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Third Test preview: Can Australia turn the tables in Sydney?

Roar Guru
4th January, 2021
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Roar Guru
4th January, 2021
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It’s said that a week is a long time in politics. In cricket it is an eternity.

After a humiliating loss in Adelaide, India bounced back with a vengeance in Melbourne, displaying admirable resilience. For the second tour in a row, Melbourne has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the tourists.

It appears there is no such thing as momentum in this series. Now it seems that Australia have more issues to contend with. Firstly, in selection Australia must, and will likely, have David Warner at the top of the order. This move will bring experience and dash up front, and should go a long way to addressing Australia’s slow run rate and the stranglehold that the Indian pacemen have.

While Warner’s fitness would be a gamble, it’s a gamble that must be taken now. Defeat for Australia at the SCG would see India retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Matthew Wade will partner Warner at the top. Wade has showed enough mettle in this series and his second innings knock in Melbourne was a patient, vigilant one. For the rest of the line-up, there is possibly not going to be further change. Travis Head may be given one further chance, although patience must be wearing thin. He has looked quite good thus far, but seems unable to convert promise into reality.

Cameron Green deserves to hold his place and his second innings performance at the MCG was something significant to build on, while his bowling looks serviceable. Although Mitchell Starc had a niggle, there is unlikely to be a change to the bowling line-up. A big haul from Nathan Lyon would be very welcome too.

Nathan Lyon celebrates taking a wicket

How many wickets can Nathan Lyon take at the SCG? (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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For the Indians, assuming the players who ventured outside the biosecurity bubble will not be penalised, there is unlikely to be a large number of changes. In the bowling department, the injury to Umesh Yadav is an unfortunate one, and leaves the team somewhat light on for pace bowling. The options to replace him are Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini and Thangarasu Natarajan.

It’s likely the selectors will go for Thakur, although the case for the left arm variety of Natarajan cannot be discounted. Thakur offers swing and more batting prowess down the order. Saini might be a long shot – although he has serious pace, his inclusion would add even more inexperience in first-class cricket to the line-up. Saini did not overly impress in the 50-over series, although Test matches are an entirely different beast.

Although unlikely, could India consider playing three spinners with the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav?

On the batting side, the inclusion of Rohit Sharma will add flair and experience, although he may well be rusty. Net practice is no substitute for match play. With Sharma’s inclusion, India may omit Mayank Agarwal who has struggled against Starc in particular, and either push Hanuma Vihari up to open with Shubman Gill, or include K Rahul at the top of the order.

If Rahul comes in to open, Vihari and Agarwal may be squeezed out. Cheteshwar Pujara has been his usual obdurate self, but unlike 2018, the runs have not really come this time – he will be looking at a big one in Sydney. For all his flashiness, some more runs from Rishabh Pant would be useful, especially batting at number six.

Cheteshwar Pujara of India

Cheteshwar Pujara hasn’t quite met his usual high standards in this series (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

That fact the ball has dominated in the series so far is reflected in a number of ways. Australia has managed to reach 200 only once in the series, while India have struggled with the bat too. Although India made over 300 in the first innings in Melbourne, it was largely on the back of one partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja. In fact, Rahane’s hundred is the only century of the series thus far.

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The batsmen have a lot of work to do, including the now vulnerable-looking Steve Smith. While it can be argued that Smith is in a minor trough, India’s plans for him have come to fruition to date, much like Neil Wagner’s short bowling barrage to Smith last year.

This series has been a game of inches. One hour of madness devastated India in Adelaide, after being on top of the Test match. Lapses in the field by Australia in Melbourne cost them dearly, especially during the match-defining partnership between Rahane and Jadeja. Taking chances, wherever and whenever they come, will be key.

On balance, and at the risk of being accused of sitting on the fence, I think this game may well be a draw. Both teams have extra firepower in batting with the likely inclusions of David Warner and Sharma, while particularly in the case of India, the bowling now looks slightly vulnerable with the absence of Shami, Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

Should the wicket turn significantly, however, and if pressed to name a winner, I would slightly lean to India given Ashwin’s impressive form.

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