India vs Australia 3rd Test: Toss, preview, playing XIs, stats and prediction of Boxing Day match in Melbourne

India dropped both their struggling openers and opted for the left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja for the Boxing Day test. Openers Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay have paid the price for putting together just one double-digit stand at the halfway point of the four-test series. Mayank Agarwal will make his test debut on Wednesday with spinning all-rounder Hanuma Vihari joining him in a new-look opening pair. Rohit Sharma too returns to the playing 11. Australia have recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh at the expense of middle order batsman Peter Handscomb in the only change to the side who won the Perth test by 146 runs.

Australia Playing 11: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain-wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. 

India Playing 11: Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah. 

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Head-to-Head Overall: 25 Test series (Australia wins 12, India wins 8)

Head-to-Head in Australia: 11 Test series (Australia wins 8, India wins 0)

Head-to-Head Overall: 96 Test matches (Australia wins 42, India wins 27)

Head-to-Head in Australia: 46 Test matches (Australia wins 29, India wins 6)

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The MCG pitch was rated poor by the ICC after a drab draw played out against England here in December 2017. The pitch for this Boxing Day Test sports some grass on the top surface, and both teams have talked about the possibility of some moisture in the wicket as well.

However, Australian coach Justin Langer and opener Marcus Harris have previously warned about the grass being not too productive here unlike in Adelaide and Perth, and with the sun beating down, the wicket could yet turn out to be a flat surface.

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While there is some grass on the MCG pitch, it should be good batting track after the early hours. The team to win the toss my choose to bat first here.

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India have the better side on paper but Australia have the momentum. With India being a little unsettled at the top and in bowling (read spin) department, Australia will be the favourite to make it 2-1.

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The India and Australia 3rd Test match will start at 5:00 am IST on Wednesday. The toss will take place at 4:30 am on Wednesday. The India-Australia Test series will be shown on the Sony Pictures Network. India vs Asutralia 3rd Test TV channels are Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD for English commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony Ten 3 HD for Hindi Commentary.

(Image: AFP File Photo)