Changes Likely In Team India After Horror Weather Forecast For Boxing Day Test At Melbourne Cricket Ground (Source: AP)
India could make some forced changes to the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia after a horror weather prediction for Melbourne. According to the Bureau of Metrology, Melbourne could see record heat during the Boxing Day Test, with Day 1 temperature soaring to 39 degrees.
“A very hot Boxing Day for large parts of the country,” Bureau of Meteorology Senior meteorologist Angus Hines
“Melbourne could be the warmest day for the first day of the Boxing Day test that we’ve seen on record.”
The weather prediction could give India plenty to think about ahead of the fourth Test. It'll be tough for Indian pacers to bowl long spells in the scorching heat, forcing the team to consider playing an extra spinner. Ravindra Jadeja played a magnificent innings at the GABBA, but his bowling was off the mark, and India to considered playing Washington Sundar ahead of him at the MCG.
Given the weather prediction, Jadeja could hold onto his spot in the XI, while Washington Sundar could also be called in. The big question though is who's going to make way for the extra spinner. Will it be Siraj? Most likely because the pacer has looked off-colour, but India can't also take the risk of playing just two specialist pacers and Nitish Reddy. Siraj could be dropped for Harshit Rana while Washington Sundar could come in place of Nitish Reddy. The snub would be harsh on Nitish Reddy, who has done a decent job, but the conditions might not allow India to have him in the XI. Also, with the sun baking, the wicket will deteriorate faster, making spinners crucial on Day 4 and 5.
India would have loved to have R Ashwin for the fourth Test but the legend announced his retirement after the GABBA Test and returned to Chennai.
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