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Boxing Day Test live coverage: Australia v India, Day 1 from the MCG

Frustration for Australian paceman Mitchell Starc as Tim Paine drops a tough chance from a Virat Kohli edge.

Andrew Faulkner and Daniel Sankey
21 min read
7:14AMDecember 26, 2018.
Updated 8:31PMDecember 26, 2018
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India's Virat Kohli dashes for a quick single at the MCG. Picture: AP
India's Virat Kohli dashes for a quick single at the MCG. Picture: AP

Welcome to live coverage of Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India from the MCG.

Match summary

A docile drop-in pitch and unbeaten 92-run stand between India’s two best batsmen frustrated Australia on day one of the third Test in Melbourne, where the tourists finished 2-215.

Virat Kohli won the all-important toss on Boxing Day then strolled to the crease, amid some boos from the 73,516-strong crowd, at 2-123 after debutant Mayank Agarwal’s dismissal on 76 ended the post-lunch session. Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara took few risks and looked remarkably comfortable throughout Wednesday’s final session at the MCG, enhancing India’s hopes of taking a 2-1 series lead as they hunt a maiden Test series win in Australia. The only exception was a late burst from Mitchell Starc, during which Tim Paine put down a low one-handed chance when Kohli was on 47.

Pujara will resume on 68, eyeing his second ton of the series. Kohli, closing in on the outright record for most Test centuries in Australia by an Indian, finished 47 not out.

The superstar’s seventh Test ton in Australia is no fait accompli but Paine’s team, having already delivered seven overs with the second new ball, could need something special to dismiss Kohli.

The world’s best batsman was on 32 when Paine unsuccessfully reviewed Nathan Lyon’s lbw shout, with replays hinting at how desperate the hosts were to conjure a breakthrough.

Pujara had a rare nervous moment facing Mitch Marsh on 33, when an edge ballooned off the pad and fell short of a diving Usman Khawja at gully, but was otherwise in his element as the visitors attempted to grind Australia’s star- studded attack into submission.

Paine insisted he was happy to bowl after losing the toss but the much-maligned pitch offered predictably little assistance.

Paine threw the ball to Lyon after just seven overs.

Recalled allrounder Marsh, who was booed by some fans presumably frustrated by Victorian Peter Handscomb’s omission, has already delivered 15 overs. Marsh, Lyon, Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all kept things tight, going at less than three runs an over.

Cummins was the pick of Australia’s bowlers.

The express paceman struck the helmet of Hanuma Vihari then dismissed the batsman, promoted to open in a new-look order, with a delivery that clipped the glove off an awkward length and sailed straight to Aaron Finch at second slip. Cummins also removed Agarwal, caught behind down the leg side.

AAP

Daniel Sankey 6.02pm: STUMPS — India 2-215

It’s stumps on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test and India have taken the honours, with Cheteshwar Pujara (68 not out) and captain Virat Kohli (47 not out) successfully negotiating a testing final half hour.

Mitchell Starc was superb with the second new ball, troubling both batsman with his pace and swing. He could have twice claimed the wicket of Kohli — firstly, with an inswinging delivery that just missed Kohli’s off stump before the Indian captain was dropped by his opposite number, Tim Paine, when slashing at a wide one.

Pat Cummins (2-40) was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, charging in and making things happen on a flat deck to deservedly claim the wickets of opening batsmen Haruma Vihari (8) and debutant Mayank Agarwal (76).

Daniel Sankey 5.47pm: Kohli dropped off Starc

Frustration for Australian paceman Mitchell Starc, who suckers Indian captain Virat Kohli into swiping at a wide delivery. Kohli duly gets the edge but Starc can only watch on in despair as Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine grasses a tough chance diving wide to his right in front of first slip.

Into the 89th over now and India is 2-215, with Kohli on 47 not out (102 deliveries) and Cheteshwar Pujara on 68 (200).

