Opinion
On the day of Christmas (oh and Boxing Day Test Eve), India named their playing XI for the second Test at MCG.
The playing XI is – Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav. Here are some takeaways from the XI India announced.
Common sense prevails
There were rumours of KL Rahul possibly replacing Hanuma Vihari in the XI, which seemed very baffling. Vihari batted at 4 in India’s two tour games, and looked comfortable in the top order as his four innings included a century at SCG.
While Vihari hasn’t set the world on fire yet in Test cricket, batting at 4 will suit his style more than batting at 6, where he has struggled to accelerate when required.
With Vihari set to bat at 4 for the remainder for the series, the onus will be on him and Pujara to tire the Aussie attack and allow the likes of Pant and Jadeja to take advantage of a tiring bowling attack.
India were caught with their Pants down in the first Test. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Gill and Siraj debuts a step in right direction
While I still firmly believe Shubman Gill should’ve made his Test debut at the Basin Reserve, a Boxing Day Test debut is a story he can brag about for the rest of his life. An attacking-minded batsman, Gill loves to score big runs – and has the defensive technique to survive tough spells. Only time will tell if he gets the long run he deserves.
As for Mohammad Siraj, it’ll be an emotional debut for him having lost his father a month ago. Living the dream his father had hoped for, Siraj will be charged up and ready to rip in with the ball.
Justin Langer will ensure his boys don’t take Siraj lightly as the pacer from Hyderabad took 8-59 against Australia A in 2018 at Bangalore – dismissing Usman Khawaja, Kurtis Patterson, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser and Chris Tremain in a tremendous spell of fast bowling.
What Gill and Siraj’s debut also ensures is that it gives the current crop of uncapped Indian cricketers assurance that their FC performances in Ranji Trophy and for India A will be rewarded with a Test cap.
Indian think tank’s lack of clarity exposed
When Shubman Gill was controversially left out of India’s Test XI at the Basin Reserve earlier this year despite his performances for India A against New Zealand A in the FC games leading into the Test series, the Indian think tank defended the decision – citing Gill was being looked as a middle order option.
Come the Boxing Day Test, Gill is set to open alongside Mayank Agarwal.
While Gill is flexible to bat anywhere from 1-6, the lack of clarity on where he would be batting this series is being exposed. From being considered as a middle order option, Gill will be opening instead. Be clear with your decisions Indian selectors, don’t contradict them.
Chance for Jadeja to show batting prowess
Since the beginning of 2018, Ravindra Jadeja has scored 693 runs in Test cricket at an average of 53.31 with six fifties and one century.
With Ravi Ashwin set to lead the spin attack, Jadeja will be batting in the top. With a golden opportunity up the order, Jadeja can show his abilities with the bat and prove he’s worthy to play Test cricket as a batting all rounder outside of the subcontinent.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
The Aussie needed every centimetre of his height and reach to reel that one in!
