It was 2020 when the Border-Gavaskar trophy was last held in Australia and we were treated to an astonishing spectacle. India were bowled out for 36 in the first innings of the first test, and then went on to claim a historic victory at The Gabba (a feat few have ever managed). They clinched the series win, and demonstrated their astonishing capabilities as a test match side. As all great series should, this bitter rivalry ebbed and flowed, with each match becoming more and more impossible to predict. Yet the hype that surrounded that series three years ago does not seem to have been replicated this time round. The current Indian team feels like it is a shadow of the historic one that managed to win in Australia. Recently, the test side suffered a humiliating whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in their own backyard which will no doubt have severely knocked their confidence. On the other hand, Australia have not played a test match since March; however their last result was a convincing victory against New Zealand, the very side that India failed to beat.
There are also some issues surrounding India’s squad as Rohit Sharma, India’s captain and opening batsman, is unlikely to feature in the first match in Perth on November 22. With Sharma absent, Yashasvi Jaiswal would require a new partner and yet the replacement options are weak, given current form. Both KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran performed poorly in a warm-up match against Australia A. The alternative would be Shubman Gill, who normally bats at number three, but has often looked uncomfortable opening, despite his debut ironically being in the emphatic test win in Brisbane in 2021 as an opener. Furthermore, when Rohit does return, he and star player Virat Kohli will feel enormous pressure given the lack of runs from the two senior batsmen. Both suffered multiple failures in the New Zealand series, with just one half-century in six innings.
In contrast, Australia’s squad is full of optimism as Nathan McSweeney has received a maiden Test call-up, with chief selector George Bailey confirming that he will open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. The 25-year-old captained Australia A, and whilst he has never opened before in first-class cricket, Bailey believes he has the technique and temperament to really hurt the Indian bowlers. The only major disruption to this well-oiled lineup is the injury to Cameron Green, however Mitchell Marsh is more than capable to take up the all-rounder role.
It therefore feels that Australia are clear favourites going into this test series, as both nations are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of form and confidence. Furthermore, the biggest advantage Australia have is that they know the pitches better than anyone, and will be seeking revenge for the humiliation India delivered three years ago. Without their captain for the first test, it really does feel as if India are going into this series as even bigger underdogs than they were in 2020. It makes for much better viewing when a test series is tight, but all the evidence points towards an Australian walkover.
“Pat Cummins bowling at Perth Stadium, First Test Australia versus West Indies, 2 December 2022 01” by Calistemon is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.