Tim Paine (left) drops Virat Kohli off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (right). Pictures: Fox Sports
Tim Paine (left) drops Virat Kohli off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (right). Pictures: Fox Sports

Daniel Sankey 5.33pm: New ball taken by Australia

The new ball has been taken by Australia in the 83rd over, with Mitchell Starc immediately getting one to jag away from Virat Kohli’s outside edge. There’s a half-hearted appeal by Tim Paine but replays show it’s missed Kohli’s bat by some distance. Nevertheless, that may well be the first ball that’s swung back into the batsmen then moved away off the pitch this entire innings, so that will give the home team some hope.

Kohli picks up runs in the fifth ball of Starc’s first over with the new ball to take India to 2-201. The Indian captain is 47 not out from 83 deliveries while Cheteshwar Pujara is on 62 (187).

Josh Hazlewood will take the new ball from the other end.

5.20pm: ‘We pay you to win’ — Smith on Sutherland role

Steve Smith has shed further light on the role former Cricket Australia executives James Sutherland and Pat Howard played in establishing a toxic culture of winning without counting the costs.

Smith was stripped of the captaincy and issued a year-long suspension by CA for his role in the Cape Town sandpaper scandal, having stumbled across an illegal ploy to alter the ball in the Newlands dressing room before walking away and taking no action.

Team-performance boss Howard was one half of CA’s investigation team that grilled Smith and other players in the aftermath of the sandpaper scandal. Howard and CA’s former integrity chief Iain Roy found that David Warner was the architect of the illegal ploy, and that nobody outside Warne r, Smith and Cameron Bancroft knew of the one-off plan to alter the ball with sandpaper.

Steve Smith speaks to the media in Cape Town after the ball tampering scandal earlier this year. Picture: AFP
Steve Smith speaks to the media in Cape Town after the ball tampering scandal earlier this year. Picture: AFP

Roy left the governing body soon after returning home from South Africa, while Howard was sacked last month after an independent review painted an ugly picture of the high-performance environment he fostered.

The Ethics Centre highlighted a culture of “winning without counting the costs” in a scathing assessment of the environment that led to Smith, Warner and Bancroft’s life-changing mistakes.

Smith, speaking in a Fox Sports interview, detailed the pressure that Howard and former chief executive Sutherland put players under in 2016 after a horrible Test loss to South Africa in Hobart.

“I remember James Sutherland and Pat Howard coming into the rooms there and saying ‘we don’t pay you to play, we pay you to win’,” Smith said. “For me that was a little bit disappointing.

“We don’t go out there to try to lose games of cricket, we go out there to try and win and play the best way we can.”

Former Cricket Australia administrators James Sutherland (left) and Pat Howard. Picture: AAP
Former Cricket Australia administrators James Sutherland (left) and Pat Howard. Picture: AAP

Smith also touched on the “dark space” he was in after ball-tampering furore. “The first week or so after everything went down inS outh Africa, that was really tough,” he said.

“I was pretty much curled up in a ball and in tears for a lot of it. I was struggling mentally.” Smith still has a further three months of his year-long ban to serve, with the gifted batsman likely to return during Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan that is due to start in late March.

The terms of CA’s punishment dictate that Smith is unable to hold a leadership position for a further year after his 12-month playing suspension ends.

AAP

Andrew Faulkner 5.01pm: Pujara, Kohli in ‘stand of substance’

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli continue to build a stand of substance. The wicket’s flattening out beautifully as the tourists push on towards 200. Kohli’s defence appears impregnable, although after a brisk start the skipper has been restricted by the Australian bowlers. With 15 overs remaining today, the score’s 2-182, with Pujara on 56 and Kohli on 34.

Daniel Sankey 4.50pm: Review lost for Australia

Australian captain Tim Paine and off-spinner Nathan Lyon roll the dice on a review of an LBW shout against Virat Kohli. The umpire has ruled not out to a delivery that looks like it was going to strike the stumps, but there has to be some doubt about whether it’s hit him in line with the off stump.

The not out decision stands in the review of an LBW shout against Indian captain Virat Kohli. Picture: Fox Sports
The not out decision stands in the review of an LBW shout against Indian captain Virat Kohli. Picture: Fox Sports

The replay shows the ball was hitting Kohli well outside the line of off stump so the not out decision will stand. It was a marginal review ... and it probably is a good indication just how much pressure the Australians are under as they try to break what’s the most important partnership of the Indian innings.

