Why Australia didn't declare on Day 4 at MCG: Marnus ...

Australia showcased remarkable resilience on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test, recovering from a top-order collapse to strengthen their position against India. Reduced to 91/6 before Tea, the Australian tail-enders, led by Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland, staged a spirited rearguard action. Marnus Labuschagne, who anchored the innings with a gritty 70, revealed the rationale behind Australia's decision to keep batting rather than declare despite a substantial lead.

Starting the day with a 105-run advantage, Australia's primary focus was on extending the lead, eventually finishing at 228/9 by stumps. This effort gave them a commanding lead of 333 runs. However, fans and experts debated the approach, suggesting Australia could have declared earlier to give themselves more time to bowl India out, especially since the highest successful chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is 332, achieved nearly a century ago.

Were Australia planning to declare?

Labuschagne explained the decision, emphasising the pressure India’s bowlers exerted early in the innings. “I think we had the perfect game for us and that probably looked like having to bowl tonight and putting them under pressure,” Labuschagne shared. “You know the way the wicket played and the way India's bowling came out and put us under the pressure in that first 40–50 overs. That wasn’t an option for us. It became ‘let’s get as many runs as we can.’”

He also highlighted the contributions of Australia’s lower-middle order. “There was a time when there could have been 250-270 and maybe even less for them. So we navigated that really well. Our lower-middle order deserves a lot of credit for how they managed the last part,” Labuschagne added.

A record chase awaits India

Interestingly, even the tail-enders found the batting conditions favourable, with Nathan Lyon enduring nearly 20 overs at the crease. This raised questions about whether specialist Indian batters might thrive under similar conditions on the final day.

By continuing to bat, Australia ensured India would need to achieve a record chase at the MCG to win the match. With history against teams chasing targets exceeding 300 at this venue, Australia’s decision reflected a cautious yet calculated approach in securing victory.