Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
The talk, over.
All off-field issues, put to the side.
The Australia-India Test rivalry, here again.
India’s much awaited Test tour of Australia is upon us, and they arguably have had no better chance than now to break their Test duck down under. Will this galvanise the tourists or will the pressure prove too much? On the flip side, will the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner hurt Australia? Will the batsmen hold their own, or will it be almost entirely up to the bowlers to be competitive?
It is all to play for in Adelaide, with each side needing to lay down a marker in the first Test to shape the series in their favour.
It has been a barren 2018 for Australia, only tasting victory in any format in the T20I Tri-Series involving England and New Zealand. They lifted the Ashes in January, but only because the series was won in 2017, before the events of Cape Town. Plenty of ideas have been thrown forward as to how Australia turn things around, and there is no better time than a series against arch-rivals India to lift the mood.
For India, there is indeed no better time than now. There is no better time to improve their record in SENA, as well as achieve their first ever Test series victory down under. Their seam bowling attack looks its most potent in years, and their batting line up is full of capable players looking to remind the Australian media that there is more to this Indian side than Virat Kohli. As great as he is, he can’t do it alone as the South Africa and England tours showed. Will he fire and get the support he needs, enabling India to get off to the perfect start?
Key to an Australia win
Steve Smith and David Warner have been the backbone of Australia’s Test success over the past few years, especially at home. The absence of these two in particular gives India a big chance in the series, which places the onus on the line up picked to deliver the goods.
Usman Khawaja has been touted as one of the players to watch out for this series, and he, along with Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb, must lead an inexperienced batting line up. If Australia leave too much for the inexperienced players to do, trouble awaits, with the Indians fielding a much improved pace attack since they last visited Australia. Sure, Marcus Harris has been in good form in FC Cricket and Aaron Finch and Travis Head were encouraging in the UAE, but Test experience is low, which makes regular partnerships most important for Australia.
However, Australia’s bowling personnel has not been impacted by Cape Town, and contains the ingredients required to cause India a hard time. Virat Kohli is the prize wicket, but the Australians need to ensure that they plan and execute well against an Indian line up that had the potential to perform to pile pressure on the Indian captain. Can Mitchell Starc get the ball swinging prodigously? How economical and effective will Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood be? Also, and very significantly, can Nathan Lyon continue India’s tendency to struggle against offspinners overseas?
Key to an India win
Josh Hazlewood has
cheekily reminded India of the need to support Virat Kohli, and that is indeed key to India’s quest to go 1-0 up in the series. The brilliant Indian batsman will likely have a big say as he did in South Africa and England earlier this year, but will he get greater support?
The loss of Prithvi Shaw for the first Test is a blow to the young man and India, which puts the spotlight on the Murali Vijay, fresh off a
tour game hundred, and the out-of-form KL Rahul. Also, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are two players who haven’t performed as best they can in 2018, and must help wear the Aussie bowlers down.
On the bowling front, India are in good shape, despite their less-than-convincing showing in the tour game. Much has been made of Ishant Sharma’s record in Australia, but his better, fuller length in recent times will be key for India here. Can Jasprit Bumrah cause problems with his pace? How quickly can Mohammed Shami find his rhythm? Also, can Ravichandran Ashwin win the battle against Nathan Lyon on an Adelaide pitch that could take turn later in the Test?
Possible teams
Mitchell Marsh, vice-captain of the Test side, has been left out as Australia have confirmed their XI.
Australia: 1. Marcus Harris, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Shaun Marsh, 5. Peter Handscomb, 6. Travis Head, 7. Tim Paine (c & wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Pat Cummins, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
For India, Prithvi Shaw is out with injury, which paves the way for Murali Vijay and KL Rahul to open the batting. The pitch in Adelaide is said to have some grass on it, but personal opinion suggests it is still unlikely India will pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar, especially given that the hot conditions in Adelaide will dry out the pitch.
India: 1. Murali Vijay, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Rohit Sharma, 7. Rishabh Pant, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Ishant Sharma, 11. Jasprit Bumrah
Dream11
The first Test of the big series! Below is my Dream11 team with a few pointers.
- Tim Paine will be primed for a big Test as captain. His glovework remains solid, and his batting down the order will be of great use to Australia.
- Virat Kohli captains my side, and Usman Khawaja vice-captains. Ajinkya Rahane has a good record in Australia, and Shaun Marsh, despite a very poor home record against India, is a key batsman for the Aussies.
- R Ashwin makes my side because the warm weather will dry out the pitch quicker, and likely make it conducive to spin as the Test goes on.
- India’s batting will be tested against Australia’s fine quartet. They all make my side, along with Jasprit Bumrah. Will Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami hit their straps straight away? What about KL Rahul? For me, the Aussie bowlers might get the early upper hand.
Stats and Facts
- Australia are unbeaten in their last nine home Tests (eight wins).
- India are the current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, courtesy of a tight 2-1 win at home in 2017.
- Australia will be missing Steve Smith, who averages 84.05 in 10 Tests against India.
- India have never won a Test series in Australia, and haven’t won a Test down under since 2008 (nine Tests).
Prediction
Very excited for this series to begin.
Australia are without key players, but won’t let India win without a big fight. India, to be successful in this series, need a good start. It promises to be a good clash.
In home conditions, and in lovely Adelaide, I will pick Australia to take a 1-0 series lead on the back of a fine bowling display.
I could very well be wrong, which is the beauty of this series. Here’s to a good one!
Thanks for reading!
