Another tantalising Test series is almost upon us.
Being a traditionalist, the real stuff starts now. The one-dayers and T20s are the appetisers for the main course.
This time for the Test match, confusion and chaos seem to be the order of the day. This first Test preview is set against the backdrop of uncertainty for both sides.
First thing’s first: unlike a number of sports, winning the toss in cricket is key. In a day-night match, to this you can add the vagaries of “managing” play to be able to bowl in the evening or the “twilight zone” where the ball can bend around corners. This is akin to tactics within tactics.
The Adelaide Oval clash is also shrouded in mystery and confusion around team selection. For Australia, replacing David Warner is proving to be extremely challenging. Joe Burns has been in poor form, while Marcus Harris, who played against the Indians two years ago, did not have a great time of it for Australia A. India planned for and succeeded with their leg side trap.
At the time of writing, Australia has drafted Moises Henriques into the squad, with no room for Usman Khawaja. Whether Cameron Green will make his Test debut and Marnus Labuschagne pushes up to open are vexed and fascinating questions.
In the uncertainty stakes, India’s selections are hardly more straightforward. Opener Prithvi Shaw threw away a golden opportunity against Australia A. India appears to have a shaky and inexperienced top order. Arguably, the India selectors were mindful of this at the outset, nominating four openers (or potential openers) in the squad: Mayank Agarwal, Shaw, K. L. Rahul and Shubman Gill. In fact, one could add Rohit Sharma to this list when he eventually returns.
Rohit Sharma (Photo: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images)
If the batting order of both sides looks chaotic, in relative terms the bowling looks stable. For Australia one would expect the seasoned trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to be the pace options, and Nathan Lyon the first choice spinner.
I doubt that either side will take two spinners into the game or four pacemen. Despite the propensity for swing at night, a balanced attack for the rest of the game is required. In India’s case, the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are likely to operate with the red cherry, with Ravichandran Ashwin as the sole spinner, unless India are tempted to have an extra slow bowling option and bat Ravindra Jadeja at number six.
Even in the ‘keeping stakes, there are questions for India. Will Rishabh Pant be behind the stumps or will it be Wriddhiman Saha? Both are also fine batsmen, with completely contrasting styles – the former is a swashbuckler, the latter more an accumulator. In Tim Paine, Australia has complete certainty. The teams look finely balanced, no matter what the final configurations.
In the batting stakes, Steve Smith versus Virat Kohli is the show stopper, with Labuschagne versus Cheteshwar Pujara almost the support act. One should not also under-estimate Travis Head or Ajinkya Rahane, both fine batsmen in their own right. India would need to obtain the maximum contribution of the captain Kohli before he heads back to India, which makes his non-selection in the matches against Australia A a little puzzling.
(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
I am leaning towards a home victory here. This is for a number of reasons.
First, home ground advantage does play a role, even though one suspects that India’s best chance lies here. Tellingly, Australia has won all of its day-night Test matches at home against South Africa, England, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. India and Australia have yet to play a day-night Test match here.
Second, arguably and notwithstanding the opener woes, there is more overall stability and poise in the Australian line-up. While the Indian batting order is talented, apart from Pujara and to some extent Rahane, there are questions about the ability of the Indian line-up to graft and play dogged innings.
The third, and somewhat under-rated aspect, is the ability of the tail to provide useful runs. In Starc and Cummins, valuable runs can be counted on (and especially so if James Pattinson is chosen) and Lyon can more than hold up an end. This is certainly not the case for India, so clear advantage for Australia.
Fourth, while both teams have fine pace attacks, one just has a sneaking feeling that the variety of swing, seam, pinpoint accuracy and left arm-right arm combinations in the Australian attack may just provide a slight advantage. In the spin department, Lyon has a fine record, while Ashwin has a better home record at home than abroad.
Finally, the intangible. At home, Australia usually performs extremely well in the “clutch” moments.
In the end, who really knows? It may simply be a case of who best holds onto chances, takes advantage of the conditions, or plays the ultimate match winning hand.
In terms of the latter, enter Kohli or Smith.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
India will have to win the first test to have a genuine chance of winning the series. Because of the Warner injury and Burns saga we are a little vulnerable in the first test.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Bit harsh on Labuwhatshisname .... I thought he had already made a name for himself ...
deepoz
Roar Rookie
Jadeja is out of the first test. So Ashwin has to play. I don't believe Australian wickets last time were "un-Australian". For a few seasons, Melbourne and Sydney have been batting wickets; with Melbourne even rated as very ordinary during 2017-18 Ashes. Australian wickets haven't been pace and bounce like South African wickets (except Perth) for a while now.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Hopefully Jassi and Shami will come good. But our batsman failed completely against an unknown bowling unit which is sign of great weakness. I am not entirely convinced with Ash. He had a decent tour last time. But the pitches were very un-australian. Before that he was very ordinary. Jaddu will be better i believe.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
People getting injured is matter of great fun?
