Heading into Friday’s fourth and final Test, India has an increasing injury list and Australia has both poor form and injury concerns.
We are waiting to see if Will Pucovski will be fit, but if he can’t play finding a replacement will definitely frustrate the selectors.
Do they move Matthew Wade back up the order even though his form and match awareness has come under question in the last two Tests? Alternatively, they could recall Joe Burns and hope his home ground will prove an advantage, however I doubt they would be keen on that.
The most likely replacement is Marcus Harris, but there is also a cloud over him. In his nine Tests, he has managed just two scores over 50 and has an average of 24.1.
To put that into perspective, Mitch Starc, Australia’s number nine, averages 22.2 with the bat.
Marcus Harris (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
There is also a question mark over Matthew Wade’s position given the manner of his dismissals in the series so far. It is all well and good showing intent, but when it means getting yourself dismissed when your team needs you, then being attacking is worthless.
The only real player that Australia could use in Wade’s position is Travis Head, who wasn’t in great form either before he got dropped for the third Test.
I expect the selectors to promote Wade to the top of the order and then bring Head back into the middle order, although both will be out to prove their spots.
This last one may not be popular, but Mitch Starc should have some question marks surrounding his place in the line-up.
In the Sydney, he took 1-127 from 41 overs across both innings. His line was all over the place and lacked the consistency that we saw from Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Across the three Tests so far, Starc has been the least successful of Australia’s fast bowling cartel with nine wickets.
The main arguments that would support Starc being selected include his ability to take early wickets with the new ball, his variance in angle being a left-hander, and that he can provide footmarks for Nathan Lyon to use against the right-handed batsmen.
However, this series Starc hasn’t been as threatening with the new ball – asides from against Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwall, both of whom have since been dropped.
In terms of him providing footmarks for Lyon, to put it bluntly, he hasn’t. This is due to him bowling around the wicket more than before, which also limits the variance in angle that he has against Indian batsmen.
The standout replacement is Micheal Neser, who is a standout bowling all-rounder for Queensland. Since the beginning of the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield season, Neser has taken 142 wickets at an average of 21.98 and he has the most experience at the Gabba of the fast-bowling options.
His batting is also worth noting, having notched up his maiden first-class ton this domestic season, which capped a number of 50-plus scores in the last two years.
Neser being selected could also result in all-round improvements from the Aussie bowlers – the fact that no one is safe may well be the extra motivation that is needed for the quicks to fire.
Indian
Guest
No I have highlighted what Aus have to lose if they lose/draw this test....which they cant afford to...
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Ha. I save up all year to do it. I found out player, commentators and such stayed there years and years ago. I’m not a stalker. Lol
Paul
Roar Guru
Wow! The Sofitel? That's out of my league. I'm a 1 star man myself - leaves more money for beverages. :happy: I vaguely remember Australia playing some pretend indoor cricket in one of the conference rooms there not so long ago. All okay by the hotel of course.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'll give you the long version of what happened. CA negotiated accommodation in Brisbane and submitted it's choice to the BCCI some weeks ago. That was obviously acceptable to all parties so CA booked out an entire 5 star hotel. Last weekend,the Qld state gov't imposed a lockdown on Brisbane and for hotels like the Sofitel, this meant imposing severe restrictions on guests, exactly what was described by the "anonymous Indian official". The lockdown ceased however the hotel still imposed exactly the same restrictions, presumably because it had not heard any differently from the Qld Gov't and would also have been fearful of being closed down and/or fined for breaching Gov't orders. So when the Indian AND the Australian cricket teams arrived at the hotel, they were met with these restrictions. Given CA had negotiated with the Qld Gov't, a rep from the BCCI phoned them, as presumably did the Australian team manager. CA then got in contact with the relevant gov't officials who then contacted the Sofitel and told them to lift all restrictions, but keep the pool closed. I'm guessing that entire incident took maybe half an hour to an hour to resolve. Noticeably, NONE of the players or officials form either squad had any issues and this very small storm in a very large teacup would have not been a problem, except for one person mentioning it to an Indian journalist who made it into something it was not, for the cricket mad fans back home. On most tours, there will be an issue, be it missing luggage, issues with accommodation, etc. The protocol is for the Boards to sort it out if the team managers can't. In this case, the issue involved the State gov't which meant the BCCI had to contact CA. In other words, it's a nothing story that plays well in India
Nooooel
Guest
I've heard all the reports concerning the conditions for the Indian team. Far from ideal, and far from what they'd be used to touring. There was always going to be some difficulties given that we're in the midst of a global pandemic. It's remarkable the series is being played at all. Just out of interest, I haven't heard anything about the accommodation for the Australian team. Does anyone know if there's a difference?
