New Delhi: A 127-run partnership between Nitish Reddy and Washinton Sundar put India in a comfortable position on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday, December 28.
Team India was in trouble after Boland removed Pant on 28 runs in the first session on Day 3 while Nathan Lyon removed Jadeja on 17 runs. But Nitish and Sundar led India’s fightback in the Boxing Day Test match. Nitish Reddy notched up his maiden Test hundred while Sundar also registered his half-century.
The Australian Team is still in a commanding position to win the fourth Test match but India’s fightback might put the hosts under some pressure. The Men in Blue need to win the remaining two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
After the third Test ended in a draw, India’s WTC point percentage slipped from 57.29 to 55.88. The Men in Blue remained in the third position on the WTC points table, behind South Africa (63.33) and Australia (58.89).
Position
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Drawn
NR
Points
PCT
1
South Africa
10
6
3
1
0
76
63.33
2
Australia
15
9
4
2
0
106
58.89
3
India
17
9
6
2
0
114
55.88
4
New Zealand
14
7
7
0
0
81
48.21
5
Sri Lanka
11
5
6
0
0
60
45.45
6
England
22
11
10
1
0
114
43.18
7
Pakistan
10
4
6
0
0
40
33.33
8
Bangladesh
12
4
8
0
0
45
31.25
9
West Indies
11
2
7
2
0
32
24.24
India’s WTC final scenario
1. If India lose the fourth Test in Melbourne but finish the series 2-2 with a victory in Sydney, then the Men in Blue will finish their cycle with 126 points and a 55.26 PCT. Australia can qualify for the WTC final with two draws or at least a win against Sri Lanka.
2. If Australia beat India in the MCG Test but the series ends at 1-2 with a draw in Sydney. Rohit and Co. will end up with 118 points and then Australia will qualify for the WTC final.
3. If India draw the remaining two matches of the series, they will finish on 122 points and a 53.50 PCT. Australia need to win at least one game out of their two matches against Sri Lanka to qualify for the WTC final.
4. If the fourth Test ends in a draw and Team India wins the Sydney Test, then Rohit and Co. will finish on 130 points with a 57.01 PCT. Australia then need to win the Sri Lanka series by 2-0 to qualify for the WTC final.
Team India’s World Test Championship (WTC) final chances are on the brink as they approach a draw or a defeat in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today