Call it a split personality disorder. Call it a home town bully syndrome. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was inaugurated in 1996-97 and so far 32 Tests have been played with Australia leading India 14-12.
But wait for the home advantage stats. In Australia, the home team leads 10-2 (with three drawn). Contrast this with India leading 10-4 in India (with three drawn).
These figures are worth considering as Australia is about to start the tour of India soon with the first Test on the spin-friendly Chennai strip commencing on the 22nd.
Apart from the omission of NSW off-spinner Steve O’Keefe, the leading wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield so far this season, the team is well-balanced.
My first reaction on the team selection: why a squad of 17? Will there be the repeat of the rotation policy which divided the nation and weakened the team morale in 2012-13?
My second reaction: there are too many fast bowlers for a tour of India. It would be OK for England, New Zealand or South Africa. But five quickies for India?
John Inverarity and his co-selectors should have watched the India-England Test series late last year. It was won and lost because of England’s spinners Graeme Swann and ‘Monty’ Panesar.
True, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith (who rarely bowls these days) and Xavier Doherty are so far ugly ducklings compared to the match-winning Swann and Monty. But before the recent Test series in India, Monty was not considered good enough and was dropped in the first Test, the only Test England lost.
Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza was not expected to do much in India but surprised everyone by claiming 12 wickets (including an 8-fer) in his Test debut in Nagpur in November 2008. But in Australia he appeared ineffective.
So do not give up on Lyon, Doherty and Smith. One of them will surprise us as February turns to March.
I think five fast bowlers (Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Jackson Bird, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle) is a luxury on India’s grassless tracts. But this is an insurance against injuries. I’ll open the attack with Starc and Bird or Johnson, with Siddle as the first change.
I predict that Siddle will be an outstanding success on the tour.
Although Mike Hussey will be missed, Australia’s batting is strong. There are four openers: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes and Shane Watson.
I’d use Usman Khawaja at no. 3 or 4, followed by skipper Michael Clarke, Glenn Maxwell ahead of Moises Henriques and Smith.
Matthew Wade is the lone wicket-keeper in the squad. Brad Haddin should be ready with pads and gloves, inoculations, plane ticket, passport and visa in case there is an SOS.
The best news for the touring Aussie team is that India is in a state of disarray. Their tormentors Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble have retired while Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh are in poor form.
Also their captain MS Dhoni reportedly has been critical of the “selfish” attitude of Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag.
But somehow the Indian team unites when Australia tours.
So beware Clarke, of the Ides of March, which falls on the second day of the third Test!
Bearfax
Guest
We've won recent tests on the back of outstanding performances by Clarke and Hussey and some pretty decent bowling led by Siddle. That's what saved us otherwise, yes we would have been a laughing stock
matt h
Guest
Pretty much, although the public was pretty apprehensive as I recall. I expect a low scoring series as our batting is brittle, but our bowling could be on top. Not too many draws this time, weather permitting. 3-2 either way is my prediction, slightly leaning towards the English as they will have the more experienced side and that may be a factor when the pressure is really on.
matt h
Guest
IWarner, Watson, Hughes, Khawaja, Clark, Smith, Wade, Starc, Siddle, Lyon, Bird
matt h
Guest
I'm a big fan of Burns, but he seems to have just gone off the boil slightly. It's only his second real season, so I would let him mature for a bit first.
matt h
Guest
I'm pretty sure laughing stock is a bit rich. We got very close the South Africans and cleaned up the Sri Lankans this summer. We beat the West Indies away before that and India at hame before that. We beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and drew with South Africa away. That's not a laughing stock, that's solid. South Africa proved too good, which was not a surprise with their side. England may also prove too good, especially at home. that certainly does not equal laughing stock.
Ken Hambling
Guest
Love to see English fans mocking us, it sets up a great ashes. Lewis you are correct in that Clarke is class and Khawaja is a very young batsman but that's all we agree on. Warner will show your bowlers how to hit the ball all over the park and Watto will be in form by then. And don't underestimate our bowling attach mate.
Disco
Roar Guru
You mean like the Australian media predicted victory for Australia in 2010?
