Who will win the Boxing Day Test?
Columnist By Kersi Meher-Homji, 23 Dec 2011 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
Ed Cowan has been called up to open for Boxing Day (AAP Image)
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As opening batsman Ed Cowan, and probably all-rounder Dan Christian, are set to make their Test debuts for Australia in the MCG Test on Monday, let us preview the most awaited Test on the calendar.
Of late, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India has provided more gripping drama than the Ashes. Certainly there have been more controversies.
Will the Boxing Day Test on the MCG live up to its reputation? And will India win her first Test series Down Under?
This is India’s best chance of beating Australia in Australia as the confidence of the team under Michael Clarke is at a low after being beaten by an under-strength New Zealand in Hobart.
Since 1947-48, India has toured Australia nine times, losing six series and drawing three. Will the tenth time be lucky for the inconsistent visitors, including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, the daredevil Virender Sehwag and their charismatic skipper MS Dhoni?
Of 36 Tests played by the two countries in Australia, India has won only five and lost 22 with nine drawn. And of the five Tests won Down Under by India, two have been on the MCG, in 1977-78 and in 1980-81.
Thus Australia has a much superior record on home soil.
However, India holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (inaugurated in 1996-97) by defeating Australia in India 2-0 in 2010-11. India has the batting to win with experienced although aging batsmen and the youngster Virat Kohli.
But her attack is weak, apart from the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. There are question marks about the fitness of their fast-medium bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.
Also, India’s fielding lacks zip in the outfield.
On the other hand, Australian batsmen – except David Warner and Cowan – are struggling, but they have the fast bowlers to upset India on bouncier pitches.
India has a more experienced skipper in Dhoni. Recently defeating West Indies in Tests and ODIs and England in ODIs must have given them confidence.
But these internationals were played in India and one should not forget the pounding India received in England only a few months ago.
Currently India is ranked no. 2 in Tests (after England) and Australia is ranked no. 4 (after England, India and South Africa).
In the practice matches in Canberra, only Tendulkar, Kohli and VVS Laxman showed form with the bat, and only off-spinner Ashwin with the ball for India.
For the Chairman’s XI, Cowan played a brilliant innings of 109 off 154 balls yesterday, hitting 16 fours.
Newcomers from both Australia and India have done very well in Tests in the last two months, especially Pat Cummins against South Africa, James Pattinson and David Warner against New Zealand and Ashwin against West Indies.
Will Cowan follow the pattern? From being best man at his friend’s wedding to becoming the best batsman in the MCG Test could be his dream.
The expected Australian XI in batting order: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (c), Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin (vc, wk), Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon. 12th man: Mitchell Starc / Dan Christian.
Let the Test begin!
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December 23rd 2011 @ 7:08am
Behold said | December 23rd 2011 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Apart from Hilfenhaus batting above Siddle and Pattinson I think you have the matchday XI spot on and here’s hoping Cowan, Warner and Marsh all get big scores so that we don’t have to call Ponting’s scrappy 40 odd match saving.
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:13am
Ben Carter said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Hi Kersi. Who will win? Hoping. Australia. Draw would be my second preference.
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:16am
Stu said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:16am | Report comment
If AUS can bat for 3 days, we might get a draw. Other than that, India should give us a lesson.
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December 23rd 2011 @ 9:30am
Jay said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Must say. the ad by Cricket Australia for this series is a cracker.
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:37am
Frankie Hughes said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:37am | Report comment
We will roll India twice, and pummel their attack all over the MCG.
December 23rd 2011 @ 10:48am
Disco said | December 23rd 2011 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Very optimistic.
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:44am
Brett McKay said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Kersi, obviously we want Australia to win, but if India’s big guns all fire and cricket is the winner, then that wouldn’t so bad either…
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:06pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Good luck to debutant Ed Cowan.
Can anyone please confirm whether Jim Burke, Paul Sheahan, Bob Cowper and Phil Emery came from private schools in Australia? Who else?
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:14pm
Atawhai Drive said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
Kersi, Jim Burke went to Sydney Grammar School where he played in the first XI at 14.
Paul Sheahan did his secondary education at Geelong College.
Bob Cowper went to Scotch College in Melbourne.
