The long-awaited Border-Gavaskar series is almost here. India has prepared with two three-day matches in Sydney, matches in which some of the Australia Test players have participated, while the rest of the home team have been training in Adelaide. However, Australia’s preparation has been far from serene, especially when it comes to who will lead the batting. For India, they know there will only be one test with Virat Kohli. So how do the two squads compare?
Higher order
Australia David Warner, Joe Burns, Marcus Harris, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne
India Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubham Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul
Warner’s loss by Australia is huge. Along with Burns’ woeful form, there is a strong chance the home team will come in with an impromptu starting pair. Agarwal will surely play and spent some useful time in between in Sydney. Gill is a magnificent talent, but he may not yet force his way past Shaw. For both sides, No. 3 is shaping up to be pivotal as Justin Langer confirmed Australia will not risk weakening a force by moving Labuschagne to the opening. Two years ago, Pujara was the series’ hitting star and with Kohli just for one tryout, he may have to do it again.
Who wins? With Warner, Australia. Without him it’s too close to call
Middle order
Australia Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Moises Henriques
India Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma
There was no Smith vs Kohli two years ago and this time there will only be one test before Kohli returns home. From a purely cricket point of view, it is a huge shame. There is almost nothing that divides them as, along with Kane Williamson, the best of the current generation. The careers of the rest will be equally vital. Rahane has an excellent record overseas, averaging 44 in Australia, and will likely be captain from Melbourne onwards, while last season he felt Head was settling as a test hitter. Wade is seen as the most vulnerable, although opening problems may force a shakeup. Green’s possible debut is one of the most anticipated in recent times for Australia. Vihari played a useful role in the 2018-19 series and India can be reinforced by Rohit in the last two tests.
Who wins? With Kohli, too close to call. Without him, Australia
Wicketkeeper
Australia Tim paine
India Rishabh Trousers, Wriddhiman Saha
The comparisons here are slightly different because for Australia, Paine has the captaincy. His often unfairly maligned hitting wasn’t much needed last summer, but he did play a huge hand against New Zealand at MCG with one of his most assertive test innings. He also scored a century on the Sheffield Shield earlier this year. Pant can be destructive in the middle order, as he demonstrated in Sydney two years ago, especially if he has a foundation to build on. Do we need more babysitting pranks? Probably not. Saha is a fantastic goalkeeper, the best glove of the three, but Pant is likely to be preferred.
Who wins? India, alone
Rhythm Bowlers
Australia Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Michael Neser and Sean Abbott
India Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj
Two-speed attacks could be the battle of the summer. It’s a shame Ishant Sharma is not here for India because he, in support of Bumrah and Shami, forms a formidable trio, but Umesh should not be underestimated. Australia has the best collection of fast bowlers today; Whether the Big Three can play all four Trials remains to be seen, but Pattinson is a useful first reserve and Neser would deserve a Trial cap. Cummins and Hazlewood rarely cast poor spells and the mojo from Starc’s Test made a comeback last summer.
Who wins? Australia, but watch out for Bumrah
Spinners
Australia Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
India R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav
In many ways, Lyon is the key to how this attack and team from Australia have been able to operate. He’s two bowlers in one, able to withstand the rapids and then seize his chance to win a game. He and Ashwin are the two best fingers in the game. For India, Ashwin also has a key role to play with the bat at No. 8 (as does Jadeja). Kuldeep took five wickets at SCG on the last tour.
Who wins? Australia, but if Lyon is injured it would have a problem
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor of ESPNcricinfo
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