Flying high Australia He will be looking to inflict another defeat on India when the two teams face each other in the final Test of the ongoing five-match series. The next Test will be played from Friday (January 3) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The hosts took a 2-1 lead in the series after thrashing India by 184 runs in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Batting first, the hosts scored 474 runs thanks to a century from Steve Smith and half-centuries from Usman Khawaja, debutant Sam Konstas and Marnus Labuschagne.
In reply, India scored 369 runs as Nitish Reddy scored a sensational century and Yashavi Jaiswal scored 82 runs. In the second half, the Australians scored 234 points. Setting a target of 340 runs, India were bowled out for just 155 runs.
Even a draw in the next match will be enough for the hosts to decide the series. However, they will be keen to win the Test in order to book their place in the World Test Championship final. With the Aussies looking for a decisive win in the fifth Test, here are Australia playing 11 in the fifth Test between India and Australia.
Australia plays 11-match series against India – 5th Test, India's tour of Australia 2024-25
Editorials: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas
Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas are likely to be the openers in the playing 11 for the fifth Test against India. Konstas made his Test debut in Melbourne and had great success. The youngest player to open the innings for the Australians in a Test match, Konstas stunned the cricket world by bowling Jasprit Bumrah on his debut.
He eventually got out for 60 runs off just 65 balls in his first innings. In the second innings, Konstas scored just 8 runs before being bowled by a stunning delivery from Bumrah.
Al Khawaja also managed to find some form as he scored 57 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, Souths were bowled out for 21 runs and will look to end the series with a big score.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk)
Marnus Labuschagne managed to take some pressure off himself by scoring half-centuries in both innings. The right-handed batsman scored 72 runs in the first innings before scoring 70 runs in the second innings.
Steve Smith scored his second successive century of the series as he led the hosts' attack with the bat in the first innings. The former captain scored 140 points in the first rounds before scoring 13 points in the second half.
Travis Head had a rare failure and will look to bounce back in the next Test. The Australian star was dismissed cheaply in both innings by Bumrah. He was out for a duck in the first innings before scoring one run in the second innings.
Mitchell Marsh's poor run of form continued as the Australian once again failed to make his presence felt. He failed with the bat in both innings, scoring 4 and 0. With the ball, Marsh could not take any wickets. Alex Carey scored 31 runs in the first innings before hitting a 2-run home run in the second inning.
Bowling: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
The hosts are unlikely to change their bowling line-up in playing Australia's 11 for the fifth Test. Captain Pat Cummins is set to lead the attack with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland as his fast bowling partners. Nathan Lyon is set to lead the rotation attack.