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[Number4]

Joe Burns selected for the Boxing Day test match to replace injured Mitch Marsh

[ProCricketer1982]

Is he any good so to speak?

[AverageCricketer]

Can't wait until it starts. I'm going to day 1. Anyone else going?

[csnew]

Cowan would be disappointed not to get a call up with his 4 100s this season

[Number4]

Burns is more versatile being able to bat anywhere in the top 6

[Gerry SA]

Gotta admit I love the Boxing Day Test, and there's 3 of them this year!

Anyway two changes for Australia. Joe Burnsdebuts in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh and Ryan Harris replaces Mitchell Starc(Has Starc ever played consecutive Test matches).

Warner, Rodgers, Watson, Smith(c), S Marsh, Burns, Haddin(w/k), Johnson, Harris, Hazlewood and Lyon

India are set to bring back Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Varun Aaron. But rather somewhat surprisingly will not dish the dreadful Rohit Sharma. Ashwin will probably be fortunate and retain his place as well.

Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Rohit, Dhoni(c) (w/k), Ashwin, Kumar, Yadav and Ishant.

[skip1973]

India seem shot, complaining, playing the victim again, they really are as weak as water.

[Gerry SA]

Australia won the toss and elect to bat.

India with two changes. Shami for Aaron(Kumar still unfit) and KL Rahul(22 year old from Bangalore) will debut at 6 in place of the pitiful Rohit Sharma.

[Gerry SA]

David Warner gets a 6th ball duck. Excellent catch by Dhawan at third slip.

[ItsJustCricket]

Is Steve Smith the most improved Test batsman in world cricket? He's gone from a walking wicket to a world beater in just a year and a half.  How does that happen?!

[Manormanic]

Darren Lehmann's coaching and greater maturity?

If you look, he's become a lot more still at the crease, and had got his back lift tighter to his body.  Its still an idiosyncratic technique, but for a lad in his physical prime its one that he can work with now.  He'll always be vulnerable to the ball tailing in to him or swinging away very late (though that latter point covers maybe 90% of the cricketing population) but is now able to concentrate on his own game rather than what he perceives the bowlers will be targeting him on. 

[Gerry SA]

Surely Virat Kohli should be made permanent Test cricket. Dhoni clearly shows no interest, sets poor fields and to boot is a below average keeper.

[skip1973]

Dhoni is one of the most negative captains around, nearly in the Strauss mold.

[ProCricketer1982]

Dhoni is one of the most negative captains around, nearly in the Strauss mold.

Strauss wasn't as bad as cook is!

[skip1973]

He was aweful.