- With the white-ball cricket behind us where both India and Australia shared the honors, the former won the T20 series and the latter won the 50 overs series, respectively, the focus will shift now on to the classical five-day test series. The first of the four-test series is scheduled to commence from Thursday, 17th December 2020 with a day/night fixture played with a pink ball. As the slam-bang variety paves way for the commencement of classical format, true connoisseurs of cricket would eagerly look forward to a sumptuous play of pure test of nerves between bat and ball, no less.
PC: PTI
- Make no mistake, every India and Australia test series over the last decade and a half has succeeded in showcasing some high-class performances thereby ensuring the contests between the two major cricketing giants do rank amongst the best. In terms of footfalls, catching eyeballs, and of course, buzz, excitement, and anticipation, what the Border-Gavaskar Trophy manages to create is at par with the Ashes, if not scoring above through sheer popularity alone. Indian diaspora spread around in great numbers enormously contributes to sustaining the huge following whenever the two teams compete.
- As cricket enthusiasts aver, both the teams are well balanced in terms of match winners, and most importantly, two sides possess an array of exciting fast bowlers who would eventually decide which team crosses the final hurdle to lay claim on the coveted trophy. Unlike last time around when India defeated hosts in Australia for the first time in the history of bilateral test series, this time around the latter will feel strengthened with the availability of two of their premier batsmen viz. Steve Smith and David Warner. Though Warner will be missing the first test due to injury.
PC: Kiran Udaykumar
- The Indian team will feel the absence of Rohit Sharma in the batting department – at least for a couple of tests – and an experienced Ishant Sharma in the bowling department owing to injuries again. Also, with Captain Virat Kohli seeking and getting granted paternity leave rendering him unavailable for the last three tests, the onus of putting up respectable scores on the board squarely rests on the shoulders of last series hero Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, and Hanuma Vihari to a great extent. Failing to put up fair enough scores would entail Australia running over India in no time.
- The formidable pace attack of Australia under home conditions is a handful to any opponents. Meek surrendering from the top order batsmen will severely scuttle the equally formidable pace attack of India led by the redoubtable duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. No sooner the Indian test team gets on to the longer format groove, the better would be the chances of posing serious questions to the host nation in their backyard. Exciting times beckons while anticipating some real contests ahead and trust me, cricket alone will emerge as the winner eventually. Bring it on!
