As anticipation builds for an exciting series in India between two relatively new-look sides, one wonders how the Aussies will fare on conditions foreign to the majority of their squad.
Ed Cowan, Usman Khawaja and Phillip Hughes have not played Test cricket on Indian soil before and their techniques will be tested to the limit by the spin of Ohja Ashwin and the recalled Harbhajan.
I anticipate that India will play three or four spinners along with Ishant Sharma so the batsman can expect to face a truckload of spin bowling with men hovering around the bat.
The experience of Watson and Clarke in these conditions will be crucial for the Aussies to put runs on the board and to bat in partnerships with the other players.
Nathan Lyon struggled to take a bag of wickets on some helpful surfaces this summer and he will have to adapt quickly to conditions to trouble the classy Indian batting, which generally have few problems with off-spin bowling.
If the Aussies opt to play two spinners it will be either Xavier Doherty or Glen Maxwell, both of who are unproven at Test level.
Doherty was discarded during the Ashes after average performances and Maxwell’s bowling is still a work in progress. It will be a massive task if either is selected and containment will be as important for them as wicket taking.
Australia may therefore still rely heavily on pace. Three of Siddle, Bird, Pattinson and Johnson will possibly play and rely on a mixture of reverse swing and control to work through the Indian batting order.
In their favour will be the fact that they are facing some inexperienced batsmen in Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara and Rahane as well as an aging Sachin Tendulkar. I expect the pace attack to try some short pitched stuff to soften these players up.
The dropping of Gambhir is a big call by the Indian selectors, as is the recall of the controversial Harbhajan, who will attempt to provoke and unsettle the baggy greens on and off the field.
This series will surely be Tendulkar’s swansong and the experience of him Dhoni and Sehwag against the Australians will be invaluable to the younger players.
This tour promises to be both a fierce examination and a great experience for an Australian team, which is highly inexperienced in these conditions. My prediction is a landslide Indian victory but an Australian team who will be better prepared for the Ashes.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
More like Indians famed batting had slipped a fair bit allowing average bowlers like Panesar and Swann to get some cheap wickets. Panesar is a terrible bowler. It sums up how rubbish India's batsmen where.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
"No way will BCCI risk losing two marquee series in a row by preparing even pitches." The pitches we played on were rank turners, our spinners out bowled theirs.
Matt F
Roar Guru
The problem with that is that the second specialist spinner is Doherty.....
rsingi
Roar Rookie
Agreed Dan experience will be great for all the young players. I dont see Australia winning a test but if they do it wil be a great effort. The Australian spinners are too far inferior. Souds like you are a big cricket fan
matt h
Guest
Great Comment
Dan
Guest
Great summary Raj. So, it appears it will be a series of learning for the newish Australian side. Some of the names I havent ever heard of, so good on the selectors for giving them a chance. Can we expect to win any of the tests based on your analysis? Would a series of losses be seen as failure considering the selection? Isnt the experience for the players what we are after (wins would be a bonus of course)? Playing against the great Tendulkar would surely be a dream of many Australian cricketers notwithstanding playing on the subcontinent.
Nick
Roar Guru
Modern tours always are. Fly in fly out cricket these days. I'm picking 1-1. Win to india, draw, win to australia, draw.
Nick
Roar Guru
Surely Indian admin want a contest? In your dreams mate. England just beat them in India. No way will BCCI risk losing two marquee series in a row by preparing even pitches. With Australia's pace line up, and India's lack of pace line up and complete inability to handle pace bowling, it would be idiotic to prepare a pitch offering assistance to the fast bowlers
rsingi
Roar Rookie
I agree Khawaja should be given 4 tests to see how he goes. Unfortunately it seems like teh selectors are elaning to Wade at 6 and a bit part all-rounder.
rsingi
Roar Rookie
I was being kind
rsingi
Roar Rookie
True Andymack. Attacking play like Pieterson eemployed would be a good tactic to relaease the pressure. Interesting to see how Warner plays if they open with spinners.
rsingi
Roar Rookie
I think that would be a big mistake if they pick Maxwell or Smith. Should go with 6 specialist batsman and 2 specialist spinners.
rsingi
Roar Rookie
Good call Vicboy. Clarke is defintely a key and in better form than Sehwag although his injuries are a worry.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
And our lads preparation is ludicrously short.
Roger
Guest
Yes Pujara and Kohli are very talented batsman. They will be a handful for our bowlers. And don't forget that Indians were humiliated when they came here last time with a whitewash. They won't forget to return the favour this time around. And yes they have Pujara and Kohli but we have good young batsman in Hughes, Khawaja and Warner, i say bring on the series.
Roger
Guest
Clarke will continue his excellent form and the younger batsman such as Khawaja and Hughes will work around him to give us some solid totals.
Roger
Guest
England won the series in India because they lost in the UAE. After that, they worked really hard tactically and technically to adjust their batting to spinning conditions, and it showed in that great series win. Australia, aside from Clarke, really don't have that experience though we do have talent with the likes of Hughes and Khawaja there. I am very interested to see how the much vaunted Warner goes against spin on a wicket that suits them. I am also hoping Khawaja is given a full run and not bought in for just 1 game as he is too good to be treated like that. Should be a good series nonetheless and hopefully Watson goes well enough to confirm his place in the team. I think Cowan has had more then his fair share of chances and if he fails in India then he has to go
Varun
Guest
Agree 100%
jameswm
Guest
Why Australia is a rank outsider in India? 1. We don't play spin bowling that well. 2. Our spinners aren't very good. 3. The wickets will be dustbowls.
Jamiej
Guest
Doherty unproven at test level?? I would say that he's been proven just fine. Unfortunately, he was proven to be rubbish..