Daniel Sankey 4.40pm: Pujara brings up his 50

That’s 50 for Cheteshwar Pujara, his half century coming from 152 deliveries as India move to 2-173 in the 71st over. Virat Kohli has raced along to 32 not out from just 44 deliveries and his introduction after the tea break has been crucial in helping his team to lift the run rate. After tracking along at just over two runs per over for the first two sessions, Kohli and Pujara have lifted the intensity, with their team’s run rate now almost up to the 2.5 runs per over mark.

Andrew Faulkner 4.14pm: Kohli, Pujara up the ante

Virat Kohli’s opened the last session with a flurry of breathtaking strokes — with none better than a flick of the wrists that flashed to the long-on rope in an instant. Forty minutes into the session the tourists are 2-160, with Cheteshwar Pujara on 44 and Kohli 24. The Indian captain is loving a pitch that’s the closest he’ll get to an Indian track on this tour. His run-a-ball innings has emboldened Pujara to up the pace as well; the no.3’s just uppercut Mitchell Starc for another four.

Daniel Sankey 4.04pm: Kohli is on the march ... literally

Indian captain Virat Kohli has moved along to 11 not out (17 deliveries) as we draw closer to drinks in the final session of the first day’s play in the Boxing Day Test.

India’s number three, Cheteshwar Pujara, is 38 not out (128 deliveries) and they’ll be hoping to get through the final 28 overs of today’s play (if we fit that many in) without the loss of another wicket.

If you’re watching at home on TV and you thought Kohli was batting a fair way out of his crease, you’re not wrong. In fact, Cric Viz says his average striking point is 2.25 metres from the stumps — not that surprising considering the slow nature of the MCG wicket.

Andrew Faulkner 3.10pm: WICKET! Cummins snares Agarwal

Pat Cummins has struck just before tea, getting Mayank Agarwal caught gloving a short ball to Tim Paine.

Banging the ball in has done the trick again. The batsman fended at a delivery angled at his body for Paine to take a good catch in both gloves down the leg side. The wicket’s forced an early tea, with the tourists 2-123. Cheteshwar Pujara’s on 33 and Cummins — who’s been by far the pick of the attack — has 2-24. Indian captain Virat Kohli will stride out after the break …

Daniel Sankey 2.59pm: Chance goes begging for Aussies

Mitch Marsh very nearly gets the crucial breakthrough for Australia, with Cheteshwar Pujara getting an inside edge to one that jagged back slightly.

The edge ballooned from his pad towards Usman Khawaja in the gully, but his dive falls despairingly short and Pujara survives.

Andrew Faulkner 2.53pm: Agarwal punishes Lyon

Mayank Agarwal sent the full bays of Indian fans into a frenzy when he plonked Nathan Lyon over wide long-on for the first six of the Test. The debutant danced down the wicket to drop the ball a metre or two over the rope. He’s advanced to 68 and Cheteshwar Pujara’s upped his pace to be 33 approaching tea.

At 1-115 the tourists are in a very healthy position indeed. They’ve laid a firm base for their improved batting list to pile up a mountainous total. There’s more booing now as Mitch Marsh returns to the attack, but thankfully the boos have eased with every spell. In another slight on the pitch, Tim Paine’s standing up to the stumps …

Daniel Sankey 2.32pm: Hundred up for India

It continues to be slow going, but India have brought up their hundred for the loss of just one wicket in the second hour of the second session in the Boxing Day Test.

Mayank Agarwal (55 not out from 129 deliveries) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31 not out from 80) have had few moments of concern after lunch, and while they are only scoring at just over two runs per over, they’re building a solid foundation for the tourists in what could be a series-defining Test match.

Mitch Marsh is back into the attack for Australia. He’ll partner Nathan Lyon, who has 0-32 from his 12 overs today.

