Labels

Rattled Aussies will take on tranquil India in the Final battle at SCG


After bestowing Christmas gift or Pre-new year gift to the cricket fans by thrashing Aussies at MCG, Indian cricket team is now looking to bear the palm once again at SCG and desperate to win this series. As India is ahead by 2-1 in the series and already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, they will be happy to play out a draw if not win in the last test, which is going to start on this Thursday at Sydney cricket ground. SCG is the traditional ground for hosting New Year's Day tests, as well as the traditional final match of the Australian Ashes Series. Since 2008, the New Year's Day Test is called the Pink Test, organized by Glenn McGrath, and named after his late wife, Jane McGrath to raise breast cancer awareness, and on the third day, even if the day's play is rained out, is named Pink Day, or Jane McGrath Day in her honour. The SCG is an emotional ground for Australians for another reason. The SCG was the scene of the tragedy on 25th November 2014, when a bouncer from Sean Abbott of South Africa struck Phillip Hughes's neck,
and he met his doom's day as a result of a "subarachnoid hemorrhage" on 27 November. And for David Warner, who was Hughes's one of the best friends, suits this ground very much. Since 2015, it is the venue where David Warner scored 3 consecutive centuries in Tests (2015–17). But unfortunately, Australia will miss Warner in this Test match as well! 

About the Vanue:

Sydney Cricket Ground is traditionally one of the most spin-friendly international cricket grounds in Australia because the soil and foundation of the ground is primarily Bulli soil from Bulli, New South Wales. 2+2 bowling combination in the team for Test match is the tradition at SCG. But this time Australia wants some furious pace and bounce in the deck like the Perth's pitch. After losing the match at MCG, Australian captain Tim Paine has clearly shown his annoyance with the MCG's slow track in the press conference and indicated that he wants a fast and bouncy track in SCG to throw up the sponge. But if anyone expects a pace-friendly twenty-two yards in the SCG, then he must be in fool's paradise, as you can't change a pitch's character within three or four days. Besides that, Paine and Australia might have to try to misguide the Indian team, as they did it in Perth. India played without a spinner in that Test and missed the trick. Although we can expect a sporting wicket this time which can help all fast bowlers, spinners, and batsmen as well. It's time for India to be well prescient and hit the nail on the head.


Team news - India:

India started the Test series as a favorite but failed to dominate the hosts in the first two Tests. After a close shave win in the first test, India let down its fans by losing the next test match by a massive margin.

But in the Melbourne, India's performance was almost a To-a-Tee. They beat the Aussies in every department at MCG. After winning at MCG, Team India is in full of themselves now. They are in a cool mood and enjoying the New Year. Although right now Virat Kohli's 'bull's eye' is to win the Test series for the first time in the down under.

Probable XI:

Top Order:

In the first two tests when India's opening positions were in macabre, Mayank Agarwal arrived in down under like a bolt from the blue! Mayank's poised knocks in both the innings in his first blush were the answer of all the pin-pricks of Aussie commentators. Mayank's close-in fielding ability is another positive for Team India. Although the opening is still a chink in India's armor as Mayank's partner Vihari looked very much vulnerable to the short ball. To be above board, India should not try KL or Vijay anymore in this series! 


Middle Order:

In number three, Pujara is playing his best overseas tour so far, already scored two match-winning tons. First time in Australia, Pujara is playing his heart out and we- the fans are enjoying his remarkable 'Test Knocks'. And skipper Virat Kohli always makes his every appearance as a blue ribbon performance and there is no doubt about that, he is the spearhead of this Indian batting line-up! He must be disappointed as he missed out a well-deserved century at MCG. Vice Captain Ajinkya Rahane and
Keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant should take more responsibility and should put more values to their wickets. Rishabh should have to work hard with his gloves as well. Although he is gradually becoming famous for his 'chat banter' from behind the stumps! At SCG India will miss Rohit Sharma, owing to the birth of his first offspring. In Rohit's absence, India has an option to include Hardik Pandya in the squad. Otherwise, if India wants to go with two spinners, Ashwin can be another option. India may decide it on the morning of the Test match.


