Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
India are in town!
Ranked number one in Tests, two in ODIs and two in T20Is, India promises to be a huge challenge for an Australia side desperate for a turn in fortunes.
But, what makes this tour fascinating is that India are too looking for a turn in fortunes, arriving to these shores on the back of a lack of success in SENA, especially in Tests.
With an action-packed (and very stupid) schedule of T20Is, Tests and ODIs, here are five things to look out for in India’s big tour of Australia.
As always, feel free to leave a comment!
Will Australia compete well in the limited overs formats?
Since the beginning of 2017, Australia have won just seven of 26 completed ODIs, and are fresh off a 2-1 series loss to South Africa at home. In the same period, India have won 35 of 47 completed ODIs.
But, India are still quite top-heavy in their batting line up, relying significantly on at least two of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to score well in setting up a big total. Ambati Rayudu was impressive in the recent home series against West Indies, but this will be a different test, and it will be up to Australia to put pressure on the middle order in both the ODIs and T20Is.
That is easier said than done, though, with each of India’s top three in ODIs on fire since the beginning of 2017.
- Shikhar Dhawan has scored 1,857 runs at 48.87, with a strike rate of 101.81.
- The great Virat Kohli, who recently smashed the record for fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, has ammassed 2,662 runs at 95.07, with a strike rate of 100.60.
These are ridiculous numbers from fantastic players, and eyes will be glued on their performances here in Australia, against an Aussie attack that do their best to dislodge them as cheaply as possible. Who will win this battle across the T20Is and ODIs?
How will India’s fast bowlers fare in the Tests?
India’s pace attack has come leaps and bounds in recent years, producing seamers capable of working together and taking 20 wickets.
But, Australia could arguably be their biggest challenge in SENA tours, with Australian surfaces becoming increasingly difficult for tourist bowlers, given their flat nature right across the country.
Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have each had excellent moments in their Test tours of South Africa and England earlier this year, but can they get the ball talking in Australia? Just because Australia will be missing Steve Smith and David Warner does not mean life will be easy for India’s seamers, who will need to be accurate and relentless on tracks that might not offer too much help.
Who will win the battle of the bat in Tests?
Australia’s batting is under the microscope in all formats, and especially so in Tests.
There is a crucial round of Sheffield Shield cricket that has just ended, which will give selectors more of an idea of the make up of the Test side. In the UAE against Pakistan, Australia lost wickets in spurts, which is something they must avoid at home. Will Usman Khawaja be at full fitness for the first Test? Will the Marsh brothers step up, with both Shaun and Mitch scoring first class hundreds very recently? Who will plunder the runs that Steve Smith and David Warner do at home?
It’s all at stake for Australia. Losing to India at home is not an option.
For India, it will be very interesting to see whether their batsmen can help deliver their first ever Test series win down under. Including the likes of Murali Vijay has been questioned by some, but there is no doubt that Virat Kohli once again holds the key. The man is unstoppable, with 2018 confirming his greatness, knocking off 879 runs at 54.94 in South Africa and England on bowling-friendly surfaces.
Other players to keep an eye out for are Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. Shaw has has been hallmarked as a future great, so there is no question the Australian attack will aim to make life difficult for him. Will he hold his own? How about Rahane and Sharma if called upon in the middle order? Will Pujara improve his record in SENA after encouraging moments in England earlier this year?
Will India know more about MS Dhoni at tour’s end?
MS Dhoni has become a real talking point, given his situation and the emotion around the man who has been a great cricketer for India.
However, his form in ODIs has been on the decline in 2018, mustering just 275 runs at 25, with a strike rate of 71.43. In addition, the talented and explosive Rishabh Pant is being kept on the bench, and so too Yuzvendra Chahal so India can play Ravindra Jadeja to provide extra batting cover.
With the World Cup fast approaching, India will need to make a call on MS Dhoni. India recently played their first ever T20I at home without Dhoni, as he was left out of the squads for the West Indies and Australia T20Is.
It will be interesting to see how he goes in the ODI series which follow the Tests, in terms of whether he can silence the doubters a little.
How fiesty will things get on the field?
Australia’s approach to life after Cape Town has been a little cringeworthy, going to an extreme to try repair the damage.
“Elite honesty” was something on everyone’s lips, but what everyone is actually crying out for is good, hard cricket, played fairly and in the spirit of the game. Forget smiles, dreams, sunshine and rainbows, there are matches to win, and it’s
time Australia regained their mojo. It starts with mindset.
There is nothing wrong with a few words shared on the field, as long it’s not personal. The Australians shouldn’t stay quiet, because you know the likes of Virat Kohli won’t. And vice versa. I’m certainly expecting some words to be exchanged between two great rivals.
It’s all part of the game. Here’s to a competitive and memorable series.
Thanks for reading!
