In February Australia travel to India for the first time since 2017. That year, they won the first Test largely thanks to a magnificent bowling effort by Steve O’Keefe, his figures for the match being 12/70.
Australia couldn’t capitalise on that good work, however, and went on to lose the series 2-1.
This time Australia has a great opportunity to win a series in India for the first time since 2004. If they do succeed it will also be their first series win against India since 2014 after losing their last two series here in Australia.
I am looking forward to seeing Australia be put under the pump. Apart from a couple of nervy moments against South Africa at the Gabba, they never really got out of first gear throughout the whole summer.
Pat Cummins has not put a foot wrong on-field since he became captain. There was criticism of how the Justin Langer situation was handled but, whilst playing, the fast bowler has been magnificent. However, this year will be his toughest year to date with a tour of India, the Ashes away and the ODI World Cup, also in India.
Cummins played the last two Tests in India during the 2017 series and had some relative success. He’s a more mature cricketer now and he knows his game inside out. Expect a big series from captain Pat.
Ashton Agar copped some criticism for his performance in Sydney. But looking at how the pitch played it was never really suited to his bowling. He can have an impact in India.
Ashton Agar. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
I agree with the inclusion of Todd Murphy. It’s important to pick players when they’re in good form and Murphy is definitely in good form, although I wonder since he bowls the same style as Nathan Lyon whether or not they’d want something a bit different.
Agar, who bowls left arm, has the ability to dart it in at the right handers. We’ve seen in India sometimes it’s the ones who go straight on who are just as difficult to combat as the spinners. Mitchell Swepson is also an option if they want some leg spin variety.
I like the inclusion of Peter Handscomb. He has played in these conditions before and has had a good Sheffield Shield season, whereas Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne haven’t played Tests in India before.
Head struggled in the recent tour of Pakistan, only making 68 runs from four innings. However, he’s been in such brilliant form of late and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do. His off-spinners might be handy as well. I’d assume Marnus Labuschagne will adapt to the different conditions very quickly.
Another batter who will be striving to adjust to the new conditions is Usman Khawaja who is in career-best form. David Warner has struggled in India, only averaging 24.25 after 16 innings, you still start with him opening though.
Matthew Renshaw has played in India before. That time, he opened the batting. If Cam Green is still injured for the first Test, Renshaw could come into the middle order. It will be interesting to see what they do if they want to play two spinners.
If Cam Green is fit, he should play. He can give the other two fast bowlers a cut out.
On the topic of fast bowlers Lance Morris has been added to the squad. The news seems to be that Mitchell Starc will miss the first Test. I would bring in Morris instead of Scott Boland, as it is a more like-for-like replacement.
Australian XI for the first Test vs India
1. U. Khawaja
2. D. Warner
3. M. Labuschagne
4. S. Smith
5. T. Head
6. A. Carey (wk)
7. A. Agar
8. P. Cummins (c)
9. L. Morris
10. J. Hazlewood
11. N. Lyon
Sedz
Guest
Fair point. But this is the worst Indian batting lineup as well. So it all depends on who wins the toss and who happens to bat worse. Australia has a less lengthy tail if, Agar bats. India's selection has been poor and they miss some match-winning players so be it. That makes it interesting.
Sedz
Guest
KS Bharat was excellent for last few years and then there is Sarafaraz Khan who is scoring tons after tons in Ranji trophy. He averages 83 in Ranji trophy but he’s been kept out of the test team. Indian selectors are worst breed of all. Definitely Pant is a huge miss and he can turn the game in an hour or two. Bumrah may not be missed as much though. To me Agar is more of a threat Lyon when it comes to India tour and Australia have a great chance of winning the series IMO given that Indian selection was poor. KL Rahul will play every match but his contribution is going to be next to nothing.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
You should watch cricket. Lyon bowls really well a lot of the time. Gets flight, drift and spin. I guess you would have advocated dropping Warne to put a rocket up him. What for? You didn't mention. No doubt dropping Labuschagne and Smith would give them your message as well. Whatever that message is?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My fave position. I think you just get known for quick reflexes.
