Hot on the heals of three decent Tests in Sri Lanka... we're about to start another potentially great series - though on a ground where Australia have apparently not lost since 1998 - see Cricinfo - Australia all set for MCG dominance

Teams (likely)

Australia - 1 Phil Jaques, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Mike Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Brad Hogg

India - 1 Wasim Jaffer, 2 Rahul Dravid, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Anil Kumble (capt), 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 RP Singh, 11 Ishant Sharma/Harbhajan Singh

Cricinfo series Homepage: Cricinfo - Australia v India 2007-08

Hogg's in and Tait misses out

I am happy with this team - well balanced and gives Australia a good chance of winning it's 10th straight Boxing day test and 15th consecutive test

It will not be easy though. I get the feeling that India are up for this one, and their quality batting lineup and and superiority in experience will hold them in good stead.

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Do you know of any broadcast that can be picked up over the web (or better still over the airways) from the UK? I've heard nothing to indicate that TMS are bothering... and I get the impression that most webcasts these days are a devil to get if you ain't going through an ISP in the host nation...

Good to hear that Hogg's in though: anything but Tait

ps. Cricinfo scorecard and text commentary is up and running: Cricinfo - 1st Test: Australia v India at Melbourne, Dec 26-30, 2007

A big kick along for every mediocre player struggling to retain their state spot.

I just cant see what Hogg offers that Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds do not offer with their offies.

He would only be very marginally better than them, if at all.

Sounds like a great start to the match. Nice to hear that Jaques is looking out of his depth, and that Hayden has been riding his luck. Ominous signs of the duo making it through the new-ball spell though....

Australia would surely have been better opening with Hussey given the conditions.

This does not bode well. India have bowled really well and whilst oz have ridden their luck a bit they remain intact; as we know if you don't get these oz batsman early there is every chance they'll go big on you.

An unpickable wrong-un. All three will have their uses this test though i reckon.

Now to the Indian bowling line-up

Ganguly as their first change seam bowler, and two spinners at Melbourne. Hmmm. The Indian batsman will have to bat very well to save this test, as this Indian bowling line-up will struggle to get 20 wickets.

You need three top line seamers at the minimum at Melbourne.

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Lunchtime and Oz on Nelson without loss. Extremely ominous allready for the Indians (and those of us who are honourary Indians for this series)

I've watched Jacques a few times now this season and have not been impressed but he still keeps heaping the runs on. "We're" going to have to break through fast after lunch to have any chance of making a game of this otherwise the all to farmiliar pattern of Oz in control and dominating will hove into view pretty sharpish. Vital to get the excellent Ponting in and out in the the first 60 mins of the next session I feel.

Who, Hogg? Mediocre? And who says that he's "struggling to retain his state spot?" When he's available for state duties, he's always the first-choice spinner, and his domestic record over the last couple of years has been fantastic. It's easy enough to look up for yourself.

Yes, Seamer, India definitely should have picked a third seamer. The in-form Sharma should have been included ahead of Harbhajan. But it still might not have made a difference, as India's grossly underprepared with only 50 overs of batting practise.

Well "we" have managed to work the oracle at least in the short term with the original break through and the unusually premature departure of Ponting. So importnat the pressure is not released easily over the next 20 mins. Also "we" must attack Hussey as much as possible early doors; he has proved if you let him get to 20 or so its problems