The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne is one of the highlights of Australia's sporting calendar and this year's match against India should be a cracker.
The five-match series between the rivals is level at 1-1 after three Tests as India won the opener in Perth, Australia hit back with the pink ball in Adelaide, and the third match in Brisbane ended in a rain-affected draw.
Australia have called up teenage opener Sam Konstas and his potential clash with India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah adds to the intrigue of this compelling fixture.
- AUSTRALIA TO WIN THE MATCH
- STEVE SMITH TO SCORE A FIRST-INNINGS FIFTY
- ALEX CAREY TOP AUSTRALIA FIRST-INNINGS RUNSCORER
Aussies Should Avenge MCG defeats
Australia were frustrated by the rain in Brisbane, as well as by some gutsy batting from India's lower-order, but they should be backed to triumph in Melbourne.
India's batting frailties were exposed in the second Test in Adelaide, where they were bowled out for 180 and 175, and they stumbled to 74-5 in reply to the Aussies' 445 at the Gabba.
They saved the follow-on thanks to a sparky innings of 31 from number 11 Akash Deep but are unlikely to emulate their MCG victories of 2018 and 2020.
Too many of India's batsmen, including captain Rohit Sharma and star man Virat Kohli, appear to be struggling and the brilliant Bumrah, who has taken 21 wickets in the first three matches, is fighting a lone battle with the ball.
Australia are far from perfect but their powerful middle-order, led by the outstanding Travis Head, and a classy bowling attack may help them establish a 2-1 series lead in Melbourne.
They have won their last three MCG Tests, including innings victories over England in 2021 and South Africa a year later, and can extend that streak this week.
AUSTRALIA TO WIN
Smith To Kick On After Welcome Ton
Steve Smith scored a vital first-innings century for Australia in the third Test and he can build on that success in Melbourne, one of his favourite venues.
Smith, who had made nought, 17 and two in the first two matches, had to work hard for his ton at the Gabba but he has a formidable record at the MCG.
Australia's number four averages 78.07 after 11 Tests in Melbourne and he has reached 50 in nine of his 18 innings there.
His highest score at the ground, 192, came in the 2014 Boxing Day Test against India and, a decade on, he is worth backing to post a first-innings fifty against the same opponents.
STEVE SMITH TO SCORE A FIRST-INNINGS FIFTY
Carey To Play A Role With The Bat
While Smith had been scratching around for form before his Brisbane ton, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey looks in great touch with the bat.
Carey made his highest Test score of 111 against South Africa at the MCG in December 2022 and he played another crucial innings for Australia in March, sealing a narrow victory over New Zealand with an unbeaten 98.
Given the damage that Bumrah can do with the new ball, it may pay to back the Aussie number seven to top-score in their first innings.
He was one of the form batsmen in the country coming into this series, scoring 90, 111, 42, 123 not out, 44 and 42 in three Sheffield Shield matches for South Australia.
And Carey should be even more confident after contributing a brisk 70 in the third Test in Brisbane, where he also thumped an unbeaten 20 off 20 balls in the second innings.
ALEX CAREY TOP AUSTRALIA FIRST-INNINGS RUNSCORER
