India up against MCG record to save Aussie series

MELBOURNE, Dec 23 (AFP): India must reverse a demoralising losing streak at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to prevent Australia from regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Friday's Boxing Day third Test.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tourists trail 2-0 in the four-match series after defeats in Adelaide and Brisbane, and have lost their last five encounters at the MCG stretching back 23 years.
While India have competed well in the series, they unravelled both times in their second innings.
The Indians lost their last seven wickets for 73 to go down by 48 runs in Adelaide and nine for 148 to leave the Australians chasing 128 runs for a four-wicket victory in Brisbane.
Dhoni said India had not been getting the 50-50 umpire calls and were not far off winning away from home where they have a dismal record of just one victory from their last 21 away Tests.
"There's plenty of areas we're showing improvement, but we're still not crossing the line," Dhoni said.
"We need to give it a bit more time. Once they start crossing that line, once they harness that aggression in the right channel you'll see plenty of good results from this side."
While India routinely master Australia on their home pitches, winning the last seven Tests straight, it's the reverse situation Down Under. But the tourists now have pace weapons with Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.