Battle lines drawn, India looks to ‘test’ Australia at home
A closer look at the lineups, the tactics, and the possible outcomes in the first test between India and Australia.
The India tour of Australia reaches its climax with the test series starting this Thursday, 17th December 2020. The first half of the tour, white ball cricket, ended with honours shared, Australia winning the ODI series and India roaring back to claim the t20’s. A test series in Australia though is a different beast. Many high and mighty have in the past come to the Aussie shores with ambition and hope, only to leave with nothing but extreme disappointment. India pulled off a coup last time, in 2018, by winning the test series 2–1. But as some fans and journalists will tell you, it wasn’t the strongest of Australian cricket teams. Australia had a substantially weakened batting lineup without Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. And along with that they had orders from Cricket Australia itself, not to indulge in sledging etc. Something that ex Aussie cricketers will tell you is against the DNA of the brand of cricket Australia plays. But a lot has changed since then, Australian cricket has moved past the horrors of 2018 and are well on the ascendency. Steve Smith is back and with him his prodigy Marnus Labuschagne. Such has been the rise of Marnus that he has quickly risen to number 4 in ICC test batting rankings. David Warner is expected to be back for the second test too, further strengthening the Australian batting. Overall this test series will not be an easy affair for the Indian team.
The fact that the test series is happening augurs well for the sport and for cricket in Australia. Recently we have seen the South Africa vs England series getting cancelled due to COVID outbreak in the camps, causing huge financial losses for cricket South Africa, and major disappointment for cricket fans. Australia right now is almost Covid free and hence can allow crowds into stadiums. News is that half the stadium capacity, around 27,000 people, will be allowed in for matches every day. This is a great boost for fans who have been deprived of live cricket for a while now. Also, the revenue from broadcasting and gate money, from a series against a popular side like India, will go a long way in mending the flagging finances of Cricket Australia which in turn will ensure the continuous development and growth of the sport in that country.
The 4 test series between India and Australia will start at Adelaide with a day night test, followed by day tests at the MCG(Melbourne Cricket Ground), SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground), and The Gabba.
The first test, day night test, between India and Australia will be India’s second day night test. Australia though has played 7 such matches and won all 7. It’s fair to say that the Aussies have a lot more experience playing with the pink ball under lights. The pink ball deteriorates at a much slower rate than the white ball, which means the batsman doesn’t have visibility issues. Also, the extra lacquer on the ball means it swings much more under lights.
Squads for the first test match.
Australia
Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Sean Abbott, Moises Henriques, Marcus Harris
*Moises Henriques has been added to the squad for the first Test as cover for Green. Abbott has been ruled out of the first Test. Marcus Harris has replaced the concussed Will Pucovski.
India
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-capt), Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj
Australia
Australia should have been clear favorites heading into the first test match, but they are not. Injuries had already ruled out David Warner from the first test, now his replacement Will Pucovski has also been rested due to concussions suffered in a side game vs India. Joe Burns the other opener is woefully out of form, managing to score some 80 odd runs in his last 6 or so innings. The only opener certain to start for Australia is one Marcus Harris. Apart from him Matthew Wade is being considered as the other opener. We know he has the shots, as we saw in the t20 series but does he have the defence for test cricket, only time will tell! Australia will do well to give Joe Burns a start, if he misfires, then then they can go to Matthew Wade.
Another worry for Australia is the fitness of youngster Cameron Green. This tall fast bowling allrounder too has to clear a concussion test to find himself in the eleven. If he doesn’t make it, Moises Henriques might find himself in the starting lineup, Three, four and five for Australia will be Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head.
At 6 is Green if he clears the test or Moises. The captain Tim Paine will keep wickets and bat at number 7. Followed by Pat Cummins, vice captain and a good enough batsman to be called an allrounder, at 8. 9, 10 and 11 are Starc, Hazelwood and Lyon.
The lineup (Adelaide): Joe Burns, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon.
India
With the unavailability of Rohit Sharma for the first two test matches, India too have an unsettled opening pair. Prithvi Shaw is searching for runs since the IPL and it will be unfair to put him in with the form he has.
India will open with Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill. The u19 World Cup player of the tournament, Shubman Gill, has scored big in Ranji cricket(first class) and also done well in the IPL and in the side game in Australia. At three, four, five will be Cheteshwar Pujara, the captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Pujara was the man of the series, in tests, the last time India toured Australia, and expectations will be high off him this time too.
Virat is scheduled to play only one test, the first test in Adelaide, and head back home for the birth of his child. India will hope he leaves after making a match winning contribution in the first test. Rahane will be the captain for the rest of the tour, once Virat leaves, and he will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders this time around.
At six will be Hanuma Vihari, the test specialist from Andhra Pradesh exudes a lot of confidence batting at that position, and India will do well to use his offspinners too. The keeper for the opener should be Wriddhiman Saha, but if the team management wants to go with a batsman who has more big shots up his sleeve, they can field Rishab Pant too. Ravichandran Ashwin doesn’t have a great record in Australia, and with Jadeja still on the sidelines, maybe Kuldeep Yadav might get a look in. Unless of course India opt for a four seamer attack, the three pacers that are guaranteed a start are Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Shami and Umesh Yadav.
Another key bit of information is that, T. Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar have been asked to stay back and be a part of the test squad. It’s not clear yet if they are eligible for selection, it’s fair to say that if need be, they might be a part of the eleven in the tests to come.
The line up (Adelaide): Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
Five Things India should worry about
India has often in the past suffered due to their inability to dismiss the tailenders from the opposition. Invariably India would get a team 5 or 6 wickets down but somehow the tail would double the score. This time India are faced with Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, and. Mitch Starc who are all more than capable of getting the big score with the bat. So India beware of the tail!
India must resist the temptation of playing Rishab Pant in conditions which might seam and swing. Rishab Pant is a fantastic ball striker on good flat, hard wickets. But in conditions like Adelaide, in day night tests, he will struggle. If you saw him bat in the test matches in New Zealand, you would get the picture.
India must not go in with an all fast bowling attack. It might look good in the beginning, but if the opposition get one good partnership, an only seam attack begins to tire out very quickly. One spinner and three fast bowlers is the way to go.
India cannot start with Ravi Ashwin. In Australia, spinners must have a lot of over spin to succeed. That means putting a lot of revolutions on the ball, something that Nathan Lyon does well. The only spinner in the Indian camp who bowls with a lot of over spin is Kuldeep Yadav. Ashwin who is more of a side spinner, doesn’t have the tools to consistently be successful in Australia.
Never count Australia out. Australia at home in tests can make a comeback from seemingly impossible positions too. India needs to be aware of that. It’s never over till it’s over.
Prediction
Without the absence of David Warner and a seemingly weak opening pair, Australia are in a spot of bother. But India still has to play extremely well to beat them. The first test will be India’s best bet to win a match in this series. If they win this one, India can hope to win the series too. If India loses this, there is a possibility of a whitewash by Australia. With Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschane in the batting mix it’s impossible to count the Aussies out so Australia are the favourites to win the first test.
