The opening Test of the five-match series between Australia and India is set to commence on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Both teams are gearing up for a competitive showdown, with each side boasting a blend of experience and emerging talent.
Australia’s squad will be led by pace spearhead Pat Cummins. The team features a strong batting lineup, including seasoned players such as Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, alongside promising talents like Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. The bowling department is equally formidable, with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
India will miss the services of regular captain Rohit Sharma in the first Perth Test. The batting order, however, features stalwart like Virat Kohli and emerging star Yashasvi Jaiswal, while the bowling lineup includes seasoned campaigners such as Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah. The depth in both batting and bowling provides India with a balanced approach going into the match.
Test stats and records at Perth
- Total Matches: 4
- Matches won batting first: 4
- Matches won bowling first: 0
- Average 1st innings Score: 456
- Average 2nd innings Score: 250
- Average 3rd innings Score: 218
- Average 4th innings Score: 183
- Highest total recorded: 598/4 (152.4 Ovs) By Australia vs West Indies
- Lowest total recorded: 89/10 (30.2 Ovs) By Pakistan vs Australia
- Lowest score defended: 140/10 (56 Ovs) By India vs Australia
Also READ: AUS vs IND 2024: India’s playing XI for the first Test against Australia – Predicted
Perth Pitch Report
The pitch report for the opening Test match between Australia and India at Perth Stadium from November 22 to November 26, indicates favourable conditions for fast bowlers. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect over the five days:
Day 1 (November 22)
- Condition: Fresh and firm pitch.
- Bowling Advantage: Fast bowlers will likely find assistance with pace and bounce early on.
- Batting Expectation: Batters may face challenges initially but can settle in as the day progresses.
Day 2 (November 23)
- Condition: Slightly worn surface.
- Bowling Advantage: Continued support for seamers, with potential for some turn starting to develop.
- Batting Expectation: Batters should aim to build partnerships, but early wickets could be crucial.
Day 3 (November 24)
- Condition: Drying out, with more cracks appearing.
- Bowling Advantage: Spinners may start to play a more significant role as the pitch deteriorates.
- Batting Expectation: Batting could become more challenging; teams will need to adapt their strategies.
Day 4 (November 25)
- Condition: Further wear and tear, with uneven bounce likely.
- Bowling Advantage: Spinners could exploit the rough patches, while seamers may still be effective.
- Batting Expectation: Teams will need to focus on technique; lower-order batters might struggle.
Day 5 (November 26)
- Condition: Significantly worn, with variable bounce.
- Bowling Advantage: A bowler’s paradise, particularly for spinners and those who can extract movement.
- Batting Expectation: Challenging conditions expected; batting teams will need to be resilient.
Head-to-head record between Australia and India in Test cricket:
- Matches Played: 107
- Australia Won: 45
- India Won: 32
- Drawn Matches: 29
- India’s Highest Total Against Australia: 705/7
- India’s Lowest Total Against Australia: 36
- Australia’s Highest Total Against India: 674
- Australia’s Lowest Total Against India: 83
Squads:
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland
India: Jasprit Bumrah (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal
Travelling reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Sourav Ganguly urges Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami to fly to Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
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