Bowlers:

There's no doubt about India is having the Best Fast-bowling line up of all time now and they are in their heydays. In the year 2018, Indian fast bowlers are given Yeomen's service everywhere in the world. Boom-Boom Bumrah is in per-excellence form and gradually booming as the 'Virat Kohli' of India's bowling line up. He is first Indian fast bowler, who claimed five-wicket-haul in England, South Africa and Australia in the same calendar year (2018). In the country of Lillie-Thompson, Ishant, Shami, and Bumrah bowled superbly throughout in this series, which is a sight for sore eyes for cricket fans! They bowled fast, they bowled fast and furious bouncers at the right directions, they bowled yorkers right, they also used the reverse swing better than Aussie bowlers! From Lillie to Thompson, from Border to Warne, everyone praised Indian fast bowlers, especially to Bumrah. Bumrah will be once again Kohli's triumph card at SCG in this New year's Test match. In the spin department, Jadeja ticked all the boxes in Melbourne. Now it's a big debate that if Ashwin is fit and India want to go with only one spinner, then who should get the chance? One thing is clear that Bhuvi and Kuldeep have to sit out on the bench for one more time!



Team news - Australia:

On the other side, Australia is perturbed at their every department. 2018 was the most disastrous year for the Australian cricket. There is nothing to write home about their batting as their highest scorer is number eight batsman, Pat Cummins in this ongoing series. In the bowling department, their main bowler of the team, Mitchel Stark is looking benign to Indian batsman.

Skipper Tim Paine admitted that they are badly missing the service of Steve Smith and David Warner, as they are currently still serving their bans for the ball-tampering saga. Khawaja and Shaun Marsh somehow looked better than other batsmen in this series, but they have to go beyond their 60s, 70s to help Australia to score at least moderate totals, if not big. There is no doubt that, spending more time on the crease and grind out sessions is the quintessential job for the Aussie batsmen to restrict the batting collapse. Pat Cummins is the only player, looking like 'proper Australian player' in the squad. He is doing everything for his team - a captain could ask for. Aaron Finch and Mitchel Marsh - both are looking queer fish in this Aussie test squad! Former captains Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting have called for out-of-form opener Aaron Finch to be dropped from Australia's playing eleven for the fourth and final Test, and both Waugh and Ponting have predicted the inclusion of leg-spinning all-rounder Marnus Labuschange in the playing eleven. All though, they preferred the same bowling unit of featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. Lyon should be Australia's triumph card at SCG as he already scalped 16 wickets in this series. Australia must be ready to give the final bite and start the year with a win at Sydney.

Australia has a record at home, of not conceding a series to India, so they will be desperate to make the scoreline 2-2 at SCG. It's time to see the mettle of the teams in the final test match. Toss will play an important role once again as fourth innings batting will not be easy for anyone! If Australia won the toss and get a competitive total on the board, then you never know, what would happen next! Because we have seen earlier, India has a bad habit to slip off the grip of the game from the commendable position. So, it's time to enjoy the final ultimate face-off of India and Australia at Sydney Cricket ground from the 3rd day of this new year.


Photo Source: Google

Writer: SOURITRA BANERJEE


Thanks for reading FRONT FOOT BLOG. Keep visiting this blog to get cricket updates and articles. Press the Like button and share this post if you like it. Comment here and say your opinion.

Signing off now. Will come back with the Match review of the SCG test. Keep Watching Cricket!

 Front Foot blog is wishing you a very happy and prosperous New year to all of our viewers. Thank you so much for supporting our blog in last one year. Keep supporting us and enjoy the splendiferous new year!
Stay connected, stay healthy and spread the love. 

 Cheers ✌

© FRONT FOOT

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment