Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs IND 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs IND 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs India 1st Test Key Players | Adelaide Oval Pitch Report

Put all the talk to the side. All the build up, the anticipation, the conversations. The speculation about playing XIs. The white-ball matches provided some excellent entertainment, but the game’s most traditional format restarts in Australia with one of international cricket’s most decorated rivalries.

Fans will be comforted with the safety of Test cricket in what has been a chaotic 2020. A year where fans were starved of cricket action over four months, where fingers were crossed among fans and administrators that this series will go ahead as planned.

Now, the questions will finally be answered. Can India repeat their superb performance of 2018/19, or will it be Australia who gain revenge? Will the presence of the great Steve Smith, along with the rise of Marnus Labuschagne, be too much for India to handle? Can Virat Kohli lead the way so well in his only Test in the series that India gain an advantage? Which bowling attack will outperform the other?

These questions and more will make for riveting viewing. India, who struggled with the bat in the tour games, need to deliver in the opening Test, where conditions will be tricky for batting under lights. However, India have the arsenal in their bowling attack to deliver the goods, and it makes for a mouth-watering battle. With key match-ups right throughout the two teams, one needs to ensure they have their eyes glued to a screen as long as possible, otherwise you’ll miss something significant.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Australia:

• Steve Smith will be key in leading Australia’s attempt at revenge. A slight back niggle two days before the Test sent some alarm bells ringing, but he’s good to go. Smith’s record against India is nothing short of incredible, with 1,429 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 84.05.
• Marnus Labuschagne’s rise has been a huge positive for Australia. He currently averages 63.23 in 14 Tests to date, which includes a dominant 162 against Pakistan in the Adelaide day/night Test in 2019.
• Can Cameron Green replicate his wonderful First Class record in Tests? The talented all-rounder recently scored a century vs the Indians at Drummoyne, and boasts a FC batting average of 55.04 in 21 matches, along with 33 wickets at 21.72.
• Mitchell Starc absolutely loves bowling in day/night Tests at Adelaide. In four such matches, Starc has picked up 24 wickets at an average of 18.00. However, can Starc improve on his average of 36.19 against India?
• Nathan Lyon has the most wickets of any current player in Australia-India matches (85, avg. 32.60). Also, Lyon has a superb record at Adelaide, with 50 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 26.12. In day/night Tests on this ground, Lyon has taken 18 wickets in eight innings at an average of 23.44.
• Pat Cummins, the number one-ranked bowler in Tests, will be key along with Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood has a superb record at the Adelaide Oval, with 26 wickets in five Tests at an average of 21.38.

India:

• India’s key man will be Cheteshwar Pujara. India’s rock at number three led the way beautifully in 2018/19, hitting three tons in the four Test matches. His overall record against Australia is outstanding: 16 Tests, 1,622 runs, avg. 60.07.
• The visitors will also want Virat Kohli to contribute in his only Test for the series. The skipper loves playing at the Adelaide Oval, with three centuries in as many Tests on this ground (total of 431 runs, avg. 71.83).
• Ajinkya Rahane has hit two half-centuries in as many Tests at Adelaide. The classy right-hander will be crucial to India’s chances.
• Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will also be key for India in the absence of Ishant Sharma. Bumrah took six wickets at Adelaide in 2018 (3/47 and 3/68).
• Can R Ashwin outbowl Nathan Lyon? The off-spinner, like Bumrah, took six wickets at Adelaide in 2018 (3/57 and 3/92).

Stats and Facts

• India have won the last two Test series’ against Australia (2017 in India and then 2018/19 in Australia).
• Australia have played seven day/night Tests, and have won all seven. India will be playing just their second day/night Test after smashing Bangladesh in 2019.
• India won their Test in Adelaide in 2018/19 by 31 runs to take a 1-0 lead in that series.
• Steve Smith averages 61 at the Adelaide Oval.

Possible Playing 11

According to reports, Australia will put faith in the out of form Joe Burns, who has averaged just 6.6 so far this season. In the two warm up games, he made scores of 4, 0, 0 and 1. At Adelaide, Burns has made scores of 14, 11 and 4. So, Australia will be hoping Burns turns this around.

Also, Justin Langer confirmed that, if fit, Cameron Green will make his Test debut. This means that Matthew Wade will play as opener.

Australia: 1. Joe Burns, 2. Matthew Wade, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood

India have confirmed their XI. Prithvi Shaw has been preferred over Shubman Gill, and Wriddhiman Saha will don the gloves ahead of Rishabh Pant.

India: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Hanuma Vihari, 7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Adelaide Oval Pitch Report and Weather

In the lead up to the Test, the Adelaide Oval surface looked devoid of any significant grass. So, the toss will prove crucial, as batting first will be key in the effort to dictate when the opposition bats. The twilight period and session under lights is undoubtedly the most difficult in day/night Tests on this ground, as the ball moves around quite a bit. So, it is important for both sides to have set batsmen heading into this period, if possible.

One thing is for sure, and that is that the under-fire openers from both sides will have their work cut out.

The weather forecast looks very good throughout the Test, with temperatures to hover around the mid-20s. Not much rain is expected at all; certainly not enough to ruin the Test.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

A huge game for both teams. Starting off the series with a win is crucial, as it provides a mental edge over the opposition for the remainder of the series. Australia, even without Warner, look to have more runs in them than India, particularly given how India struggled against the bouncing ball in the tour games. So, they must improve.

Australia start as favourites, and look good to go 1-0 up given their all-round bowling attack, as well as the presence of Steve Smith.

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