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Beats the Delhi Belly any day
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Lyon been mediocre this series, average approaching 34, usually good for a couple wickets, hardly goes through a lineup.
mozza63
Guest
quite possibly the worst australian team ever
Peter85
Roar Rookie
Who would Shami be in this comparison? Jackson Bird? I can't think of any other experienced test players that Australia has. Was KL Rahul a mainstay or is the the Travis Head of the Indian team?
sheek
Roar Guru
Wheelbarrow, Where there's the sniff of money, there's another impractical suggestion, ie, smashing square pegs into round holes. Holding test cricket & BBL simultaneously might maximise CA's revenue streams, but it doesn't make any practical, long-term sense whatsoever...
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
‘Has to make own bad’! Ok. At the end it says BCCI assured there will be room service and housekeeping. No one coming from interstate can go for a stroll later for 14 days. These guys leave the room when they play. I’ll wait till after if any of it true and the Aust team got treated different.
Chanon
Guest
Sounds like you have justified India losing last test match, well done!
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
There is no other option but to choose who is hitting the ball cleanly- given there are only 2-3 players in the mix. Bbl is too long and need to either start later or finish earlier as now we have 4 or so players that have t played any cricket for 6 weeks...
Indian
Guest
Other facilities (except pool) were allowed only after BCCI intervention, not before that. https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia-vs-india-fourth-test-at-gabba-hotel-quarantine-complaint-cricket-news-2021-india-injuries-cricket/news-story/fcf3d79e717d1a7ce559da775bda0bb2
Indian
Guest
I am sure you are following the news. https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia-vs-india-fourth-test-at-gabba-hotel-quarantine-complaint-cricket-news-2021-india-injuries-cricket/news-story/fcf3d79e717d1a7ce559da775bda0bb2
Indian
Guest
Though series is 1-1 and its up for grabs at Gabba....still India has hardly anything to lose with the unending injury list and reduced to its 'C' team now. Infact this will allow them to play with free mind without any performance pressure whatsoever... On the other hand Aus will be under real pressure.... - you just cant lose or even draw this one....as no excuse this time as both Smith & Warner both are playing - reputation, history & almost everything at stake BIG time as this is supposed to be your fortress & you havent lost a match here since 1988 - you are playing against a team with 70% of its 1st choice players not playing - you are expected to roll them over within 3 days as you are playing at close to 90% of your strength (Warner not in best of form).
Paul
Roar Guru
the only thing they can't access is the pool which is closed. Everything else is what you'd get in a 5 star hotel.
Chanon
Guest
Pucovski will definitely play & Starc won’t get dropped Wade is the only concern but l think the selectors won’t make any changes! Goats 100th test match This test will be a classic Series has been brilliant Go Aussies!!!!!
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Not sure where you get your info. Even people in 14 day hotel lockdown get room service. How would they be getting their food and toiletries.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul. That the place I go to stay for the cricket. Cant get a room there, not available to public. It has tops facilities, huge rooms the entire teams have trained in before, including league training in them. Common thing now days that some people see everything is not fair and everything is done against them.