There’s incredible excitement and anticipation building as the top two Test nations – Australia and India – get set to renew their hostilities in four Tests and three one-day internationals. The cricketing world has its eyes focused on a series that has in recent years overtaken the Ashes – the clash between Australia and England – that had previously held the top spot.
It’s now the Border-Gavaskar Trophy named after two greats – Aussie skipper Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar – that have given cricket fans the best and most exhilarating moments. But one cannot forget one other series that grabs the world’s attention. It’s the confrontation on the field between neighbouring India-Pakistan, a rivalry that is by far the most intense in the world. Of course, the tense relationship emerged following the partition of British India into Pakistan and India in 1947 and the two nuclear countries have gone to war on two occasions.
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But come Thursday all eyes will be centred on Nagpur where the Aussies under the leadership of fast bowler Pat Cummins face an uphill task of winning a Test series on Indian soil for the first time in 19 years. Australia’s senior citizens Steven Smith and David Warner admit winning in India is bigger than winning the Ashes. “I think if you win in India, it is bigger than an Ashes series,” Smith told cricket.com.au.
Warner said he is looking forward to playing against the best spinners in the world. “Being a part of the last Ashes was fantastic but to go to India and beat India in India is the toughest challenge in Test cricket for us.”
Cummins, who is riding the crest of a wave after leading his squad to victories in recent internationals, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues. “Winning a series in India is like an Ashes away series [win] but even more rare. It will be a career highlight, an era-defining series if we win out there.”
India, who will be led by opening batsman Rohit Sharma, will be minus their best bowlers but both countries have a plethora of riches for replacements. Ace fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will miss the Nagpur Test but should be back in the mix for the second one scheduled for New Delhi on Feb. 17. Expect the burly and accurate Scott Boland to get his first overseas start overseas and then there is lightning-fast Lance Morris who will also likely make his first start on foreign soil. The other injured star but on the mend is all-rounder Cameron Smith but the Aussies may decide to let him warm the bench until the second Test. One man Cummins will depend highly on to break through the Indian batting lineup will be Nathan Lyon who is among the world’s finest spinners. He will likely be paired with either Todd Murphy, Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson. The other alternative would be to stick with three pacers and toss the ball to part-timers Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.
Local eyes will be on Sharma who will be leading the team for only the second time since he assumed the captaincy from Virat Kohli a year ago. Injuries have sidelined him but he will be looking at this series to make an impact. He will be chasing a series win that will lift India into the World Test Championship final to be played in June. India has a well-balanced squad but will miss star pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. But India has Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami all ready to replace him. India will certainly go with two world-class spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja if he gets the nod following an injury. In case Jadeja isn’t given the green light India has another world-beater in Axar Patel. On the batting side, India will miss the bat of Rishabh Pant who has been sidelined following a serious car crash but can rely on run-scoring machine Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and K.L. Rahul to blunt the Aussie attack. A fascinating series awaits.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
The last name sounds familiar. It does because Tagenarine Chanderpaul is the son of former West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The 26-year-old left-hander hammered an unbeaten double century in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday. Chanderpaul and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite piled on a West Indies record of 366 runs for the first wicket and the visitors declared on 447 for six. In a Test that’s headed for a draw because of being disrupted by rain, the two surpassed the previous best of 298 posted by that great West Indies pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes against England in 1990. Braithwaite fell for 182 and Chanderpaul finished on an unbeaten 207 in only his third Test. Zimbabwe fought back bravely and declared at 379 for nine thanks to an unbeaten 137 by Gary Ballance. Opener Innocent Kaia made 67 and star all-rounder Brandon Mavuta struck 56 and also collected five wickets.
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