Paul
Roar Guru
Hazlewoods a certainty for the First Test, but I doubt greatly he'll play out the series. If Australia's in front by the time they get to Brisbane, I reckon they'll give him a spell and bring in a fired up James Pattinson.
deepoz
Roar Rookie
What I saw from Shami and Bumrah with pink ball in the warm up game on first day should make Aussie batsmen a tad worried. Agree that once the ball went soft and especially in second innings when the pitch flattened out, the impact was not great. But I also thought Indian pacers pulled back a bit instead of gunning for a win. They will be relentless in a test match. Umesh Yadav is perfect for pink ball test as he swings more than seams. He should provide a solid back up to the two and Ashwin is always handy in any condition; he especially bowled very well last time in a day test at Adelaide. I reckon, if Indian batters can stitch together partnerships and score 300, in the first innings they will win this test. Aussie batting is a tad suspect with absence of Warner who is a big wall at the beginning for any attack especially at home. And that always prevents opposition fast bowlers from getting into the middle order earlier. That cover is not available in this test which will have a major impact. I believe the curator will keep fair amount of grass, so it will be bowlers paradise, if only they don't get carried away....
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Absolutely Chris. They are complete pros. The young guys could learn a lot by just hanging around watching and listening.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Steve Smith didn't either, and he's in the same situation, coming from IPL to ODI's to T20's and then into the test series. The thing is, one thing that makes guys like Smith and Kohli the best players in the world is that they know how to get themselves ready to play at their best, and it doesn't necessarily need to involve playing in a warm up match.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Absolutely, Hazlewood is definitely in. Pushing with Cummins as first choice quick.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Smith averages 67 batting at 3, so there's no issue with him doing that. I think there's a good chance the selectors will prefer to keep Labushagne / Smith at 3-4 and look for another option that doesn't mess with that, be it opening with Wade, playing Joe "here comes another duck" Burns, or something else. But who knows what they will do.
McBumble
Guest
Nice preview. Sadly our batting will more than likely cost us victory. The bowling department is stellar. Batting lineup is looking weaker by the day; bringing in Moises is a head scratcher. Why they did not bring in Marsh or someone else is beyond me. Also, I'd be giving Pucovski another season in Shield before the big time. Or debut him against a "soft" opposition. Hopefully he will be good for the next Ashes. India by a nose. Cannot wait though
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Kholi obviously didn't play in the warm up match for two reasons. One...they need to give other guys a go...two he has hardly stopped playing for ages now.
Matt of W
Roar Rookie
You’re insane, drop Hazlewood? He is first on the bowling card for me, closely followed by Cummins. I’m open to hear other views but I fail to see how Hazlewood isn’t in anyone’s top 3. Criminally underrated by some people I find.
Ah jeez as a Kiwi I am going to have to root for Australia in this series so that you can meet the Kiwis in the WTC championship at Lords where we can attempt to gain some revenge for the 3 nil drubbing in Australia last year. Australia have the best bowling attack in the world by far, and Smith and Labuwhatshisname are fantastic, so that should be good enough to deal to India (rest of your batsman are ordinary, but probably good enough to back up the 2 big stars on flat Aussie pitches). (If David Warner comes back at some stage to bolster the Aussie batting, then that is definitely a huge advantage to Aussies as the top order looks thin without him). Im picking 3-0 to the Aussies….maybe 2-1 if Aussies have a collapse somewhere along the way.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Barring any injury issue, Aussies should take the first test comfortably. In event of injury Aussies should take a leaf out of Indian's book, "concuss" him out & replace him :laughing: On more serious note, starc Cummins & patto should be pace trio. Tough call on Hoff, but he sits out for me. Still has no idea who will be openers. Harris is almost certain to be one. Hopefully they won't be taking burns there. If greeny debuts, as stop gap measure, i would push wade up the ordee as opener though pretty sure that looks odd. But no way I would be tinkering with no3 & no4 combo. They stay where they are.
blanco
Guest
If fit Green is definitely the number 6 which means either Labuchange or Wade will partner Harris. I doubt it will be Wade. Wade has never open in first class cricket nor does his technique scream potential test opener. Some have even suggested Paine as opener. Again I cant see that happening, reason being you still want an opener capable of going on with a start and cashing in with a hundred. Something Paine rarely does. So if it is Marnus to open and I suspect that's how the selectors will go, does Smith bat 3? He is the best batsman in the team so he sure can but in my opinion Smith at 4 adds more stability to the batting lineup.