottom one day, right on top of the world a week later.

Six years ago, I believe India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia was set up by our performance at the MCG and the commanding fashion in which we won here.

And here we go, back at the G’ for another vital Boxing Day Test, with the series level at 1-1, just like it was in 2018, and the Border Gavaskar Trophy beautifully set. All the off-field drama over the last few days has just spiced up the series. Which is what I need, personally. For, where I come from, we like our spice. I like my spice.

It’s going to be a test of character. The first day of the Test will go a long way in determining the series. It’s going to be a scorcher, 40 degrees, and the heat is well and truly on. The scene is set for India who, like I wrote last week, have their noses ahead at this stage. All they need is for their batting to come to the fore.

They’ll look at Australia’s top 6 and always feel like they have an opportunity to break through. Having said that, I am so happy to see Sam Konstas about to make his Test debut. I’ve been talking him up in my last few columns with good reason.

He cannot do anything worse than what we’ve seen in the first three Tests. But if anything, he can add tremendous value, especially if he manages to take off. He’s got the kind of intent that can take on the opposition, which is what Australia need and have lacked in this series so far.

Young Konstas comes with no baggage. He’s got the exuberance of youth going his way. He’s got the flair and the flamboyance too, and the ability to express himself. No matter what the stage. The last thing I believe he’ll be thinking about is ‘oh I’m playing a Test match for Australia’. Once he’s off the mark, he’s going to treat this like any other game, and it’s exactly what he’s said too. The quicker that feeling sinks in for him, the more dangerous he’ll get. And he couldn’t have asked for a better venue than the G’ to get his first taste of the big stage.

Originally published as Ravi Shastri expecting plenty of spice and a classic contest at the MCG Boxing Day Test