fifth men’s cricket test, day one – live

Here are the starting XIs

Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (semaine), 8 Pat Cummins (capitaine), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland

Inde: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh Krishna

As expected for India, KL Rahul was elevated to the opener position to replace Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill returns to the side after missing out on the squad in Melbourne and Prasidh Krishnathe speedy 28-year-old from Bangalore, will be playing his third Test.

It is the decision of Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah. That’s right, folks – captain Rohit Sharma is OUT. Whether this omission is his decision or that of the BCCI, we will know.

Jasprit Bumrah says Sharma “chose to rest”. He relishes the opportunity to strike first on a pitch that doesn’t look “too spicy”…

We played some very good cricket in this series. The last match was quite exciting. I hope we can put on a good show. There appears to be grass. There doesn’t seem to be too many demons or too spicy. Obviously there will be a challenge with the new ball, but if you get it right it’s still a good batting track. Our captain showed leadership by choosing to rest in this match. This shows that there is a lot of unity in this team. There is no selfishness. Whatever is in the best interest of the team, we seek to do. Two changes, Rohit has chosen to rest and Akash Deep is injured so Prasidh comes in.

Pat Cummins admitted that he too would have struck first. However, the SCG pitch is a little greener than usual, so he’s eager to get his attack going and see if they can wreak havoc. Cummins said the team had a very easy few days, resting and recharging.

Last week, debutant Sam Konstas lit up the cricketing world. The new face of the Australian XI today is Beau Webster, a 31-year-old all-rounder from the town of Snug, Tasmania.

Webster was presented with Baggy Green #469 this morning by the great Mark Waugh and his rise was widely praised. Webster has averaged 57.1 with the bat at first-class level since March 2022 and has taken 81 wickets at 31.7 in the same period.

Last summer he scored 938 runs at 58.62 in the Sheffield Shield, including three centuries, while taking 30 wickets to help Tasmania reach the final. Only one cricketer has bettered those numbers in a Shield campaign – a guy called Sir Garfield Sobers????

This is the Test rosea proud tradition since 2009 in which Cricket Australia and the SCG Trust have partnered with the McGrath Foundation to raise awareness and much-needed funds for breast cancer.

Jane McGrath, wife of Australian Test legend Glenn, was a beloved figure. Jane died of illness in 2008, but her legacy is immense and this week we honor her. The McGrath Foundation has supported more than 150,000 families across Australia and in 2024 will support 15,720 new families. Until now, if you would like to support the cause, please donate. You can purchase a virtual pink seat here for all five days of the test.

The Australian players are wearing their pink caps and will soon present them to Glenn McGrath, after which they will be sold at auction. This cause is close to their hearts and clearly inspires their efforts on the ground. Of the 17 pink Tests, Australia have won nine, drawn seven (including the one achieved by India on the 2020/21 tour) and lost only once.

There has been major intrigue in the Indian camp all week with speculation of a split team and Captain Rohit Sharma about to a) “rest” for the Test, b) fall on his sword and resign and/or retire, c) be eliminated by the selectors for the fifth Test, or d) be retained at the request of the Powers superiors of the BCCI.

Amid all the action and emotion, it’s easy to forget that Sharma missed the first Test in Perth, where Jasprit Bumrah led India to a magnificent victory and a 1-0 lead in the series. Since the arrival of 37-year-old Sharma, India have looked unbalanced and the skipper’s once imperious strokeplay has been MIA, with scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9.

The intrigue thickened yesterday when Sharma failed to appear at the official press conference and Indian coach Gautam Gambhir did the job. Gambhir was seen in lengthy discussions with Bumrah later in the day as rumors intensified that Sharma was out. Sharma also did not take part in India’s training session at the SCG yesterday.

Given that this is the first Test of a new year, the Australia and India teams were welcomed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Kirribilli House on the first day of 2025.

The weather? He isn’t it It’s raining in Sydney although a heavy dew fell overnight and the sky is currently gray. There is a slight chance (20%, I’m told) of an early shower, but the latest from the Bureau is that the first day is likely to be uninterrupted: a 26C day with light winds 15 to 20 km/h. For the first three days at least, the forecast is clear.

Given Sydney’s fickle weather – 26 days were lost in the SCG tests compared to nine in the MCG tests – this is an excellent result. Days four and five are expected to be tougher, with a typically tumultuous mix of high heat, rain bombs and lightning. But hey, let’s live for the day and worry about it if/when it happens.

Australia and India have faced each other on the cricket field since 1947, when Don Bradman (715 runs at 178.75) and Ray Lindwall (18 wickets at 16.88) led Australia to a 4- 0.

Out of 111 Tests, Australia won 47, India 33 with 30 draws and one tie. India’s victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 have shifted the balance of power, but Australia’s famous victory at the MCG could signal a new era of dominance.

However the next five days play out, the two proud nations can put aside their rivalry and declare the cliché as a rolled-up truth: Test cricket was the big winner.

Hello cricket fans and welcome to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Guardian’s in-depth coverage of the fifth Test between Australia and India. Angus Fontaine is here with you for the opening salvos before James Wallace takes you home.

After their thrilling victory in Melbourne – a Test witnessed by the largest cricket crowd in Australian history – Pat Cummins’ men lead the series 2-1 and now only need a draw to put the hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since. 2014-15. For India, only a victory for the SCG can secure the Trophy for a fifth consecutive time.

This 2024-25 series was billed as the title fight for cricket’s heavyweights and that hype has been borne out. Both teams threw incredible punches, looking for the knockout punch. India won the first round, with a commanding 295-run victory in Perth. Australia fought back against Adelaide, triumphing by 10 wickets. The third Test at a rain-soaked Gabba was drawn before Australia broke the deadlock in this fourth Test thriller at the MCG.

The four Tests delivered extraordinary cricket, individual exploits and moments of drama. Sydney should be no different. Both teams enter with revamped lineups. Australia have dropped Mitchell Marsh, who misfired, and Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut. And sensationally, India would be taking part in this final Test without their captain Rohit Sharma!

The game is scheduled to start at 10:30 AEST and we will have the final teams and the draw soon. Make yourself a cup of tea and take some fuel on board. Today is going to be BIG.