The fifth and final test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India will begin on January 3, 2025 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). With Australia leading the series 2-1, this match is crucial for both teams. A win for Australia would not only secure them the series but also strengthen their position in the championship. World Test Championship (WTC) qualification, potentially easing their path to the WTC final. On the contrary, India aims to save its pride and retain the trophy it successfully defended in previous matches. To level the series at 2-2, India must win this match, which is essential for their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final.
Australia comes into this Test with momentum after a comprehensive victory in the fourth match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where they defeated India by 184 runs. The Australian squad includes the captain. Pat Cumminsvice-captains travis head and Steve Smithand key actors such as Marnus Labuschagne and Natan Lyon. However, they will need to monitor Mitchell StarcThe fitness of him as he remains a crucial part of their bowling attack. On the Indian side, captain Rohit Sharma leads a talented lineup that includes stars like Virat Kohli and RISHABH PANTS. The Indian team has a strong bowling contingent with Ravindra Jadeja and jasprit bumrah They are expected to play key roles.
AUS vs IND: Head-to-head record in Test cricket
- Test matches played: 111
- Australia won: 47
- India won: 33
- Drawn matches: 30
- Australia’s highest total against India: 674
- Australia’s lowest total against India: 83
- India’s highest total against Australia: 705/7
- India’s lowest total against Australia: 36
Test statistics and records at Sydney Cricket Ground
- Total matches: 114
- Matches won by batting first: 47
- Matches won bowling first: 43
- Average first entry score: 318
- Second Inning Average Score: 311
- Third inning average score: 249
- Average fourth inning score: 169
- Highest total on record: 705/7 (187.3 Ov) for India vs Australia
- Lowest total on record: 42/10 (37.3 Ov) for Australia vs England
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Dhruv Jurel to replace Rishabh Pant in Sydney Test – Report
Sydney Cricket Ground Report:
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) pitch for the fifth Test between Australia and India is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Historically, the SCG surface tends to be good for batting in the early stages, allowing batsmen to settle in and score runs. However, as the match progresses, he often starts to help the spinners, especially on days four and five, making spin a crucial factor in the later stages of the game. The pitch may also show some wear, causing variable bounce, which could pose a challenge for batsmen. Overall, conditions are expected to be favorable for an exciting match, with clear skies promising uninterrupted play throughout the match. Teams will need to strategize accordingly, especially regarding their bowling lineups as the game develops.
Squads:
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Natan LyonMitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Tanush Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Devdutt Padikkal