It’s crunch time for the globe’s top-ranked team.
Australia’s India Test series has hardcore fans totally salivating; it is indeed a test and it’s going to be epic.
The tour begins on on Thursday in Nagpur in what is expected to be a series of twists and turns… and we’re certainly not just referring to the pivotal spin bowling set to be on show.
The four-match series between the two top-ranked sides in world cricket is the first on Indian soil between these vicious rivals since 2017 where the home side edged out the Aussies 2-1.
Australia are perfectly situated to right wrongs, having been on a tear lately since their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
They’ve won seven of their past eight matches, with four of them in the red ball format, and have not lost a Test series since India caused shockwaves down under in 2020/21.
This series will be a huge challenge for Pat Cummins’ men; they get to answer queries about their credentials against the world’s best. It’ll also be outstanding preparation for the Ashes in June-July, plus the World Test Championship at The Oval… which may also be against India.
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When and where are Australia’s four Tests in India?
Unlike most series, India almost always opts against the tradition three or five Test series and settles in between with four.
The series, which is being contested between number one (Australia) and two-ranked Test teams kicks off in Nagpur on Thursday, 3pm AEDT.
Three out of the four venues for this Test series weren’t used back in 2017 when Australia were last there, which could prove to be a serious disadvantage for the visitors.
- 1st Test: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, Feb 9-14.
- 2nd Test: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, Feb 17-21.
- 3rd test: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, March 1-5.
- 4th Test: Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, March 9-13.
What chances are the experts giving the Aussies?
There’s no doubt this India test series will be an uphill battle for Australia; India has won 15 consecutive Test series on home soil, dating back to early 2013.
The current win probability for Australia in the opening match in Nagpur on Thursday is at 27%, with India at a convincing 57% chance – the draw’s listed at 16%.
Cricbuzz expert cricket analyst Bharat Sundaresan has been following Australia’s preparation in India; he’s considerably impressed by what Australian captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins has been delivering in the nets. That’s despite all the pre-series buzz being centred around the role spin will play on the flat, subcontinent wickets.
Betting outlets are, roughly, giving the Aussies a 4-1 shot, while the hosts are considered a $1.60 chance to win the series outright. While we cannot highly enough stress the importance of responsible gambling, the fact is that agency odds are set off the back of considerable research and comprehensive analysis. The fact that even the world’s top-ranked nation are rank outsiders to claim the series is telling.
When was the last time Australia won a Test series in India?
Australia hasn’t come out on top in India since 2004, when they claimed wins in Bengaluru and Nagpur to steal the series 2-1 overall.
Under Adam Gilchrist’s captaincy, Australia played as well as any visiting nation could’ve hoped for with four centuries – two of them by Damien Martyn – and the entire bowling unit handily chipping in.
Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne both took 14 wickets each across the series, but it was Jason Gillespie that topped the lot with 20 through four tests.
It’s important context; Cummins and his army of seamers can have a sizeable impact in this India Test series.
Let’s go.
Who is India’s test captain and what’s the team look like?
Just under a year ago, Rohit Sharma was appointed as Virat Kohli’s successor as captain of the Indian Test team.
India’s XI | First Test
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Australia’s XI | First Test
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (w), Pat Cummins (c), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
