Ponting’s Boxing Day message to Aussies

Test champion Ricky Ponting insists Australia must build on their outstanding performance in the second Domain Test if they are to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Possible personnel changes, different conditions and an Indian side seeking immediate redemption all pose as challenges to Tim Paine's men as they head to Melbourne for next week's Boxing Day Test fresh from claiming a series-levelling 146-run win in Perth on Tuesday.

If Australia can continue the aggressive approach they displayed at Perth Stadium, where they played hard, uncompromising cricket without courting controversy, Ponting believes they can maintain their winning momentum. 

"Just not relax," Ponting told cricket.com.au when asked what Australia must do stay on top of India. 

"They've set a bit of blueprint this week (of how to beat India) with the way they've played. They just have to build on that now. 

"There's no doubt with one win a bit of belief comes but they can't just rock up in Melbourne and expect India are going to play like they did here.  

"I still think both teams have been a long way off their best because their batting has not been anywhere near as good as what the bowling side of things have been. 

"If you think about the MCG and SCG, they are (venues with) conditions that will suit the Indians more than Adelaide and Perth. 

"The Aussie boys will have their work cut out, but as long they play the brand of cricket they know that they can play – and I think they showed that (with) some great aggression this week, I hope that continues for the next couple of weeks – if they can do that then I think they're going to be hard to beat."

While Australia will focus on keeping their winning ways, India have some decisions to make. 

Young gun Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out of the remainder of the series in a major blow for the visitors, particularly considering opening pair Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are averaging 12.25 and 12 for the series respectively.

And while veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma remain under an injury cloud, uncapped batsman Mayank Agarwal and allrounder Hardik Pandya have been parachuted in for the final two matches.

Ponting says India's problems now outweigh their opponents after the loss in Perth.

"I compared the two teams at the start of the series and I didn't think India could win here just because of the frailties of their batting and I think that's been highlighted this week," he said. 

"They've had to call in another opener, they've brought in another allrounder as well to try and bolster that middle order.

"They've got as much on their plate as the Australian boys have, if not more now that they've lost this game. 

"(There is) a lot of uncertainty around their group and they haven't got long to turn things around." 

Australia are more settled.

The hosts have named an unchanged squad for the final two Tests of the series, but conditions are set to determine whether the hosts tinker with their starting side.

The Domain Test series moves to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where last year’s pitch was rated ‘poor’ by the ICC following a docile Ashes draw.

Ponting expects to see a different pitch this summer, he's just not exactly sure what to expect.

"We’re not really sure what we’re going to get out of the surface, " he said.

"One thing it won’t be, it won’t be like it was last year. I think they got a pretty loud and clear warning as to what is demanded of the pitch down in Melbourne. 

"Reading between the lines I think they have been experimenting with the amount of grass and moisture they’ve left on it for the Shield games. 

"I think Melbourne will have a little bit of grass on it and moisture and then flatten out to be a pretty good one after that."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Australia won by 146 runs

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar