Big questions of the Boxing Day Test
Columnist By Michael Filosi, 26 Dec 2011 Michael Filosi is a Roar Expert
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- Australian Cricket, boxing day test, Cricket, Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Test cricket
Ed Cowan has been called up to open for Boxing Day (AAP Image)
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With Christmas festivities out of the way, the nation’s attention turns to the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar. The Boxing Day Test gets underway today as Australia takes on India at the MCG in what looms as an entertaining match, with plenty of questions to be answered for both sides.
Let’s ponder a few…
Can Australia take twenty wickets for the match?
India’s batting line-up has been its strength for many years, and the batting mainstays for the past decade remain as dangerous and difficult as ever to remove from the crease. Virender Sehwag is the most attacking Test opening batsman in world cricket and is capable of changing the momentum of a match in an hour with his shot-making.
The Australian side will be looking to take his wicket cheaply to limit the damage he causes on the scoreboard. Rahul Dravid is not called ‘The Wall’ for nothing, and is harder to remove than red wine from a white shirt. Sachin Tendulkar is an all-time great of the game and will be looking for a memorable final tour of Australia. The bowling line-up for Australia has been in reasonable form lately, but will find much stiffer resistance from the Indian batsmen than they encountered from the Black Caps.
What spirit will the match be played in?
The last Test series between these two nations in Australia was a spiteful one, with both teams feeling aggrieved that the other did not play the game in the right spirit. Thankfully the main antagonists from that series are no longer front and centre in the current teams. That being the case, there is a good chance it will be the quality of cricket which is memorable this time around, and not the off-field claims and counter-claims which occurred the last time India toured Australia.
Will Tendulkar score his 100th international century?
India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar needs just one more century to chalk up his 100th ton in international cricket, and what better place to do so than the Boxing Day Test match. Tendulkar is the greatest batsman of his generation and has scored 99 centuries in Test and one-day cricket over the course of his career.
Tendulkar has played some of his greatest innings against Australia, and averages 60.6 with eleven centuries from 31 Tests against Australia. Coming off a score of 92 (retired) against the Chairman’s XI in Canberra last week, Melbourne could well be the scene of Tendulkar’s hundredth international ton.
Which Australian batsmen will stand up?
Australia’s batting line-up has been more fragile than an antique Christmas ornament in the past two years. The Australian batsmen need a string of good performances both individually and collectively this series to ensure their positions in the side, and to regain some faith and respectability as a group.
Veterans Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting will be looking to impress, with pressure on both to retain their positions. These two will have been setting themselves for this Test match for some time, so don’t be surprised if both play good innings in the Boxing Day Test to keep the doubters at bay for a little while yet.
It appears that the new selection panel are happy to pick in-form players for the Test team and not place too much value on retaining the incumbents if they enter a poor patch of form.
The inclusions of Ed Cowan and Shaun Marsh at the expense of the out of form Phil Hughes and the unlucky Usman Khawaja should strengthen the batting line-up. Cowan has scored four centuries this summer for Tasmania and the Chairman’s XI , and will partner the in-form David Warner at the top of the order.
Marsh scored an unbeaten 99 in his most recent Big Bash innings, and is a calm head capable of grinding out an innings when required.
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December 26th 2011 @ 2:14am
Brian said | December 26th 2011 @ 2:14am | Report comment
Was a thunderous xmas in Melbourne so if the pitch is like last year the first 3 hours will be crucial – although hard to see anyone capitulating as easily as Australia did last year.
Given the conditions on the first day and the low bounce on days 4 and 5 the game looms as crucial to the series. Australia can take 20 wickets but I would not be so sure regarding Perth, Sydney and definitely Adelaide later. India also have a very poor record in the first matches of a tough away series. Thinking about the form guide Australia don’t seem far away from India except for their recently gained ability to completely collapse. West Indies in Adelaide, Pakistan in Sydney, Pakistan in England, Ashes last year, 47 in RSA and the last 9 in Hobart.
Anytime its swinging or spinning I tip India. If its a matter of bounce Australia to be on top.
December 26th 2011 @ 8:02am
Frankie Hughes said | December 26th 2011 @ 8:02am | Report comment
Australia can take 20 wickets? We will be relying on Pattinson(rookie) coupled with Siddle and Hilfenhaus(who’s records aren’t exactly frightening). Lyon won’t be getting buckets of wickets against India…
December 26th 2011 @ 9:18am
Timmuh said | December 26th 2011 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Brian, it quite easy to see someone capitulating in the opening half-day like last year; but only if Australia bats first. As you suggest yourself, its become somewhat habit forming to fold like an over-enthusiatic beginner in origami as soon as the slightest thing isn’t in favour of the batsmen.
The point about India struggling early i away series is true (especially in Australia) and in my view largely a result of the lack of tour games that are played now. Last time they had one three day game which was largely washed out, and that lack of preparation possibly cost them the series. This time around their lead-up a little better but not much. As hard as Australians find it adapting to the sub-continent, for sub-continental players to adapt to Australia is even harder. The bounce is unlike anywhere else in the game, and harder to adjust to than (for batsmen at least) than low, slow and turning. But most of the Indian side has done it before.
The big question over this series will be : which bowlers are fit? If Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma play most games, at decent fitness, Australia is in big trouble. If they don’t, then Australia may be in big trouble. Ishant might be the more important one, despite not being great in recent times he does seem built to bowl in Australia’s conditions with bounce coming into play.
Now that he’s been picked, Australia need Ponting to stand up but there’s been nothing to suggest that will happen.
December 26th 2011 @ 7:44am
James said | December 26th 2011 @ 7:44am | Report comment
I think that Usman Khawaja , was unlucky to be dropped. On a number of occasions he has been run out by other batsman like Ponting. He looks solid, which is what you need in a test batsman, he should be an openning batsman. Australia need to stop selecting sloggers who take too many risks such as Hughes, particularly as oppeners.
As for our bowling, it is time for the young guys to be selected. Anyone over 30 who does not perform should get dropped. It is important that we play competitively against India, but we need to get the Ashes back, thats the most important.
December 26th 2011 @ 7:48am
BigAl said | December 26th 2011 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Are you sure this is ‘…the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar.’ ?
December 26th 2011 @ 9:05am
Timmuh said | December 26th 2011 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Given that half the nation ignores each of the major football code grand finals, it probably is.
December 26th 2011 @ 9:22am
Simon said | December 26th 2011 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Yes, it is.
December 26th 2011 @ 9:36am
Tommygun said | December 26th 2011 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Mate, I have been waiting since the grand final for the boxing day test. Everything is ready.
Leftover meat: Check
Empty loungeroom: check
Massive hangover: check
Now, lets go Australia!
December 26th 2011 @ 11:00am
anopinion said | December 26th 2011 @ 11:00am | Report comment
What day would you suggest?