Renegade
Guest
Oh it's going to be great when we win the ashes back!
Renegade
Guest
Why pick Chris Rogers in front of Smith, Henriques though? All 3 are going well in the shield this season and are a risk internationally. At least the latter 2 are younger and can be part of the australian setup for years to come. I don't think Rogers was a factor in this squad. Totally agree about SOK though, he should be there instead of Maxwell.
Renegade
Guest
Won't it be funny if Doherty comes back as the leading wicket taker of the series....i'm willing to back him here. If he fails, then we know he won't be near a baggy green ever again.
Renegade
Guest
Regardless of whether i agree with the side picked or not, it's still good enough to beat India and i think we will beat them.
Brendon
Guest
I can't wait to see Mitchell Starc scare the life out of your top order with 149kmh in-swinging yorkers, then it will be back to the good old days where your whole team were like bunnies in spot lights, you do remember those days don't you? Everyone knows that the English crumble when faced with good quality pace, they always have, the only reason you're any good now is because of the lack of depth at international level, you're best bowler averages 28, lol, we've got 5 of them. Starc and Pattinson are the monsters in your top order's cupboard mate, I wouldn't get to cocky. It's gonna be a good series.
Brendon
Guest
Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Khawaja, Clarke Watson, Wade, Starc, Siddle, Lyon, Pattinson
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Just you waaaait, Professor Lewis Edwards-Higgins, just you waaaaait. England's know-all critics had predicted the same thing about Australia's chances in 1989. And what happened? Thumping wins for Border's Australians in the Ashes; by 210 runs, by 6 wickets, a draw (because of loss of 10 hours to rain but Oz leading by 182 runs on first innings), by 9 wickets and by an innings and 180 runs. Then in 1990-91 down under, Ozzys smashed England 3-0 by big margins with two draws but Oz leading Eng on first innings in both the draws. So it was 7-0 with 3 draws in favour of Border's men. I realise that England is now ahead of Australia but things can change in the next six months. Just you waaaaait!
Brendon
Guest
His stats over the past couple of years may be ok, but he still can't spin or flight a ball, he's a defensive off break bowler and nothing else, that's my issue with him.
Lewis Edwards
Guest
I cant wait for you guys to come to england, Anderson and Bresnan will nick your righthanders off, and LBW your lefties. Clarke is class, no doubt. purple patch of his career, and I cant see it stopping, world class. Out of you younger blokes Khawaja looks the most promising . Dont know what you guys are on about with warner, Hacker. Lucky that all the attacks barr south africa are Poohtash at the moment. Hughes, ok, not a number three. Wade? questions to be answered at test level. the rest, chuck them in a hat, and pull them out! average. as with your bowling, Cummins, pattinson, siddle, Hilfenhouse, bird, lyon, hauritz, johnson, starc, all of these blokes should be fighting for the last place in a test bowling line up. Siddle perhaps has the guts,fight mixed with ability to play. the rest, alot to prove. as with Englands, Anderson in, Finn in, Bresnan (at home) in, then Broad, Onions, Meaker (gas), dernbach, et al, can fight it out for the last place, like your guys should be. welcome back to being average!! I cant wait for 10 ashes tests, 6-1 with 1 draw and 2 rain offs (england obviously) also, we will out banter your rubbish, OZZY OZZY OZZY, GET A GRIP
Neil
Guest
Hi Matt. I'm not sure where you are going with this argument. If a player only has to be "great for the past 3+ seasons", then Doherty's "appalling" first class record is irrelevant. Look a bit further up the page to see how Doherty has done in the past 3-4 seasons. It might seem like I'm going in to bat for Doherty (and no, I'm not his mother), but I'm just trying to set the record straight on a player who is much maligned (unfairly I think) by the average Roarer who can't be bothered seeing past his career average.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
As soon as he comes on to bowl in ENG, the song will start and he'll crumble. Surely you've got better bowlers than him?
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Jake, I acknowledged my error earlier in the day. Thanks anyway.
Jake
Guest
If by leading wicket taker you mean, 14th most amount of wickets, then you are correct. SOK is nowhere near the top!