We’re back where we started with the series level and two teams with both promise and flaws clashing once again on legendary terrain. The cricket was compelling, sometimes unpredictable. There was even a little warmth between players. THE Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 comes dangerously close to classical territory. Imagine if it’s 2-2 in Sydney.
Some of the bowling on display – Harshit Rana clearing Travis Head’s stump in Perth, Pat Cummins returning the favor to Rohit Sharma in Adelaide, Jasprit Bumrah every time he comes in – has been the stuff of dreams. So we can’t blame the Gabba for watching them. A day outside, the ground still retains a tint of green.
A first innings average of 18.65 runs per wicket – a figure so rare that it has only been bettered once in the last 10 years, and that was in a one-off Test between England and Ireland – reflects not only the class of bowling attacks from both teams, but also a bit of the conditions and the fragility of the batting as well.
Australia are sobbing through another opening match and their two most reliable scorers are not performing at the levels they are used to. India will be able to sympathize because like Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (who could return as opener) have been more down than up. The bottom three are between 30 and 35 years old, so their form is subject to additional scrutiny, plus the surprise that these top players have yet to really impact this high-profile series. (Kohli has a century but the winning innings came from Yashasvi Jaiswal)
Of course, it’s no surprise that there are surprises when these two teams face off. In 2017, Australia took the lead and India fought back. Same in 2021. In 2018 and 2023, India took the lead and Australia fought back. This tells you that there isn’t much separating these sides. Australia’s victory in Indore last year and that of India in Perth two weeks ago, expectations were exceeded and there’s bound to be more thrills and twists as these two ring in the holiday season.
Form Guide
Australia: WLWWL (last five matches completed, most recent first) India: LWLLL
In the spotlight
Steven Smith has 19 runs in two Tests. His last hundred was 24 innings ago. But there was a 91 not out in there, at the Gabba, which he put forward as proof that his opening batting for Australia wasn’t really the worst idea. Back at No. 4, by popular demand, he had a bit of trouble getting his innings started, problems he previously avoided, like having weight.
Rishabh pants continues to do things with Rishabh Pant. In Adelaide, with India three over in 15th over, he came out of the crease and flayed Scott Boland at cover. He was also seen at Rundle Mall, pausing his shopping to play hide and seek with a small child. Now he’s on the scene his greatest triumph as a cricketer after his greatest triumph as a person.
Team News: Will Rohit move up the order?
India could consider changes, particularly regarding the composition of its first order. Is Rohit coming back to reopen? Does he feel like he used to again? There were positive signs in the nets on Thursday, where almost all the batters, Kohli and Shubman Gill in particular, improved their backfoot game.
Akash Deep was India’s third fast bowler during the home season and he gave way to Perth for a better batter. The team no longer views their depth as a big concern, so Harshit Rana could find his way back to the bench. Washington Sundar could also push R Ashwin for a place in the XI.
Australia has lost two of his last four tests here, after having lost nothing in 32 years. There was a pattern in these two losses, however. Both took place at the end of the season, in January. In between, there was a Test against South Africa in December 2022, which was completed in two days and was a celebration for the fast bowlers. And also one against England in December 2021 which resulted in a nine-wicket victory for Australia. Early season cricket here is friendly to fast bowlers, a likelihood further increased by forecasts of rain during the Test.
“(Yesterday it) looked like a good wicket, as it has the last few years,” Cummins said. “A bit of sunshine the last few days, I don’t think it’s as green and leafy as against South Africa.”
Statistics and anecdotes
Jasprit Bumrah averages 11.25 runs per wicket in this series. The next best for India is Mohammed Siraj with 19.77, but the gap widens after that.
Travis Head averages 80 and is hitting 94 in this series. Next best for Australia is Alex Carey with 24 and 59.5. There is some catching up to do for the hosts.
Pat Cummins has an exceptional record at the Gabba: in seven Tests he has taken 40 wickets at 18:22.
India could have only four players from the famous 2020-21 victory at the Gabba: Rohit, Gill, Pant and Siraj. It could be five if Washington plays.
Quotes
“It worked in the Adelaide test. It’s always in the back of your mind as a plan B, or if it looks really uncomfortable or likely to take wickets, maybe it becomes a plan A for some hitters. I’m sure we’ll take our chances at some point during this test. Patrick Cummins on using the short ball against Indian batters
