Sam Konstas snatched the early momentum from India on the opening day of the fourth Test at the MCG with a positive knock of 60 off just 65 balls on his debut. However, there was a physical altercation between Konstas and Virat Kohli that stole the limelight on the day.
"I think I was just getting used to the wicket, first time facing him, getting used to his action. Obviously, he beat my bat quite a few times, and I was lucky enough to get a few away. But it was a great contest," Konstas said after Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test.
Australia took the honours on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the hosts scoring 311 runs. India had a scope to fight back after they got three wickets for just nine runs during a passage of play but Steve Smith with an unbeaten 68 is still a massive threat.
This was Travis Head's first duck in 41 innings against India across all formats as India got three wickets for nine runs in that short period starting with the dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne. Australia opted to bat first after winning the toss on the morning of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli gave a shoulder charge to Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the first morning of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Thursday, December 26. While Konstas brushed it aside as 'part of the game', former cricketers weren't happy with Kohli's conduct.
India TV Sports Wrap on December 26: From all the kabaddi action to the cricketing circuit, here are all the top 10 trending sports news stories and the latest happenings from the world of sports on December 26.
Sam Konstas and Virat Kohli got into a heated exchange after the end of the 10th over on day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Usman Khawaja and on-field umpire Michael Gough had to separate both players in the middle.
Sam Konstas has become the second-youngest (19 years and 85 days) player for Australia to hit a half-century in Test cricket after Ian Craig. Ian Craig is the youngest (17 years and 240 days) to achieve the milestone.
With the World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, South Africa will be keen to lock one of the two spots in the final as they begin their final assignment of the current cycle against Pakistan on Thursday, December 26 with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
Sam Konstas was a member of Australia's ICC U19 Men's World Cup 2024 winning squad. The right-handed opener was playing for Sydney Thunder in the 14th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) in the lead-up to the boxing day Test at the MCG.
Team India are playing their first Test match since the international retirement of their premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is evenly poised at 1-1. Sundar played in the Test series opener in Perth.
IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 1 Highlights: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is hanging in the balance as India take on the hosts Australia in the boxing day Test at the MCG in Melbourne.
India and Australia clash in the 4th Test match in Melbourne while the WTC leaders South Africa host Pakistan in their first Test in Centurion. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe also clash in the Boxing Day Test match starting on Thursday.
SA vs PAK Pitch Report: After a memorable and dominant ODI series win, Pakistan will face their biggest challenge in Test cricket in the first match against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion starting on December 26.
The star batter was dropped from Pakistan's squad during the Test series against England at home after a poor run of form in red-ball cricket in 2024. Babar replaces struggling opener Abdullah Shafique in the playing XI for the first Test against the Proteas starting on December 26.
Mohamed Salah scored twice and assisted two more against Tottenham Hotspur to become the first player to record 10 goals and assist in the English Premier League before Christmas and now finds himself only a goal away from another remarkable achievement ahead Boxing Day clash.
Will the new-look team, under veteran Rohit Sharma's leadership, be able to turn the tables on Australia for the third consecutive time in Melbourne? With the series locked at 1-1 and a place in the WTC final at stake, the time is perfect to deliver a punch at Australia in the Boxing Day Test.
Babar Azam scored 228 runs in 6 ODI innings in 2024 but finished 2024 as the No.1 ODI batter in the updated ICC men's batting rankings on Wednesday. The rising youngster Saim Ayub also witnessed a big jump in the latest ODI rankings.
Travis Head, Saim Ayub and Heinrich Klaasen were amongst some of the biggest gainers in the latest ICC rankings across all formats. India's Jasprit Bumrah stayed at the top of the rankings for Test bowlers but equalled the India record while attaining his career-best rating points.
India will take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test, the fourth encounter of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the MCG starting Thursday, December 26. With the Gabba Test ending in a draw, it is set to be a riveting race to the finish with crucial World Test Championship points at stake.
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