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Crunch time for the Indians

My first Test was a Boxing Day Test, back in 1985 ... against India! Apart from a nervous first Test innings, this also represented my first Christmas in Melbourne, away from the usual backyard festivities, instead celebrating with my new teammates in a Melbourne hotel. Now, here I am, enjoying another Christmas Day in Melbourne with my family, the members of the Australian squad and the families of my comrades. The only party of this kind I've missed in all those years was in 1991, when I was out of the Test XI. That season Australia was playing ... India!

We go into this Boxing Day Test on a roll, aiming for our sixth consecutive Test victory. However, we are aware that the heavy weight of cricket history suggests this will be extremely difficult. While there have been a number of occasions in the past when the Australian team has won five Tests straight, only once in the long history of the game has that run been extended to six. That happened back in 1920-21 when Warwick Armstrong's team went on to win eight in a row, all against England.

The Boxing Day Test is a highlight of the cricket year for any Australian player lucky enough to be involved. Playing in front of a full house at the MCG is a great experience, and this year there are many draw cards, not least the prospect of Shane Warne breaking the great Dennis Lillee's Australian Test wicket-taking record on his home track. Against Sachin Tendulkar, too. The Victorian crowd will definitely spur him on, and I'd love to see him do it in front of his keenest supporters.

Much has been made of how bouncy the MCG pitch might be, and how much it is helping the pace bowlers these days. However, having inspected the Test wicket, I think there will be some turn. Warney and Anil Kumble could have key roles to play.

That we'll be in for some exciting cricket is a certainty. This is a Test match full of potentially thrilling confrontations, including the possibility that our new fast-bowling prospect, Brett Lee, will be making his Test debut. As I write, we haven't yet settled on our final XI. Letting the new boy loose on the Indian batting line-up is tempting -- Brett is very quick, as quick as any paceman I have ever seen -- but to do so would mean Michael Kasprowicz being extremely unlucky to be left out. As captain, I'm just grateful to have such talent available.

The danger man for us is, of course, Tendulkar, who I'm sure will be keen to make up for his disappointments in Adelaide. However, we must also keep a close watch on Saurav Ganguly, who batted very well in the first Test, and Rahul Dravid, who is coming off a century in the tourists' last match, against Tasmania. Bowling-wise, Kumble remains India's greatest threat, but we'll also be looking out for an improved performance from Javagal Srinath, who wasn't quite as pacy in Adelaide as we've seen him in the past. And I mustn't forget Ajit Agarkar, who bowled quite quickly and effectively during his first Test in Australia. He knocked me over twice, so I'll have to be at my very best when we meet again here.

From a personal point of view, I'm eagerly looking forward to the days ahead. I made a hundred in New South Wales's second innings of our just completed Pura Milk Cup game against Western Australia in Perth, and am striking the ball very sweetly in the nets. My brother, in contrast, is under a bit of pressure, but every time an Australian batsman has been under scrutiny this summer he has responded with a big innings. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if Mark responds with a magic hundred. Then he can go on to play his 100th Test match in Sydney, an event the entire Waugh clan is looking forward to.

We know that India will come back strongly in this Test match. This is really 'crunch' time for them. We, though, are determined to sustain our winning form. The gifts have been exchanged and the Christmas cheer enjoyed. Now it's time for the Boxing Day action to begin!

Gameplan

Steve Waugh