We are back where we started with the level of the series and two teams with promises and failures that face each other again on a legendary grass. The cricket has been compelling, sometimes unpredictable. There has even been a bit of tension between the players. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is dangerously close to classic territory. Imagine if it was 2-2 heading into Sydney.
Some of the bowling on display (Harshit Rana taking out Travis Head’s off-stump in Perth, Pat Cummins returning the favor against Rohit Sharma in Adelaide, Jasprit Bumrah every time he runs) has been dreamlike. So you can’t blame the Gabba for watching them. One day, the field still retains a green tint.
An average of 18.65 runs per wicket in the first innings, 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 the bowling from both teams. attacks, but also a little about the conditions and the fragility of the batting.
Australia are playing a new opening match and their two most reliable run-scorers are not operating 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 openers) have been more down than up. The last three are in their mid-30s, so their form requires further scrutiny, plus the surprise that these high-profile players have yet to really influence 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 meet. In 2017, Australia took the lead and India counterattacked. The same is true in 2021. In 2018 and 2023, India took the lead and Australia counterattacked. This tells you that there is not much separating these sides. Australia’s victory in Indore last year and India’s victory in Perth two weeks ago exceeded expectations and there is bound to be more thrills and excitement as these two hit the festive season.
forms guide
Australia: WLWWL (last five matches completed, most recent first) India: LWLLL
In the spotlight
Steve Smith He has 19 runs in two Tests. His last hundred was 24 innings ago. But there was a 91 that wasn’t there, at the Gabba, which he presented as proof that opening the batting for Australia wasn’t really the worst idea. Back at number 4, due to popular demand, he has had some problems starting his innings, problems he used to avoid, such as winning lbw.
RISHABH PANTS He continues doing Rishabh Pant stuff. In Adelaide, with India three down in the 15th over, he ran out of the box and skinned Scott Boland for cover. He was also seen at Rundle Shopping Centre, postponing his shopping to play hide-and-seek with a young child. He now stands at the scene of his greatest triumph as a cricketer after his greatest triumph as a person.
Team News: Will Rohit move up the order again?
India could be considering changes, particularly around the composition of its top order. Is Rohit coming back up to open again? Do you feel like your old self again? There were positive signs in the nets on Thursday where almost all the batsmen, especially Kohli and Shubman Gill, were improving their back-foot game.
Akash Deep was India’s third fast bowler during the home season and made way for a better batsman in Perth. The team no longer considers its depth to be a major concern, so Harshit Rana could find his way back to the bench. Washington Sundar could also be putting pressure on R Ashwin for a place in the XI.
Australia have lost two of their last four Tests here, after not losing anything in 32 years. However, there was a pattern to those two losses. Both took place at the end of the season, in January. In between, there was a Test against South Africa in December 2022, which ended in two days and was a feast for fast bowlers. And also one against England in December 2021 which ended in a nine-wicket win for Australia. Early season cricket here is suited to fast bowlers, a likelihood further increased by the forecast of rain during the course of the Test.
“[Yesterday it] It looked like a good ground, as it has been in recent years,” Cummins said. “It’s had a bit of sun the last few days, I don’t think it’s as green and lush as it was against South Africa.”
Statistics and curiosities
Jasprit Bumrah is averaging 11.25 runs per wicket in this series. The next best for India is Mohammed Siraj with 19.77, but then the gap widens.
Travis Head is averaging 80 and a surprising 94 in this series. The next best for Australia is Alex Carey with 24 and 59.5. The hosts will have some catching up to do.
Pat Cummins has an outstanding 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 he looks really uncomfortable or likely to take wickets, maybe it becomes a Plan A for some of the batsmen. I’m sure “I’ll try it at some point during this test.” Pat Cummins on the use of the short ball against Indian batsmen
.png?width=1200&height=630&fit=crop&enable=upscale&auto=webp&w=218&resize=218,150&ssl=1 "Catly developer denies using generative AI or blockchain technology in its open-world cat game")
