India vs Australia 2014: First Test Fantasy Preview | 9th December 2014
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Monday, 8 December 2014 By Unknown
Adelaide: The usually aggressive build-up has turned poignant owing to Phillip Hughes' tragic death but the on-field face-off is unlikely to be anything less than high-voltage when India and Australia compete in the opening cricket Test of a four-match series, starting here on Tuesday.
More than two weeks after landing here, India will finally get down to serious competition with Virat Kohli leading the side in place of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is still recovering from a hairline fracture in his right thumb.
Indians are also dealing with uncertainty surrounding medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar even as Australian skipper Michael Clarke was declared fit for the game.
The visitors will be hoping to reverse their last Test series' result in this country, when under Dhoni they had lost 4-0 in 2011-12. However, that thought will not be at the forefront when the match begins on Tuesday.
For the visitors, this has been a long tour already, waiting two weeks for some high-voltage cricket to get underway.
They started off with a practice game at the Glenelg Oval, waited patiently as Australia grieved, practiced some more and then got into Test mode with another tour-game again in suburban Adelaide.
While their colleague's demise ought to have affected them, the Indian team hasn't made their emotions too visible, keeping a game-face at all times.
And for good reason, because India's Test fortunes have been worrisome off late. The team is currently languishing at sixth in the ICC Test rankings and this is a proper reflection of their results in the last 12 months in this longest format.
They beat West Indies at home in autumn of 2013, but after that, have lost 1-0 in South Africa and New Zealand.
Thereafter, this past summer, they lost 3-1 in England.
For the first time in living memory, India haven't played a home Test in a calendar year. While this factor must be taken into consideration, their slow progress overseas cannot be denied. For a young team, this year has been about taking small steps and gaining experience.
On each of the last three tours, the touring side was mostly unfamiliar with playing conditions in Africa, New Zealand and England, as only a handful squad members had played Test cricket in these countries previously.
This Australian tour is quite different in that respect.
With Kumar a doubt, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Mohammad Shami will be the first-choice combination. Among the spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin will be prime contenders, and it is highly unlikely that leg-spinner Karn Sharma will be handed a Test debut in the lone spinner role.
The Adelaide Oval wicket is a drop-in pitch and while it is expected to have nice bounce and carry throughout, it is not expected to deteriorate too much as the Test goes on. It has been an unusual build-up to a highly anticipated series.
Australia Confirmed 11 : Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.
India Probable 11 : M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami.
Fantasy Dream 11 : David Warner, M Vijay, Virat Kohli, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Wriddiman Saha (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami
Captain choice : Either Clarke, Kohli, Watson.
Vice Captain : Steven Smith, Johnson or Warner.
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