Key posts
A time for close friends
By Gemma Grant
Cooper Findlay and Sebastian Bennett love coming to the cricket together — and this year they’re wearing the matching customised shirts to prove it.
The best friends have known each other since they were born, and have been to the Test for the past five years and three years respectively.
Findlay admits he is a “little nervous” about today’s weather forecast.
“It’s going to be very very hot, but it should be alright.”
He’s looking forward to Scott Boland’s game, and thinks Sam Konstas will get the job done on the crease. The pair both agree that Australia have victory in their sights this Test.
Hopefully.
Cooper Findlay and Sebastian Bennett at the MCG.Credit: Gemma Grant – The Age
A boiling hot day is tipped
Konstas immediately in the spotlight
Sam Konstas will be batting for Australia very soon. Ricky Ponting on Konstas on Seven this morning: “Massive moment for him, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play. I’ve watched him closely in his first couple of Shield games this year, I watched that innings in the Prime Minister’s XI.
“There’s some talent, there’s some flair, and I think there’s an attitude there, that carefree attitude that, I think, is really important in a youngster coming into this Australian team.”
Fans have travelled far and wide
By Gemma Grant
Darren Rice has travelled from Castlemaine today to watch the cricket live for the first time in 40 years.
And this time he’s brought along wife Maree, who’s admits she’s not a fan of the cricket. She’s looking forward to beating the heat and staying cool.
Darren and Maree Rice outside the ground.Credit: The Age
“Maree’s never been. But because we were in the box, I coaxed her into coming,” says Darren.
He likes Australia’s chances this Test — and wants to see them open the batting this Boxing Day. And when it comes to the debut of 19-year-old Sam Konstas, Darren just “hopes he’ll get bat to ball.”
”It’s good for a young fellow… Fingers crossed. Let’s hope he does well.”
Aussies win the toss, will bat first
Pat Cummins has made his call. Australia will back themselves and bat first.
India admit they would have made the same decision.
Stats to assess ahead of the coin toss
By Tom Decent
Some toss stats to keep in mind. Win records from Tests at the MCG since 2000.
Won the toss and batted = 6/15 (40 per cent)
Won the toss and bowled = 5/9 (55.5 per cent)
Lost the toss and batted = 4/9 (44.4 per cent)
Lost the toss and bowled = 7/15 (46.7 per cent)
Pre-match scenes in Melbourne
Fans arrive ahead of the start of play.Credit: Getty Images
Patrons enter the famous arena.Credit: Getty Images
Significant intrigue about the toss
By Andrew Wu
The MCG’s head curator Matt Page has revealed he’s left more water in the pitch because of the hot weather. This adds further intrigue to the toss. Conventionally, teams bat first when it’s hot, but the extra moisture in the deck will be enticing for the quicks. I ran into a Victorian state player recently, and he said it’s a bowl-first track. The dry heat and wind suggests you’d bat first, but extra moisture tells you otherwise. What would you do?
The Scott Boland story
If Australia bowl first on Boxing Day, at some point the ground announcer will herald a change. “From the Members’ end … Scott Boland.” And the sold-out crowd will roar in expectant acclaim.
Boland remembers this moment on his debut on this very day three years ago, and how nervous he felt, and how relieved he was to get out of the way the over he had waited until he was 32 years old to bowl. “It’s funny. All I wanted to do from when I was growing up was play Test cricket, and then I was walking off at lunch, and I was like, ‘Geez, I’m glad it’s done’,” he said.
Scott Boland reflects on his famous Boxing Day Test debut at the MCG.Credit: Eddie Jim