Andrew Faulkner 2.12pm: Tourists press the advantage

Mayank Agarwal has run at Nathan Lyon to whack two straight fours, bringing up a fine 50 on debut in the process. After dead-batting Lyon’s first ball of a new spell, Agarwal decided he’d seen enough to crack a four over mid-off. That took him to 48, and four balls later he advanced again to hit another, straighter, four. His 52 came from 95 balls and included six fours. He’s now on 53, Cheteshwar Pujara’s 19, and the score’s 1-86 at drinks in the second session.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon watches on from the turf as Cheteshwar Pujara (left) and Mayank Agarwal scamper through for runs. Picture: AAP
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon watches on from the turf as Cheteshwar Pujara (left) and Mayank Agarwal scamper through for runs. Picture: AAP

The pitch does appear to be quickening slightly — Josh Hazlewood hurried up Agarwal with a sizzling bouncer earlier in the session. Mitchell Starc, replacing Hazlewood at the Members End, has also extracted more lift from the surface. But only one wicket down at the day’s midpoint, the tourists would be very happy with their work so far.

Daniel Sankey 2pm: The next time you boo Mitch Marsh...

...remember he’s doing a good job for Australia on a flat deck. He got plenty of boos this morning from Victorian fans upset that he was brought into the Australian XI in place of local boy Peter Handscomb, but Marsh’s bowling will be important both in this Test and in Sydney.

Fair to say, though, that some runs at no.6 would help Marsh’s cause with the fans. From 30 Tests, he averages just a tick over 26 with the willow.

Andrew Faulkner 1.42pm: Debutant continues to impress

Mayank Agarwal (41 from 84 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (10 from 47) are building a solid Indian platform, taking the score to 1-64 five overs into the second session. Debuting on Boxing Day, with the series locked at 1-1 and with your nation on the back foot after the loss in Perth — the pressure on Agarwal is intense. But he’s put his front foot forward to unfurl a delectable cover drive and perhaps launch a Test career. Nerves? The debutant punched Josh Hazlewood’s first ball after the break to the cover rope for another four. The Australians are striving to build pressure by drying up the runs. Pat Cummins has started with two maidens to Pujara, but the unflappable No 3 is in no hurry at all …

Australian paceman Pat Cummins exchanges words with Indian opener Mayank Agarwal at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images
Australian paceman Pat Cummins exchanges words with Indian opener Mayank Agarwal at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Sankey 1.38pm: Bancroft interview

In case you missed it during the lunch break on Fox Sports Cricket, here’s some vision of Cameron Bancroft speaking to Adam Gilchrist about the sandpaper scandal. You can read Peter Lalor’s full story on the explosive interview, in which Bancroft admitted the direction to use sandpaper on the ball came from David Warner, here.

Daniel Sankey 1.18pm: Back underway at the MCG

Play has resumed after lunch on day one of the Boxing Day Test. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will be the opening duo with the ball for Australia — and undoubtedly, the plan will be to test the Indians with some short, quick deliveries on what’s a docile MCG pitch.

1pm: ‘Hands off Boxing Day Test’

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is adamant the Boxing Day Test, like the AFL grand final, is going nowhere.

But the early signs were ominous that the MCG pitch was again a road for the third Test between Australia and India.

Last year’s Ashes pitch was rated as poor — the first time that has happened for an international deck in Australia — and that prompted speculation about the future of the Boxing Day venue.

MCG groundsman and curator Matt Page inspects the pitch. Picture: Getty Images
MCG groundsman and curator Matt Page inspects the pitch. Picture: Getty Images

But before Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and batted today, Andrews rubbished talk that WA might make a play for the prime fixture.

“Perth want the grand final and we have made sure that is not happening until 2057,” Andrews said.

“The Boxing Day Test, outside of Melbourne, really, c’mon. That can’t be serious, surely. Perth, they are kind of try-hards with this sort of stuff, aren’t they? They are always wanting to pinch events but they never, ever get there. They built this brand new stadium but they have got no events to run in it.”

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said negotiations were continuing for a deal that would keep the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

“I don’t know if there is another sporting precinct anywhere in the world (like this) and we are blessed to be able to put on one of cricket’s most iconic events at one of the most iconic venues in world sport,” Roberts said. “We hope to keep it that way.”

