EXPLAINER
What’s at stake as India face world Take a look at champions Australia within the five-match collection? Who’re the important thing gamers? Al Jazeera solutions.
Cricket powerhouses India and Australia are set to resume their fierce rivalry in a five-match Take a look at collection within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will get below manner in Perth on Friday.
Thousands and thousands of followers around the globe are anticipated to observe the collection as a few of the sport’s largest stars, together with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, take to the sphere for seven and a half weeks of Take a look at cricket motion within the Australian summer season.
Right here’s the whole lot you’ll want to know in regards to the collection:
What’s the total match schedule of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
- First Take a look at, Perth Stadium, Perth: November 22-26, 2024 from 10:20am (02:20 GMT) to five:20pm (09:20 GMT)
- Second Take a look at, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide: December 6-10, 2024 from 2:30pm (04:00 GMT) to 10pm (11:30 GMT)
- Third Take a look at, Brisbane Cricket Floor, Brisbane: December 14-18, 2024 from 10:20am (00:20 GMT) to five:20pm (07:20 GMT)
- Fourth Take a look at, Melbourne Cricket Floor, Melbourne: December 26-30, 2024 from 10:30am (11:30 GMT) to five:30pm (18:30 GMT)
- Fifth Take a look at, Sydney Cricket Floor, Sydney: January 3-7, 2025 from 10:30am (11:30 GMT) to five:30pm (18:30 GMT)
What’s at stake within the India vs Australia Take a look at collection?
Aside from the tangible – a shiny golden trophy – each groups might be combating for a spot within the World Take a look at Championship (WTC) closing 2025.
A collection win for India might consolidate their Take a look at dominance over their rivals, whereas an Australian win might mark a shift in energy to the Southern Hemisphere.
Underneath one week 🤩
How excited are we for the primary Take a look at of the Border-Gavaskar collection? pic.twitter.com/utXnzjMoIS
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) November 15, 2024
How can India and Australia qualify for the World Take a look at Championship 2025 closing?
The WTC leaderboard is decided by share factors and, earlier than the opening match, Australia pip India by 4.2 share factors. The present champions are on 62.50 factors, with India on 58.33 factors.
Sri Lanka (55.56), New Zealand (54.55) and South Africa (54.17) are separated by 1.39 factors with all high 5 set to play at the very least one Take a look at collection every till the WTC closing in June.
For India to qualify with out relying on the outcomes of different collection, they have to beat Australia with a minimal of a 4-0 scoreline.
The hosts, in the meantime, should win 5 of their seven remaining Exams to seal their place in a second consecutive WTC closing. Ought to Australia beat India 4-0, they would wish to beat Sri Lanka (away) 1-0.
Who’re the important thing Indian gamers to look at?
- Virat Kohli: Arguably India’s largest sports activities star of his era, Kohli has traditionally relished the chance to set his document straight and silence his critics with standout performances in vital collection. The flamboyant batting nice enters the collection on the again of a lean patch – by his excessive requirements – that has seen him rating only one century in his final 10 Take a look at matches. But when there’s one nation Kohli loves touring, it’s Australia. Exterior India, Kohli’s highest Take a look at common (54.08) and most Take a look at centuries (six) have are available Australia.
- Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain is prone to miss the primary Take a look at match for private causes, however Rohit might be desperate to brush apart his current poor kind and make an impression on the collection together with his affect as a pacesetter and skill to attain fast runs. The 37-year-old will even look to set proper his unimpressive Take a look at document in Australia, the place he averages 31.38 in seven Exams with 63 being his highest rating. Ought to the attacking right-hand discover his greatest kind, India might be assured of posing a stiff problem to the hosts.
- Jasprit Bumrah: India’s vice-captain, who will lead the facet within the opening Take a look at on account of Rohit’s absence, is broadly thought to be one of many main quick bowlers of his era. His tempo and expertise are prone to go up a notch on the bouncy and skiddy Australian pitches, notably in Perth, and the 30-year-old’s efficiency will play a key position in India’s success throughout the collection.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: The younger opener has swiftly established himself as a mainstay within the Indian Take a look at facet however has but to play a Take a look at collection towards Australia. Touted as one of many batters to look at within the subsequent decade or so, Jaiswal will look to make his mark towards the reigning Take a look at champions on this important tour.
- Sarfraz Khan: For a batter who likes to play dangerous, high-scoring photographs and tackle quick bowlers, a Take a look at collection Down Underneath might show to be a make-or-break journey for Sarfraz’s profession. The 27-year-old likes placing on large scores and at a excessive strike price. The likes of Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood, although, will show a tricky problem for the Mumbai batsman.
Ravi Shastri says underestimate Virat Kohli at your peril 🏏
Extra from the #ICCReview 👉 https://t.co/stBa2VmBbo pic.twitter.com/X9kpNETd3Z
— ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2024
Who’re the important thing Australian gamers to look at?
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- Travis Head: A relentless thorn within the Indian staff’s facet, Head’s efficiency on the high of the batting order will set the tone for the remainder of the Australian batting order towards their nice rivals. The opener’s poor kind could also be a priority for the hosts but when there’s a staff Head has loved dealing with lately, it’s India. Be it the World Take a look at Championship closing or the 50-over World Cup closing – each in 2023 – Head has managed to get on high of the Indian bowling lineups in essential video games.
- Steve Smith: Smith, together with Kohli, is among the many most highly-rated batters over the previous decade and a half. The previous Australian captain has not scored a Take a look at century since June 2023 however he loves taking part in towards India. Smith averages 65.87, with 9 centuries, in 19 Exams towards the guests.
- Pat Cummins: Australia’s calm captain is likely one of the most deadly and correct quick bowlers on this planet, who thrives in house situations. Cummins can also be an efficient lower-order batter who’s able to not solely scoring runs, but additionally defending the tail-end gamers in robust conditions.
- Mitchell Starc: The left-handed tempo menace leads the hosts’ bowling assault. Starc has taken 48 wickets in his 18 Exams towards India and 35 of them have are available Australia. The 34-year-old’s tempo and kind might have an enormous position to play within the consequence of the collection.
- Nathan Lyon: Veteran off-break bowler Lyon’s wicket-taking skills usually fly below the radar, because of his fast-bowling teammates’ exploits. The 36-year-old has 121 Indian dismissals to his identify in 27 Exams at a bowling common of 31.56. Lyon is among the many main wicket-takers for Australia in current Take a look at matches, with 22 wickets in 5 Exams towards India since February 2023.
Which Indian and Australian gamers might make their Take a look at debuts?
- Abhimanyu Easawaran: India
- Harshit Rana: India
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: India
- Nathan McSweeney: Australia
- Josh Inglis: Australia
What’s the head-to-head document of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The bilateral Take a look at collection between India and Australia have been contested below this title since 1996-97, when India gained the lone Take a look at at house to bag the trophy.
In complete, the collection has been performed 16 instances and India have emerged victorious on 10 events, with 5 collection wins going Australia’s manner and one drawn collection in 2003-04.
Right here’s how the final 5 collection went:
- Australia in India (2022-23): India gained the four-match collection 2-1
- India in Australia (2020-21): India gained the four-match collection 2-1
- India in Australia (2018-19): India gained the four-match collection 2-1
- Australia in India (2016-17): India gained the four-match collection 2-1
- India in Australia (2014-15): Australia gained the four-match collection 2-0
Australia’s squad
For first Take a look at: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India’s squad
For the collection: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar
