The tour until now is levelled with Australia winnings the ODI series and India clinching the T20I series as now the focus shifts toward the much-awaited four-match Test series. The first Test match of the series will be the maiden pink-ball Test between India and Australia.
Adelaide will host the historic Test match, which is scheduled to begin on December 17. The host Australia has been undefeatable in the day-night Test match in this venue. But they will be missing their massive batting contributor David Warner, who has been ruled out of the first Test as he is still recovering from a groin injury. Will Pucovski, who was seen as his potential replacement, sustained a concussion during the first warm-up game.
With a series of injuries, Australia’s top-order is tender but they have a strong bowling line up with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.
Here, let’s take a look at Australia’s playing XI
Joe Burns:
Joe Burns is under immense pressure due to his but Australia is firm to go with him for being the opener in the four-match Test series. In the two warm-up games, he was out for duck two times while scored overall five runs in four innings. However, Australia’s head coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine have backed the out-of-form Burns to remain at his spot in the playing XI.
Matthew Wade:
Matthew Wade has never opened the innings in the first-class before but he is likely to promote to this position in the Adelaide Test. Ahead of the Test, Tim Paine has hinted that the wicketkeeper can be the opening partner of Joe Burn.
The wicketkeeper-batsman also didn’t feature in the last India tour. So, it will be interesting to see whether the all-knew opening combination works for the host or not.
Marnus Labuschagne:
Marnus Labuschange will also play the first Test series against India. He was not present in the squad when India won the maiden Test series in Australia.
The right-hand batsman rose through the ranks after his debut in the Ashes series. He entered in the playing XI as the concussion substitute of Steve Smith but went on to gain a permanent spot. Called as weird by his teammates, he is the second batting mainstay of Australia after Smith.
Steve Smith:
Steve Smith has returned to Australia to bring back the coveted Test trophy. India won the maiden Test series in Australia in absence of him. The unorthodox-batsman was serving a one-year ban after being found guilty of ball-tampering during the Cape Town Test match in 2018.
The comeback of the highest scorer of the Ashes series is undoubtedly a big boost for Australia in the series.
Travis Head:
Travis Head was the second-highest scorer for Australia in the 2018-19 Test series, scoring 237 runs in four innings. He also featured in the first warm-up game but he could not get runs to prove his case. However, seeing his stint in the Sheffield Shield where he scored back to back centuries, he is likely to be given priority.
Cameron Green:
Cameron Green was ruled out of the second warm-up game after Jasprit Bumrah’s straight shot hit the side of his head. He went out of the field and didn’t come back either to bowl or bat. But his concussion is said to be better and is likely to make his Test debut in Adelaide.
The young fast-bowling allrounder offers a fifth bowling option and Tim Pain has also sung his praise during the pre-match conference. Thus, he is expected to be in the eleven.
Tim Paine (C&WK):
Tim Paine’s captaincy has improved since 2018 but his batting performance is still the cause of concern. The skipper has zero Test century in 31 matches played. If he is unable to get runs in this series, Australia might look to drop him. Thus, this is an all-important series for Tim Paine as a batsman.
Nathan Lyon:
The Test specialist spinner Nathan Lyon, who is 10 short to 400 Test wickets, has especially good records against India in the home soil. He has picked up 51 wickets in 11 Test matches played in Australia. But the spinner hasn’t played a Test since January and neither featured in the warm-up games. There are concerns over will be match ready for this series.
Mitchell Starc:
Mitchell Starc had left the T20I series in between to deal with his personal problem. Reportedly, he was given permission due to some unspecified illness in his family. However, the left-arm pacer has returned to join the Test squad.
Starc is the highest wicket-taker in the short-history of the pink ball. He is surely the dangerman for India.
Pat Cummins:
Pat Cummins was also rested after playing the first two ODIs against India. He also didn’t feature in the T20I series to focus on the four-match Test series. He shares a fierce battle with Virat Kohli, who will only feature in the first Test. So, it will be interesting to see who will have the upper hand in the Adelaide Test.
Josh Hazlewood:
Josh Hazlewood is in some form. He got the better of captain Kohli in the ODI series, picking his wicket on all three occasions. Due to injury, he featured only the first T20I but the pacer has recovered his fitness and will be raring to go against India, who will be looking to retain the trophy.