Indian and Australia cricket fans watch the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images
Indian and Australia cricket fans watch the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

AAP

Andrew Faulkner 12.35pm: India 1-57 at lunch

The tourists have gone to lunch at 1-57, with Mayank Agarwal on 34 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 10. Agarwal has played a sparkling hand laced with wristy cover drives and crisp cuts, while Pujara has been his usual rock-like self. This pitch suits the tourists far more than the pace-friendly Perth and Adelaide strips.

It took the Australians a while, but they’ve unravelled the mysteries of the pitch. Fast and short is the way to go. Pat Cummins (1-4 from five overs) showed the others the way in a brutal spell from the Members End. As the ball doesn’t bounce as high as it should, anything short tends to scud straight at the batsman, as Harumi Vihari discovered.

Mitchell's Starc followed Cummins’ example when he returned from the Members End. Rather than pitching it up in search of the non-existent swing, Starc dug it in short and fast, searching for catches at short-leg and leg gully. Australian captain Tim Paine will look to contain and build pressure when play resumes.

Daniel Sankey 12.11pm: MCG pitch cops criticism

Plenty of talk about the slow MCG pitch amongst the fans. Neither Mitchell Starc not Josh Hazlewood were able to conjure any sideways movement with the new ball and the only wicket to fall today came courtesy of a short-pitched effort ball from Pat Cummins.

Poor pitches can now be given demerit points by the ICC ... but in the MCG’s case, they have nothing to fear following last year’s pitch shocker as the system was only introduced this year (as The Australian’s Peter Lalor clarifies on Twitter below).

Andrew Faulkner 11.57am: Sheer pace proves the difference

Pat Cummins has struck, getting Haruma Vihari fending a short ball to Aaron Finch in the slips cordon. Sheer pace is the way to go on this slow wicket and Cummins was simply too quick for the Indian opener, who departs for eight from 66 balls.

It was a slow and patient hand, but in adding 40 with Mayank Agarwal and blunting the new ball, Vihari did valuable work for his side. Cummins’ pace was evident with the very next ball he bowled, which sailed over Cheteshwar Pujara’s head to be one of the few Tim Paine has taken above his shoulders today.

Mitch Marsh is into the attack to the boos of those locals upset at Peter Handscomb’s omission …

Daniel Sankey 11.50am: Cummins claims Vihari

Australian quick Pat Cummins has finally got his man, with Indian opener Haruma Vihari spooning a short ball to Aaron Finch in the slips. He goes for 8 off 66 balls and India is 1-40.

The Australians were able to squeeze the fight out of Vihari in this first session. Stats from Cric Viz show the opener in this innings had the highest dot ball percentage of any Indian batsman since 2013.

Andrew Faulkner 11.25am: Vihari feels heat from Cummins

Haruma Vihari’s been hit on the helmet by Pat Cummins, with play stopped for three minutes while the young batsman is checked by India’s medical staff.

Vihari ducked the short ball and was quite entitled to think it would’ve sailed over his head. Instead it thudded into the side/back area of his helmet, before dribbling away for a leg bye. Cummins’ thump-it-in style might be the best pace option on this pitch. Approaching drinks, the tourists are 0-31, with Mayank Agarwal on 23 and Vihari on three.

Andrew Faulkner 11.08am: Optimists say pitch will quicken

Nathan Lyon’s into the attack in just the eighth over. Yes, it’s early, but the signs are bad for the pitch and therefore the Test. In the seventh over of the innings a short-of-a-length Mitchell Starc ball failed to get up and was too much for Tim Paine, who conceded four byes. The optimists say give it time, the pitch should quicken up, but in the meantime the tourists have hardly been challenged on their way to 0-26.

Daniel Sankey 11am: Australia pressing two-paced Indians

Almost an early chance for Australia, with Mayank Agarwal driving at a wide one from Mitchell Starc. He gets a thick outside edge that just clears a diving Mitch Marsh at gully and gets four runs.

