Winning Bizness Sports Desk

The on-going India-Australia four match test series has surprisingly been one-sided with India thrashing the Kangaroos in both the test matches played so far. So convincing and one-sided have the Indian victories been that very few dare to back the Australians in the remaining two test matches. It will not shock any cricket-lover, on current form, ifthe Indians lift the series 4-0.

Named after two cricketing legends from both the countries—Allan Border of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India—the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has already been retained by India, courtesy its win over the Aussies the last time in 2020-21. That series, incidentally, is now world famous for India’s memorable victory at The Gabba in Brisbane, till then considered an Australian cricketing fortress.

An interesting highlight is that India’s win in the second test match of the present series is also its 100th win across formats against Australia in men’s cricket.

The on-going series is, however, not just a mere bilateral series between the two teams—its outcome will decide who will contest the World Test Championship (WTC) final in England scheduled to be played at The Oval between June 7-11 of this year.

A look at the points table reveals that both the teams have for all practical purposes made it to the final. It will require a miracle for any other team to displace either India or Australia now.

India will be looking to win at least one more match to seal its spot formally in the final while Australia will also be hoping for the same or at least a draw in the remaining two games to remain ahead of the other contenders. Even one draw will help Australia stay ahead in the race for the final spot. Theoretically speaking, it is still possible for Sri Lanka to qualify but realistically speaking, one sees an India-Australia final, come June this year.

An Indian entry into the final will mean India playing the WTC final for the second consecutive time. Last time too, India made it to the final only to lose to New Zealand.

However, the Indian cricket team would do well not to begin thinking of the WTC final just yet; two more test matches remain in this series and cricket being a game of glorious uncertainties, anything can happen. Therefore, the Indian cricketers would do well to remain firmly grounded and not get carried away by the two victories in the on-going test series.

June is still several months away and, besides, the playing conditions in England will be different from the ones here. The pitches in India are spin-friendly and the weather radically different from the one that both India and Australia are likely to encounter at The Oval in England.

While India’s wins have been very convincing indeed, these big wins should not be allowed to obscure some areas of concern. India’s batting has not acquitted itself well in what are home conditions.

India needs to remain focussed on this series with its aim to go all out and win the remaining two matches and seal the series 4-0. India’s spinners have done well so far with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja inflicting significant damage on the Australians. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that it was the duo’s contributions, both with the bat and the ball that have contributed significantly to Australia’s downfall in both the test matches played so far.

Ravichandran Ashwin has snared 14 wickets which includes a five-wicket haul and scored 60 runs so far—these runs have come in only two innings (23 and 37 runs), both of them vital contributions at critical junctures. Jadeja has done even better—he has captured 17 wickets and scored 96 runs (70 and 26)in two innings.

Indian bowlers, including the pacers Mohammed Siraj and Shami have bowled well giving India crucial breakthroughs. Another spinner Axar Patel has shown his skill in batting, scoring heavily down the order—an 84 and a 74 though he has taken only one wicket so far.

There is understandable elation at India’s performance in this series. But this elation must not be allowed to cloud the fact that there are certain areas that need fixing prior to the WTC final.

While India’s wins have been very convincing indeed, these big wins should not be allowed to obscure some areas of concern. India’s batting has not acquitted itself well in what are home conditions. This gives rise to the question—how will it fare in a bowling-friendly environment in England.

The pitches will be greener and additionally, if there is rain, then the Australian pace attack will acquire added potency indeed. Bowlers such as Starc, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Boland and others, in such an environment, can prove more than a handful for the Indian batters.

In the first two test matches of this series, India’s batting has not been that dominant and many batters are yet to come up with substantial contributions. K L Rahul has come under severe criticism for his failures with the bat and is in danger of being dropped for the third test.

Barring Rohit Sharma who scored a century (120 runs) in the first test, others such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K S Bharat and Suryakumar Yadav(who played in the first test) have not contributed in any meaningful manner. In fact, it would be not be incorrect to say that it has been India’s lower order that has bailed it out in both the matches whilebatting.

Axar Patel, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, all spinners, have come up with telling contributions with the bat and it is primarily these contributions which have helped India come up trumps in the first two matches.

Given the way things have panned out so far, it appears unlikely that Australia has the capability to turn things around. The Kangaroos have been further weakened by injuries. Two of their top players—David Warner and Josh Hazlewood—will take no further part in the series owing to injuries. Ashton Agar is also returning home. Mitchell Starc who missed the first two tests due to injury is still uncertain for the third.

A thoroughly outplayed and injury-weakened Australia thus faces an uphill task in the remaining two tests. India is now the favourite to win the remaining two tests and qualify comfortably for the WTC final in June.

There is understandable elation at India’s performance in this series. But this elation must not be allowed to cloud the fact that there are certain areas that need fixing prior to the WTC final.

While winning the remaining two tests should undeniably be the priority, India should also keep in mind the WTC final and recognise that shortcomings exist and need to be addressed over the next three-months.

More than India’s bowlers, it will be the batters who will have to up their performance. Australia has a good pace bowling machine, which, given the helpful conditions in England could put India’s batters under pressure.

India has experience of English conditions and in recent years has fared well there. Besides, many Indian players have acquired county cricket experience as well. India must utilise this experience gained in recent years to exploit the local conditions in England effectively to negate Australia’s strengths (pace bowling) and attack their weaknesses aggressively.

Going by past experience, there is likely to be some rain in June and The Oval pitch too could be greener than the ones in India. Seam bowlers are likely to have a greater say than spinners. However, having said this, Indian spinners have done well in England in recent times and at different venues as well and so while there will be some adjusting that needs to be done by India, the team certainly does possess the skill-set and ability to put it across Australia in the final.

India has experienced seam bowlers in Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. If Jasprit Bumrah regains fitness and form by then, he will add greater potency to the Indian attack.

His progress towards full fitness will be monitored thoroughly over the next few months before a call is finally taken on his selection. He is likely to play in the IPL where his fitness and performance will be closely scrutinised.

The spin department will in all likelihood be manned by Ashwin and Jadeja. Here it must be pointed out that during the last tour of England, India did not include Ashwin in the team for any of the tests. If India decides to go in with four seamers and one spinner, then it will be a toss-up for the lone spinner’s spot between Ashwin and Jadeja. It will be the batting prowess then that will decide who between the two will be selected.

More than India’s bowlers, it will be the batters who will have to up their performance. Australia has a good pace bowling machine, which, given the helpful conditions in England could put India’s batters under pressure.

In recent times, it has been the Indian lower order batters who have bailed out the team on many occasions. However, a point that needs highlighting here is that in England it is unlikely that all the three who have proved saviours as batters in this series—Ashwin, Axar and Jadeja—will be in the playing eleven.

Therefore, India’s top-line batters must come to the party. It is important from India’s point of view that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be in full flow followed by others such as Shreyas Iyer and Pujara.

The final will be played in the immediate aftermath of the IPL and the Indian team management must ensure that players take care of themselves well in terms of fitness. There should be no compromise on this—only those who are fully fit should be selected.

The fitness issue assumes tremendous importance following the recent statement by former India bowler and chief selector Chetan Sharma—he is reported to have said that Indian players when unfit take injections to hide their injuries to play. It is high time that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) takes appropriate steps to ensure that only injury-free and fully fit players represent India.

India’s focus now should be on whitewashing the Australians 4-0 in the on-going series. The Aussies have the capability to bounce back and hence India should never make the mistake of underestimating them. And after the conclusion of this series, India should plan for the WTC final over the next three-months.