Australia’s rivalry with India turned physical as Virat Kohli collided with 19-year-old Australia batter Sam Konstas on the opening morning of the fourth test.

Teen sensation Sam Konstas had the crowd in the palm of his hand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as he smashed India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah around the park and got under the visitors' skin with a half-century on debut in the fourth test.

The series is locked at 1-1 as Australia and India resume hostilities in sweltering heat for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The mercury in Melbourne is set to get up close to 40 but that won’t stop some 90,000 fans packing into the stands.

Australia run-maker Travis Head is questionable for the fourth cricket test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and teenager Sam Konstas is set to make his first test start for the home side.

In-form Australian batter Travis Head will be fit for the fourth test and India are considering restoring captain Rohit Sharma to the opener's slot for the match starting in Melbourne on Thursday. Head is the leading run scorer in the five-test series but the left-hander suffered a quad strain in Brisbane.

India captain Rohit Sharma is set to play on top order in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Stadium in Melbourne.

Australia heaved a major sigh of relief on Wednesday after skipper Pat Cummins declared run-machine Travis Head fit for the Boxing Day test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Aussies won the toss and elected to bat first. Both India and Australia have made big changes in their line-ups.