Australia’s record in Asia over the past few years has been really poor. In the last three years they have played nine Tests in Asia, winning just two and losing six.
This includes a series in Bangladesh which Australia managed to draw. The biggest reason for such a failure over the years has been due to their inability to play spin on turning tracks.
Even though Steven Smith has been brilliant in all conditions, the rest of the batting has struggled to cope in Asian conditions. Australia travels to UAE later this month for a two-Test series against Pakistan.
This will be Australia’s first full series under captain Tim Paine after the bans to Steven Smith and David Warner earlier this year. The team combination is yet to be finalised starting at the top of the order.
While there are many unknowns in regards to the squad, the Australian Cricket Board have taken a great initiative by organising an A tour to India just before the team departs to the UAE later this month.
This is a masterstroke as the players would get a chance to play on Asian wickets against good spinners. This will also give an opportunity for the team to identify the right personnel for the job as they get to evaluate players in similar conditions to what they would get in UAE.
The biggest pluses on this A tour has been the forms of Travis Head and Usman Khawaja. In the absence of Smith and Warner, Khawaja as one of the senior players needs to fire at the top of the order for Australia to put up good totals in these conditions.
Travis Head, who has already made his debut in the limited overs formats, is primed to wear the baggy green cap for the Pakistan Tests. He has looked good on the tour so far and played good innings under pressure in the Australia A team’s win over the hosts.
Travis Head bowls. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
The other impressive audition was of Marnus Labuschagne. He scored a very good 50 in the first innings and an important 37 in the second. The poor returns for Peter Handscomb mean that he stands a great chance of taking that one spot in the middle order.
The opening spot in the Australian Test team is still up for grabs. Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns opened in the last Test against South Africa at Johannesburg earlier this year. Looking at the first unofficial Test against India A, it does seem like Usman Khawaja will be one of the contenders.
The other spot which is open right now is the deputy for Nathan Lyon. Lyon has gone through a couple of spin partners over the last few years and with Steve O’Keefe not in favour anymore, Jon Holland has given a great audition. Holland took six wickets in the second innings to bowl out a talented Indian A team and helped his side win the game.
With that performance, John Holland has made a strong case for himself to be the second spinner on the tour. Ashton Agar is a good bowler but I am not that convinced about his credentials as a Test spinner.
The Australian middle order Test spots are still up for grabs and on this A tour there have been a few who have put their hands up already. This series in India will give the young players a great chance to experience the conditions in Asia and will be a good practice ahead of their series against Pakistan.
If the reports are to be believed, Matt Renshaw will get a chance to open with Usman Khawaja in the second unofficial Test. This will give him the opportunity to make a strong statement. Mitchell Marsh, who did not bowl in the first game, would want to get some runs under his belt as well.
The Australian Test team is basically rebuilding itself. A team which looked quite settled at the end of the Ashes looked in complete disarray at the end of the South African tour.
This series has come at a right time for the Australian Test team. This will give the young players confidence when they take on Pakistan next month.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Vihari is one of the young batters who has the highest first class average in the world at the moment I believe? That's what I read somewhere. He is a solid player who has scored runs on A tours away from home as well. The present Indian young players are doing well all over the world and it is surprising that the team management don't want to try these players out. KL Rahul will benefit a season under Rahul Dravid on these A tour. Right now I feel that the guy has regressed.
Paul
Roar Guru
Vihari looked very solid in the last innings. I agree Pant needs to be given a chance but someone needs to decide how they want this guy to bat. He doesn't look like he can defend for any length of time so maybe a de Kock type role is his best bet. His glove work reminds me of what my old coach used to call "catching like a clam". It would be great for a Healy or even a Dhoni to do some work with him.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Not Paul, This is not India's first choice A team. There are few players missing and there are a few who are being tried out. I am happy with this game as the second tier players are doing quite well. The A Teams have always been rotated and Rahul Dravid has done a very good job with the young players which is why it is surprising that the Indian team is very hesitant in trying out these youngsters. The next set of young players will be Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari and Karun Nair. Some of these players playing in the A team are few years away from being international standard. At this point I will stick with Pant. He is young and yes his wicket keeping has been patchy. His batting also has been reckless. He needs to be persisted with for few tests more and a call needs to be made after he plays like 10 Tests. He will get to keep in India next month and it will be interesting to see how he will do keeping to spinners. There are some other young keepers in the fray and W Saha will get a chance to get back as well.
Paul
Roar Guru
Giri What's your take on the Indian A side? Are these guys the next best 11 India has to offer? If you ignore the actual performances of the Indian Test batsmen, you still have to contend with their ages and it stands to reason they'll need to be replaced in the next few seasons. I'm wondering whether the batsmen in this XI are up to the task of replacing the Pujaras, Rahuls, Rahanes, etc? I'm also wondering whether Pant is a long term Test keeper? I know he was dished up some very ordinary deliveries in the 4th Test, but I just don't get the impression he's a Test class keeper. He might very well be a Test batsman, but what do you think?