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Smith and Cummins eye major milestones in ‘Boxing Day Test’ against India

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Australian cricket stars Steve Smith and Pat Cummins are poised to achieve significant career milestones as they prepare for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, set to begin on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With the series level at 1-1, the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test promises high stakes as both teams aim for a critical lead ahead of the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Steve Smith’s record at the MCG cements his reputation as a “Boxing Day beast.” In 11 Boxing Day Tests, Smith has amassed an extraordinary 1,093 runs at an average of 78.07, including four centuries and five fifties. His standout performance came against India in 2014 when he scored a majestic 192 off 305 balls, featuring 15 fours and two sixes. That innings propelled Australia to a massive first-innings total of 530 runs, with the match ending in a memorable draw thanks to Virat Kohli’s resistance.

Fresh off a century in Brisbane that ended a drought of 25 innings without a ton, Smith is now just 191 runs away from reaching 10,000 Test runs. Achieving this feat will make him only the fourth Australian batter to cross this milestone, joining legends Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh. Smith’s Test career currently boasts 9,809 runs in 112 matches at an impressive average of 56.05, with 33 centuries and 41 fifties.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is also on the verge of a historic achievement. Cummins needs eight more wickets to become the seventh Australian bowler to claim 500 international wickets. His career tally stands at 492 wickets from 212 matches, taken at an average of 24.53, with best figures of 6/23 and 14 five-wicket hauls across formats.

In addition, Cummins is on the brink of another unique milestone. He needs 11 wickets to become the first cricketer to reach 200 wickets in the history of the ICC World Test Championship, a league format introduced in 2019.

Cummins has consistently excelled in Boxing Day Tests at the MCG. In seven appearances at the iconic venue, he has taken 35 wickets at an astonishing average of 17.00. His standout performance includes figures of 6/27 against India, and he boasts four five-wicket hauls in Boxing Day Tests.

Also See: India vs Australia Tour Schedule | India Cricket Schedule 2025 | Australia Cricket Schedule

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Tanush Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

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