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India vs Australia 4th Test, Melbourne Weather Forecast: Will MCG suffer Gabba fate as final WTC spot at stake?

India vs Australia 4th Test, Melbourne Weather Forecast: Will MCG suffer Gabba fate as final WTC spot at stake?

December 25, 2024, 8:42 PM IST

The previous game in Brisbane ended in a draw, leaving the series still 1-1 after three games.

With qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) at stake, all eyes will not only be on India and Australia for the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, but also on the weather in Melbourne. The previous game in Brisbane ended in a draw, leaving the series still 1-1 after three games. Australia maintained the upper hand in the game and were on the verge of virtually eliminating India from the race to the final while further strengthening their cause before rain on the final day dashed their hopes and almost ruined two practice sessions.

Ground staff work on the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 25, 2024, ahead of the fourth cricket test match between Australia and India (AFP).
Ground staff work on the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 25, 2024, ahead of the fourth cricket test match between Australia and India (AFP).

There were numerous squad changes for both teams. Australia lost Josh Hazlewood to injury and so Scott Boland will replace him in the starting XI and Nathan McSweeny has been dropped from the team as 19-year-old Sam Konstas was added in his place, confirmed to make his international debut on Thursday. For India, Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement at the end of the Gabba Test last week and was flying back home when the team named uncapped Tanush Kotian as his replacement.

A look at the weather forecast for Melbourne

With a full house at the MCG on all five matchdays, fans can breathe a sigh of relief. There is little chance of rain until Monday, December 30th AccuweatherThe forecast for the first three days is cloudy, with a 0 to 2 percent chance of rain on the first two days. However, an evening shower is expected on the third day, with the probability increasing to 24 percent. However, the weather is expected to be mostly sunny for the last two days.

How will the MCG test impact final WTC qualification?

If India, currently in third place in the table with 55.88 PCT after nine wins in 17 matches, loses or draws the fourth Test, they could be out of the race for the WTC final. However, a win could still see them close to reaching the WTC final for a third consecutive year.

Australia, which will also play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at home in January, needs two wins and a draw in its remaining games as part of the cycle.

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