Phil Emery went to Shore in Sydney, where he was captain of cricket and rugby and represented GPS in both sports.
Ian and Greg Chappell went to Prince Alfred College in Adelaide.
And David Boon went to Launceston Church Grammar School.
All of these worthies went to private schools. So much for the “theory” that private schoolboys are soft.
Not forgetting Julien Wiener, who went to Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne.
Johnno has referred to Matt Nicholson and Ed “Cowman”. No doubt (channelling Michael Clarke) there are others who were educated at private institutions. I suspect we might see a lengthy Kersi piece on this subject.
December 23rd 2011 @ 9:58pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | December 23rd 2011 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Thank you, Atawhai Drive, for your research.
I presume Trevor Chappell also attended Prince Alfred College in Adelaide.
December 24th 2011 @ 7:17am
lolly said | December 24th 2011 @ 7:17am | Report comment
Shaun Marsh went to a private school as did Simon Katich. What’s the big deal about it?
December 24th 2011 @ 7:47am
Atawhai Drive said | December 24th 2011 @ 7:47am | Report comment
No big deal, lolly. Well, I’m not making a big deal out of it anyway. Just a cricket byway to wander down during the holiday season.
It’s been said often enough that private schools in Australia don’t produce many elite cricketers. One alleged reason for this is that private schools can insist on their pupils playing for the school on Saturdays. Thus talented young cricketers are denied the opportunity of playing against men in grade cricket. By the time they come into grade on leaving school, they’ve been left behind (or so the story goes).
There may be an element of truth in it, but the private schools do seem to have produced quite a number of tough Test players.
December 24th 2011 @ 7:57am
lolly said | December 24th 2011 @ 7:57am | Report comment
I’m surprised that it’s even been brought up in conjunction with Ed Cowan though. It’s not so much about your comment as about the general talk about it. I don’t understand it as he’s not the first and won’t be the last privately educated person to play test cricket.
December 24th 2011 @ 7:42am
Atawhai Drive said | December 24th 2011 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Yes, he did.
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:26pm
Johnno said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Matt Nicholson, went to a exclusive private school called Knox Grammar, he played I think just 1 test ashes boxing day test 1998.
This Ed Cowan i am not so sure, i be honest in my opinion i am simply not a fan of picking players form exclusive backgrounds or exclusive private schools. In Ed rowans own words there was a perception that he was as “soft as butter”.
I find even just listening to Ed cowman speak, he is well spoken articulate, seemingly well educated at least by that definition having a University degree.
He doesn’t come across ed cowman as a man of working class stock which he is not.
Where as dave Warner for example is form far more humble roots, and comes across very different to ed cowman, more aggressive, more of a fighter, same with a young ricky pointing was a real fighter the kid form working class Mowbray Tasmania.
As everyone now is probably familar with what happened yesterday at Ed cowman’s parent’s home in Darling Point in the exclusive suburb of Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.
I am from Sydney and I can guarantee you Darling Point is along way socio-economic status, from Mowbray Tasmania where punter grew up, and Matraville sydney where Dave Warner grew up in.
And he also of course Ed Cowan went to the exclusive boys private school Cranbrook School in Sydney’s Bellvue hill.
James Packer the sone of the late Kerry packer went to the exclusive boys private school Cranbrook.
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:45pm
Disco said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Getting someone who can string a sentence together into the team can’t be a bad thing, regardless of where the player concerned was educated. There’s been a lack of intelligence on show both on the field and behind the scenes in recent years.
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:33pm
Chris said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
I’d be sticking with Starc and hoping he can get a bit more consistency. If the pitch has some life in it, then I think the Indian batsmen would have more trouble with Starc than Hilfenhaus.
But I think I’ll tip a high scoring draw.
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:45pm
Disco said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
I agree. I’m not sold on Hilfenhaus and tough guy Siddle in the same XI.
December 23rd 2011 @ 12:42pm
matt said | December 23rd 2011 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
I think at age 29 it really doesn’t matter where you went to school. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you can’t swing a cricket bat (or ball for that matter). If Ed was so happy with just being rich and enjoying his parents money I doubt he would have been playing all over the place for a few years. Let’s face it warner is a millionaire who doesn’t need to play test cricket but because of his background people will say he is gritty and determined. Think outside the box people.