Australia crumbles to 32-year low in 'shocking' Boxing Day defeat

Despite some commendable resistance from the tail, Australia's Test side has crumbled to a humiliating defeat at the MCG.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 29: Cameron Green of Australia leaves the field after being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj of India during day four of the Second Test match between Australia and India at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

India has won the Boxing Day Test by eight wickets, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1 with two matches to play.

The Australians were utterly outclassed at the MCG this week, with no batsman able to muster a half-century over the four-day contest.

It's the first time no Australian has scored a half-century in a home Test match since 1988.

Wicket slowly tumbled in the morning session on Tuesday, with India's bowlers eventually cleaning up the tail just before the lunch break.

Young gun Cameron Green provided some resistance, but was dismissed just short of a maiden Test half-century, caught at mid-wicket for 45.

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India was tasked with chasing 70 runs for victory, and things would have felt quite tense in the changerooms after losing two cheap wickets.

But the visitors reached the target in less than 16 overs, with debutant Shubman Gill scoring 35 not out and skipper Ajinkya Rahane finishing on 27 not out.

Rahane was named Player of the Match for his classy century in the first innings.

"I'm really proud of all the players," Rahane told Fox Cricket after the victory.

"Character and attitude was really important coming into this Test match. The way everyone played was absolutely magnificent."

Ten days after being dismissed for 36 in Adelaide, India win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by 8 wickets to level the series 1-1. It's the least they deserved after taking the honours on six of the seven days played. #AUSvIND

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 29, 2020

Terrific Indian win away from home. Yes Aus have been shocking with the bat but India haven't allowed them to get away with it. This time. #AusvInd

— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri) December 29, 2020

Huge win for India. So impressed by the bounce back from Adelaide. The debutants Gill & Siraj. Rahane up a gear with the bat, and as a leader. 👏🏽👏🏽

1-1, we’re in for one hell of a series! @7Cricket #AUSvIND

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) December 29, 2020

Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7: "They've been brilliant. You can see what it means to them as well. Would have done a lot of soul searching over the last week leading into this Test match."

Australian captain Tim Paine spoke honestly about his side's underwhelming performance in Melbourne.

"We're very disappointed," Paine conceded.  "We played pretty poor cricket, pretty sloppy cricket for majority of the Test match.

"Taking nothing away from India - they put up under pressure and forced us into making a number of mistakes.

"But there's still two (Tests) to go, so we'll work hard and try and rectify it for the next match."

The third Test will commence on Thursday, January 7th.