The Indians are operating at two speeds right now, with Agarwal on 17 not out from just 21 deliveries, while Hanuma Vihari is yet to get off the mark from 21 balls faced.

Australian captain Tim Paine has wasted no time calling Nathan Lyon into the attack, with the MCG pitch not offering a lot of assistance for Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Debutant Mayank Agarwal of India drives against Australia at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images
Debutant Mayank Agarwal of India drives against Australia at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

Andrew Faulkner 10.50am: MCG pitch unmasked

India and debutant Mayank Agarwal (seven not out in 0-7) have opened their accounts as the tourists feel their way on the uncharted territory of this supposedly rejuvenated pitch.

The opener leant forward to punch Josh Hazlewood for a three through the covers then nudged Mitchell Starc to fine-leg for a single in the next over. When Hazlewood strayed onto his legs he punched a three through midwicket.

The Test opened with a Starc maiden as patchy as the pitch. The spearhead started with back-to-back full tosses that Hanuma Vihari failed to put away. Starc found little movement in the air and, ominously, not much carry off the pitch. This is a worry — Paine’s taking balls on the half-volley in the opening overs of the Test.

Peter Lalor 10.45am: ‘Warner suggested the action’

Cameron Bancroft has followed Steve Smith’s lead in opening up on what happened behind the scenes before the sandpaper scandal in South Africa.

The young opener confirmed Cricket Australia’s finding that the plan was David Warner’s.

Speaking to Adam Gilchrist in an interview which will be televised at lunch on Fox Cricket, the opener who was banned for nine months for using sandpaper on the ball said he was trying to fit in.

Read the full story here.

Suspended Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft. Picture: Getty Images
Suspended Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft. Picture: Getty Images

Andrew Faulkner 10.05am: India wins the toss

Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat. The Indian skipper says the pitch will make batting “tougher and tougher” as the game progresses so he’s happy the home side will be batting last.

Kohli confirmed Rohit Sharma will bat at no.6 but he did consider opening with the enigmatic batsman. However, he said Rohit batted well with the tail.

“We know his hitting ability and how he can change the game in a session,” Kohli said.

Australian captain Tim Paine said it was a good toss to lose.

“I’m happy to be having a bowl to be honest,” he said.

9.40am: The perfect opening

Not far away from the toss in the Boxing Day Test. If Australia bats first, openers Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris should look no further than this pairing in the Boxing Day Test of 2002 for inspiration.

Andrew Faulkner 9.30am: Question marks over pitch

The Boxing Day rituals are falling neatly into place on a fine and sunny morning at the MCG. The MCC members are streaming in to claim the choice seats below the Long and Committee Rooms, giving weight to forecasts of a 70,000 plus crowd. Both sides have started their warm-ups and the pitch is getting a final mow. The XIs were revealed yesterday, so the pitch is the great uncertainty. Upon a layer of sand rests hope that it’ll have more life than last year’s unforgiving slab. The sand’s been laid under the pitch to promote deeper grass growth and hopefully better cricket.

The surface has a curious mottled, blotchy look this morning, further feeding the intrigue into how it will play.

Secondary questions this morning include who will open the batting for India and whether Mitchell Marsh will bat five or six. If he bats six, then Australia’s middle order will comprise a trio of left-handers.

The tourists are expected to open with the improvised pair of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari, but there is some talk that Rohit Sharma might slot in at the top in a bold attacking stroke by Virat Kohli.

The tourists have well and truly ticked the bold and attacking boxes — the dour and defensive departments are where they’ve been found lacking this series.

AUSTRALIA: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

INDIA: Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah.

8.45am: Secret to Kohli’s success

Virat Kohli reckons the secret to success on Australian soil is all above the shoulders.

Kohli’s supreme record in often unforgiving conditions in Australia, where he averages 58.45 and has scored six centuries, has reinforced his status as a modern-day great.

The Indian skipper’s masterful first-innings century in Perth wasn’t enough to prevent Australia from levelling the series but it was another reminder that for all of his technical ability, Kohli’s greatest asset may be his mental fortitude.

