AUS vs IND: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Pitch Report and more for 2nd Test

Wins and losses were, are, and shall always remain the probable outcomes in the discipline of sports. Not all matches are played to be won, and not all can be won either. But how does a team digest what unfolded at Adelaide? The haunts of 36 will stay longer with India. Much longer than they would ever want them to be. And why would they not? Not once in the history of 543 Tests did India hit a low that was as low as the 36. On the way, India eclipsed a record they would have never wanted to script at the first place – the 42 against England at Lord’s in 1974.

Although losing the opening game of a Test series outside Asia has been a long-laden habit, the crushing defeat at Adelaide was the 35th such instance. To add more to the plight, India has ended up on the losing side of 31 of the previous 34 such instances. These numbers are not to rub salt on the wounds of those trying to forget the trauma, but they certainly put things into perspective So then, is the series a foregone conclusion?

That will depend on whether the visitors manage to put the words of their skipper into practice, who has always been a proponent of showing “intent”, and “expressing” oneself. And as he flew to India, transferring the mantle of captaincy to his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, he advised nothing different. What is ponderable is that India did not fail to do any of what the skipper suggested, in the first encounter for the majority part, however, once they faltered, they faltered severely enough to end up the way they did.

The caravan moves to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, and though Australia might have an 8-5 lead in the 13 rubbers against India at the venue hitherto, the tourists will enter with happy memories from 2018 – when they won by 137 runs. Though, unlike that instance, the visiting party will be without the services of Rohit and Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and most importantly Virat Kohli. But much to their respite, they have Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul available.

On the other hand are the hosts, who have their plans set out straight and simple. “I’d be a pretty courageous man to change the XI for this Test match after the last one,” said Australia’s head coach Justin Langer. “At this stage, unless something happens over the next few days – and it can happen in the world we live in – we’ll go in with the same XI, I’d say.”

Pitch and conditions

The track at Melbourne has been much flatter than the other venues in Australia. So much so that it led Pat Cummins to demand a “balanced track” this time. While there will be ample purchase available for the pacers, expect the spinners to join the party as the game progresses.

Playing combinations for AUS vs IND

India

India was always set to make a couple of forced changes owing to the absence of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.  While Mohammed Siraj has come in for Shami, Shubman Gill has been included at the expense Prithvi Shaw after his twin failures. The eyes were fixated, however, on the tactical changes.

The inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja is a given, for the flatness of Melbourne’s track. Rishabh Pant is the answer to the million-dollar-keeper question. Looking closely at the quantum of changes, the management seems to have confessed that they faltered in the selection during the first game.

Probable XI:Ajinkya Rahane (C), Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Australia

With David Warner already being ruled out and Pucovski not gaining fitness either, the opening pair of Matthew Wade and Joe Burns is set to continue, followed by Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head. As stated by coach Langer, Australia is going to stick with the same lot of players unless “something significant happens in the next few days”.

Playing XI: Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (C & WK), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

AUS vs IND Head to head 

Played – 99 | India – 28 | Australia – 43 | Draw – 27 | Tied – 1

AUS vs IND Broadcast Details

Match Timings- 5:30 AM (IST)

TV – Sony Sports Network

Live Streaming – Sony LIV