Melbourne: Australia has announced its playing-11 for the fourth Test match of the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India. This test between the two teams is going to start from Thursday (26 December). This Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Travis Head's name is included in the playing eleven announced by Australia for the fourth Test. After the third Test in Brisbane, there were reports of Head getting injured. But now he is fully fit. Along with this, young player Sam Kontas' name has also been included in the playing eleven. Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed this.

Cummins said that Head is completely fit. And he is ready to rock the field. He is a part of the nets session happening on Christmas. Cummins said, 'Head is fit. He will play. He prepared fully yesterday and today. And there is nothing to worry about Travis Head's injury. He will enter the field completely fit.

Head has been the most successful batsman for Australia in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He scored centuries in both Adelaide and Brisbane Test matches. Head has proved to be a big headache for the Indian bowlers.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh is also a part of the playing eleven. The team management has decided to make this all-rounder a part of the final eleven despite poor form and the risk of injury. Australia has given priority to the senior player despite Beau Webster being in the team.

This is going to be a special moment for 19-year-old Kontas because before this Australia had fielded a younger Test debutant than him in the year 2011. Then Pat Cummins was included in the team to play at the age of 18. However, Kontas will be Australia's youngest opener and his age difference with Usman Khawaja will be quite high.

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Talking about the current status of the Border Gavaskar series, India won the first Test by 295 runs in Perth. After this, in the next Pink Ball Test, Australia equalized the series by defeating India by 10 wickets. The third match was affected by rain and ended in a draw. This match was played at Gabba in Brisbane. Now both the teams are ready for the Boxing Day Test match.

Australia's playing XI for Boxing Day Test match: Usman Khawaja, Sam Constaza, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.