The experienced players among Australia’s outfit will have to take the bulk of the responsibility to have a more than even chance of overcoming India in their two Test series that starts next week in Mohali.
Australia’s side has a rather inexperienced look about it, now that many of their former stalwarts have hung up their cricketing boots.
But still there are few of the relatively newer bunch of players who have enough Tests under their belt, since the retirements of former stars such as Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Shane Warne, etc, to give Australia more than a fighting chance.
While it will be up to Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting to give the innings some impetus in the middle part of their innings’, it will be Simon Katich’s and Shane Watson, or Phillip Hughes’ job to get them off to a good start.
One fears that in the absence of a reasonable start on the crumbling pitches of Mohali and Bangalore, could expose the middle-order too early to the Indian bowling attack. I use the phrase expose, in the sense that should the openers depart cheaply, Ponting and the rest would have to make up quickly for lost runs, that are crucial in a Test of this nature.
Give guys like Ponting and Hussey the platform and Australia can at least set themselves up for a possible victory. Batsmen of the ilk of Hussey and Marcus North will also be looking to consolidate on a solid start by the top three, to build up to a big total. If Australia decide to bat first (if it is in their hands) a big first innings total will always come in handy on the slower pitches of India.
If the Aussies can score big first up (assuming they bat first), they will have to gee up their bowlers to have a full tilt at the Indian batsmen, who are still at times susceptible to the short ball, even on the slow pitches in India.
Australia are looking to break their India bogey – especially after their 2-0 series loss in India in 2008 – and there will be no time for slacking off. The one thing that any team should be wary of in India of course, is the ability of India’s openers to set up huge first innings scores and take the game away from the opposition.
The strategy has to be clear-cut against batsman such as Virender Sehwag, who has the stamina to build huge innings of note, accompanied by his ability to score very, very quickly. Maybe that strategy includes aggression and a bit of intimidation – as long as it doesn’t violate the rules of course!
Sachin Tendulkar, despite his age, is still keeping the scorers busy these days, while the likes of Gautam Gambhir and the rock-solid Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman are the rock on which Indian innings’ are built. The addition of young talent Suresh Raina is another string in their bow.
The bowling I believe will be a key factor, more than the batting in Australia being able to pull off a series victory. No Brett Lee or the inimitable Glen McGrath to spearhead things, so it will be left at times to the erratic Mitchell Johnson and the ever dependable Doug Bollinger, as well as Ben Hilfenhaus to keep the skillful Indian batsmen at bay. Nathan Hauritz, who can flatter to deceive sometimes, will have to strutt his stuff; the same goes for his partner-in-crime, whoever that may be – if the Aussies choose a second spinner.
His opposite number, Harbajhan Singh, as good as he is, is a totally different prospect on the pitches of India, what with the fanatical crowd in support. A two Test series is not the ideal decider for such an important series though, and one still wonders what the cricket boards in question are trying to achieve through such a limited Test series.
Let’s hope we see some “needle” too as long as it is above board of course, that always makes a Test between Australia and India ‘very very special’ indeed.
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