Australia has not defeated India in a Test sequence since 2015. India have dominated the final eight years profitable the Border-Gavaskar Trophy each at dwelling and away.
Australia final visited India in 2017. Despite defeating India within the first Test in Pune, they misplaced the sequence 2–1. That was a formidable Australian facet again then.
The Australian group, which is coming to Indian soil this time for a four-match sequence, additionally has some harmful gamers who’ve been dominating Test cricket in latest occasions.
Despite beginning as favourites, India must be careful for game-changers from this Australian facet who can probably win Test matches on their very own.
Here are some potential gamers who might help Australia win the sequence in India. a feat that has not been achieved since 2004.
Usman Khawaja Test profession: 56 matches. Run 4162| Average 47.84
The Australian opener has been in scintillating type since returning to the Test facet in final 12 months’s fourth Ashes Test on the SCG. The southpaw celebrated his return by scoring 200 runs in each innings of the Test.
Khawaja is an skilled campaigner who made his Test debut in 2011. In all these years, Khawaja remained with the group regardless of taking part in solely 56 Tests and through this time he performed some memorable innings.
Khawaja has scored 1080 runs within the final calendar 12 months at a median of 67.50. In the three-match Test sequence in opposition to Pakistan away from dwelling early final 12 months, he confirmed what he can do on subcontinental pitches, scoring 496 runs at a formidable common of 165.33.
Khawaja is but to play a Test match in India. However, together with their skill to play spin nicely, the Aussies can be hoping for left-armers Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel to barter nicely and provides their group good begins.
Marnus Labuschagne Test profession: 33 matches. Run 3150| common 59.4
Marnus Labuschange has arguably been the most effective batsman within the Test format for the final 12 months. If Australia must do nicely within the sequence, then his run at quantity three might be essential for the group.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. (Reuters)
However, the 28-year-old hasn’t performed in India earlier than. In his brief profession to this point, he has performed seven Tests within the subcontinent, scoring 700 runs at a median of 34.64, greater than double his common of 70.50 in Australia.
Marnus averages a formidable 49.50 in opposition to India’s premium off-spinner Ashwin and has dismissed him twice. However, dealing with Ashwin on Indian wickets is a totally completely different ball recreation.
Steve Smith Test profession: 92 matches. Run 8647| Average 60.89
“I’m back,” stated Steve Smith after overlaying the ball in opposition to England in an ODI in November final 12 months. Since then Smith has been in wonderful type with the bat. He scored 486 runs in 5 Tests within the dwelling summer time at a median of 92.62.
Steve Smith of Australia drives the ball. (AP)
Smith is among the greatest spin gamers on this planet in the intervening time. An innings of 109 in his second innings at Pune helped Australia defeat India within the First Test at Pune. This win is testomony to what the Aussies can obtain with Smith firing on all cylinders.
Also, Smith loves batting in opposition to India. He has eight centuries in opposition to India, three of which got here in India. He scored 1742 runs at a median of 72.58. Even as he struggled with the dearth of runs, Smith scored a formidable century on the SCG within the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020/21.
Smith has scored 660 runs in crimson ball cricket in India at a median of 60.
Travis Head Test Career: 33 Matches | 2126 runs | Average 45.23
The left-handed batsman has been in red-hot type within the final 12 months. This flamboyant middle-order participant can carry out nicely when his group is in bother. His latest counter-innings of 92 off 96 balls on the Brisbane inexperienced in opposition to the South African assault is testimony to his type of play.
Australia’s Travis Head, proper, celebrates with teammate Mitchell Starc after scoring a century. (AP)
In spin-favoring situations, if Head can play one in all his counter-attacking innings, he may take the sport away from India in a session. Apart from scoring fast runs, his attacking type can bother the traces and lengths of the Indian spinners which in flip can profit different Australian batsmen as nicely.
However, Head’s report in India has been mediocre. In the 5 Test matches performed right here, he scored solely 119 runs at a median of 23.80. The left-handed batsman will hope to get it proper this time.
Nathan Lyon Test profession: 115 matches. Wicket 460. Average 31.66
Lyon’s greatest figures as a spinner had been 8/50 in opposition to India within the second Test in Bangalore in 2017. He is at present the deadliest off-spinner on this planet taking part in alongside Ashwin. The 35-year-old has troubled Indian batsmen each at dwelling and away up to now.
Lyon has 436 Test wickets in 109 matches. (AP)
With not a lot expertise among the many different spinners within the group, the onus is on Lyon to bowl lengthy and exhausting spells. Unlike Australia the place the quick bowlers do the majority of the wicket-taking, on this sequence, the onus falls on the off-spinner to be the attacking bowler and ship the required breakthroughs.
Lyon has taken 34 wickets in India at a median of 30.59. However, aside from a spell in Bangalore, the off-spinner did not have a sequence or a Test match for that matter in India the place he took the sport by the throat. He all the time stayed within the background whereas the quick bowlers took wickets on surfaces that aided spin.
Ashton Agar: Matches: 5 Bowling: 9 Wickets | Average 52.00| Batting: Runs 195. Average 32.50
Be it Taijul Islam just lately or Ajaz Patel in Mumbai final 12 months or Rangana Hart in Galle or a couple of years again when England received the sequence courtesy Monty Panesar in 2012, India’s struggles in opposition to left-arm spin are nicely documented. .
Ashton Agar of Australia fielding along with his bowling. (AP Photo)
In truth, Steve O’Keefe took 12/70 in two innings within the Test that Australia received in 2017. Australia might be hoping that Ashton Agar does the identical.
However, Agar doesn’t have a lot expertise in red-ball cricket and has not performed a single Test in India to this point. His two subcontinent Tests got here in opposition to Bangladesh through which he took seven wickets.
Agar is a specialist white-ball bowler who bowls tight line and size and varies his tempo cleverly. Due to his top and situations that assist spin, if he can pitch the ball in the precise areas, he might be a handful in these situations given the variety of right-handed batsmen within the Indian batting lineup.
“His bag of expertise; [he is] Can bowl lengthy, quick and gradual and works exhausting on the ball. I believe he might be key to the group performing nicely,” O’Keefe informed the Sydney Herald earlier this week.
Apart from bowling, Agar can also be very helpful with the bat. He scored 98 on his Test debut in England within the 2013 Ashes Test match. His runs within the decrease order will be essential for his group.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
