1st Test Preview: Can Bumrah-led India ace the Perth challenge?
The Indian cricket team will take on Australia in the first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar series, starting on November 22. The match will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Notably, both teams are eyeing a place in the World Test Championship final. The contest will start at 7:50am IST and 10:20am local time. Here is the match preview.
Pitch report and streaming details
Pace and bounce remain the constant attributes of the surfaces in Perth. In four Tests (hosted by this venue), the average first-innings score has been 456. Notably, the Western Australia Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald recently said, "I'm setting ourselves up for really good pace, really good bounce, and really good carry." The match will be telecast live on DD Sports and Star Sports Network and live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app.
India's performance and team composition
Team India is going through a rough patch, having lost their first home Test series in 12 years to New Zealand. Although they won their last two tours Down Under (2018-19 and 2020-21), recent form puts the chances of the world's No.1 team in doubt. Notably, the Indian squad for the first game will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, with Rohit Sharma (personal reasons) and Shubman Gill (injury) unavailable.
Australia's squad and key battles
Pat Cummins will lead the Australian side in the first game. The Optus Stadium's pace, bounce, and seam movement could work in Mitchell Starc's favor against India's openers. Starc's battle with India's young star Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to be the match's highlight. Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who is set to open with Jaiswal, has a tough task ahead of him, given his recent form.
Key players and weather forecast
Cummins will be a threat on Perth's fast and bouncy wicket, especially against Virat Kohli early on in his innings. Jasprit Bumrah's contest with Australia's middle order is also expected to be crucial considering his impressive record against Australia. Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the match day is clear and no disruptions are anticipated due to bad weather.
H2H record: India have won nine matches Down Under
As per ESPNcricinfo, the two teams have met each other on 107 occasions in the longest format. India have claimed 32 wins with the Aussies winning 45 matches. 29 matches have been drawn with a solitary contest ending in a tie. On Aussie soil, India have won nine matches from 52 attempts, losing 30 and drawing 13.
Here are the probable XIs
India (probable XIs): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja/ Ravichandran Ashwin, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep. Australia (probable XIs): Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Here are the key performers
In 13 Tests on Australian soil, Kohli has scored 1,352 runs at 54.08 (HS: 169). 152 of Cummins's scalps have come at home at 19.69. Meanwhile, Starc has 217 scalps in 50 home Test matches at 26.28. Bumrah boasts 113 wickets across 26 SENA Tests at 23.28. The tally includes six five-wicket hauls. Nathan Lyon has claimed 259 wickets in 67 home Tests at 30.88.