Indian captain Virat Kohli speaks to the media during a press conference yesterday. Picture: AFP
Indian captain Virat Kohli speaks to the media during a press conference yesterday. Picture: AFP

When Kohli strode to the crease at Perth Stadium, India were 2-8 and at risk of falling to pieces against a fearsome Australian attack on a lively deck. By the time he departed, India were 6-251 and back in the game.

“It’s hardly anything technical,” Kohli said yesterday when asked about his success in Australian conditions.

“If you’re convinced in your mind that you can do it, your body starts reacting accordingly. It’s all about getting into that frame of mind, as a team, as individuals when we prepare our own skill sets.

“I feel it’s 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent technical when you go to any country away from your conditions to play.”

AAP

7.15am: Could Lyon surpass Warne?

The prospect of Nathan Lyon overtaking Shane Warne to become Australia’s leading Test wicket-taker, once as unbelievable as the latter’s ball of the century, is now far from fantasy.

If Lyon, who currently has 334 Test wickets from 82 Tests, continues his current form he will surpass Dennis Lillee’s mark of 355 scalps this summer. Lyon, the leading wicket-taker of the current series with 16 at 19.43, has two Tests to play against India before facing Sri Lanka in a two-Test series. Glenn McGrath (563 Test wickets) and Warne (708 Test wickets) will take some catching but there is no sign of Lyon, who has struck career-best form and recently turned 31, slowing down.

The gap seems immense but Warne had 366 scalps from 84 Tests at the end of the 2000-01 season, at which point he was aged 31.

Warne retired from Test cricket at age 37.

Shane Warne (left) discusses the finer points of spin bowling with Nathan Lyon before a Test match in South Africa in 2014. Picture: Getty Images
Shane Warne (left) discusses the finer points of spin bowling with Nathan Lyon before a Test match in South Africa in 2014. Picture: Getty Images

Being a finger spinner, Lyon should have plenty of cricket left in him. Former offspinner Ashley Mallett, who claimed 132 Test wickets for Australia, believes Lyon could “easily get 700 wickets, probably more”.

“As long as he doesn’t get injured and keeps himself fit, he can go for as long as he wants with the way he’s bowling,” Mallett said.

Lyon shifted from Young to Canberra to Adelaide before his big break came, while working as a groundsman at Adelaide Oval, some eight years ago in Australia’s Twenty20 competition.

The GOAT’s teammates speak of another transformation in recent years. Lyon, formerly a timid operator full of self-doubt and fearing the axe, now oozes well-placed confidence that can he consistently rattle the world’s best batsmen.

Lyon walks, talks and bowls like a spearhead. The idea of Australia playing a four-pronged pace attack is now unthinkable, no matter how much of a paceman’s paradise the pitch is.

Nobody has dismissed Virat Kohli more often in Tests. Lyon’s setup and dismissal of India’s captain in the final innings of the second Test, the most crucial breakthrough required as Australia hunted a series-levelling victory, was textbook stuff.

AAP

7am: Kohli won’t dial down verbal

Indian captain Virat Kohli can’t guarantee he’ll dial down his on-field verbal war with Aussie skipper Tim Paine.

But with the bigger picture of a series win at the forefront of his thoughts, Kohli said he wasn’t searching his mind for something to “talk about” with his opponents.

Kohli and Paine had a running on-field battle in Perth and even came close to contact on the fourth day before they exchanged a frosty post-game handshake.

But while Kohli has been painted as the villain in a scintillating series so far, the Indian captain said the war would be won on skills, not one-liners.

“That’s in the past. It’s Test cricket at the highest level when two tough teams are going against each other,” Kohli said yesterday.

Read the full story here.

Best of enemies ... Tim Paine and Virat Kohli shake hands in Perth. Picture: Getty Images
Best of enemies ... Tim Paine and Virat Kohli shake hands in Perth. Picture: Getty Images

6.45am: Boxing Day Test teams

AUSTRALIA XI: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

INDIA XI: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/boxing-day-test-live-coverage-australia-v-india-day-1-from-the-mcg/news-story/9c5cba5178b1117a00f01ed454e28e49