David Warner hints at batting India out of the game at MCG

David Warner

Australia go into the fifth and final day of the Boxing Day Test match against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with a lead of 326 runs and 3 wickets in hand.

With Shaun Marsh (62 off 131) and Ryan Harris (8 off 27) at the crease, the result of the match largely depends on the timing of the declaration, as the Indian bowlers have struggled to run through the tail throughout the year.

The wicket is still very good for batsmen

While the Australians have been aggressive in their approach ever since Michael Clarke took over the team, Warner has said that the nature of the wicket could play a crucial role this time around in them deciding to invite India to bat

Speaking after Day 4, the attacking opener said: "We need a few more runs than what we have got on the board. Shaun Marsh is batting very well and Ryan Harris is still there, so we hope he can produce a knock like in the first innings. After that, we will assess once we are all out.”

He added: "It's still a very good batting wicket I think. The ball is coming on nicely and there is not much sideways movement though. As the ball gets older and softer there is a bit of reverse swing as you saw later today. That's probably going to be the key when we start our day with the ball, to try and take ten opportunities. That's the way we are going to try and win the game.”

Difference in India’s approach makes it difficult to declare early

Warner also admitted that they are being wary of the ability of the Indian batsmen to chase down the target if given enough overs. Pointing out how Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay almost took the visitors home in the first Test of the series, at Adelaide, the southpaw acknowledged that their opponents are playing a positive brand of cricket of late.

"We saw in the Adelaide how well they fought and luckily we got breakthroughs or it would have been a different story. They would have been 1-0 up. We know what their batting line-up is like.

"We saw how Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put a great partnership together in the first innings. That's there in the back of our minds. We know the positive brand of cricket they are playing now. When we have the opportunity then only we will try and take those ten wickets," said the left-handed opener.

The 28-year-old concluded by referring to pacer Ishant Sharma as the opposition’s best bowler at the moment.

"I felt that Ishant Sharma is probably the best of their bowlers. With R Ashwin drying up one end, he was bowling in the right areas especially to the left-handers. He let the ball go across and with the older ball he managed to get reverse swing to go both ways. He bowled very well today and he has been a big part in the last three Tests."