Clear as mud
Guest
Yardley similar. Worst position to field I always thought. Why do sleepy offies handle it well?
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Pant was a much better keeper last year compared to before but India will miss his batting especially under pressure more than anything.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
I thought it was the variable bounce which was more of a problem. Remember the way Smith was lbw to Yadav in the 4th inns?
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Lyon has started the last 3 series vs India very well but become innocuous by the 3rd Test. What he did in India in 2017 was replicated in the 2 series in Australia...2020-21 was the worst of them all. However, Indian batsmen haven't been playing as well recently and this should give hope to Lyon. Again though, judge him by the end of the series not how he is doing midway thru the 2nd Test.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
India start favorites simply as its at home but I think it may well be Australia who win this series. India have been heavily dependent on Rishab Pant's batting recently, both home and away. Rahul, Pujara and Kohli all have been average while Rohit has been way too injured. I can see all of them leaving the scene within the next 2 years if not sooner..only Kohli seems capable of a 2nd wind. The youngsters have not been trusted enough. In the bowling, they will be missing Bumrah and maybe Jadeja as well. Aus have their problems in batting in these conditions but at least their players are in form and can recall how to play big innings unlike India.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
Hopefully, the Green machine is fit so we don’t have a team structure like that one. But if he is not fit then certainly NOT Agar. Play Murphy as he is a better bowler. Playing Agar just because he is a left-handed bowler is a poor justification – he has to be a GOOD left handed-bowler. I would play Boland before Morris in test 1 as he has better credentials and control than the wild thing. On the answer posed in the title: No way Jose
Clear as mud
Guest
Lock didn’t play a test here after I was born Hogan is here Others didn’t play for Australia
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No mention of Tony Lock in WA? All that research and you didn't look West. Hogan, Stewart, Warren Wishart...
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well Ch 7 took over. You may have missed that ------- Seriously, his contributions are still relevant. And most people rail over a perceived irrelevancy which is clearly not the case when you read his missives. -------- Ch 7 has trashed cricket from the get-go. Having Mighty Mouse anchoring the presentation was ridiculous. I hated him on the tennis but to have him on the cricket Ch 7 management should've banished to Elba.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He's reduced to Cricinfo now? Amarna Living next.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Mallett was close to the greatest Gully of all-time, if not, then the best. He was comatose most of the time but quick in taking a missile. If you can find footage of him taking one of these blinders in some it looks like everybody doesn't know where the ball went including him.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
There's this other bloke who now writes for Cricinfo and writes cogently about cricket with salient and incisive comments. His name, serendipitously, is also Ian Chappell.
Clear as mud
Guest
They are not tweakers. Tweakers are left arm orthodox. See my treatise now at the top of the story - why no Australian kid should bowl LAO, especially with attitudes like yours As for your last two sentences - go you! Did that feel great. How you want this place to be? Factionalised and heavy on the imaginary point scoring? The use of “we” probably implodes my well-being more than anything other than Christians knocking on my front door. Just say what you think. You. You with the expressive fingers.
Clear as mud
Guest
Yep yep yep yep yep
jammel
Roar Rookie
We're definitely a chance in India. But it isn't much more than say 25% of winning the series. Green the key - if he is fit for all or the final 3 Tests then that will really assist us! We can then play 2 spinners. If Green isn't around, then I think it'll be Renshaw at #6, and 3 quicks + Lyon. I think the selectors will start with Agar. But Murphy will get a run in at least 1 Test! I am expecting big things of Marnus/Smith/Uzzie/Head/Carey/Green/Lyon/Cummo. Hopefully Hazlewood/Starc/Murphy/Agar/Davey W can chime in too! I personally would have had Hardie in the squad as cover for Green. MMarsh is dreaming IMO if he thinks he'll be the Ashes cover for Green - it's time for Hardie! :)
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yes, I thought Cummins should have bowled Agar a bit more to Erwee in the second innings, to see if he could get something to grip from the rough outside the left hander's off stump. I was also surprised he didn't use Agar much in that first session when Harmer and Maharaj were causing problems