As we all know, India will be touring Australia towards the end of this year. How to win the series in Australia only for the second time in the history of Indian cricket? This is something that is there in the minds of every Indian. The last time when we toured Australia, we won that series two games to one. Having said that, this time the series will be much more tougher. Not only because Smith & Warner are back but also because of the runs scored by Marnus Labuschagne. Now, Australia feels that they have 3 high quality batsmen with capable support from Head and Wade. Remember, the Aussies still have the same set of bowlers against whom we played a couple of years ago.
Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood & Lyon will be much more dangerous this time around. Cummins & Starc have gained experience and have bowled better during the interim period but the main reason is that all the 4 bowlers have gained enormous amount of confidence because of the runs scored by their batsmen over the last couple of years. This is what the Indian team will have to play against. With the advent of technology, everyone knows about the skills of the opponent players but confidence is something that is intangible and to measure that is very difficult.
Inorder to counter Australia, the Indian team will have to do certain things perfectly.
Adequate practice games before the first test
In the past, Indian teams are notorious for not playing adequate number of games before the first test. Leave alone the fact that the team have not played enough games, there were tours were we did not play even a single practice game before the first test. Remember the tour to South Africa a couple of years back? The team played one practice game (it should not be called a practice game) and went onto promptly lose the first couple of tests and thereby the series.
Not only have the team not played enough games but the team is also guilty of not taking these games seriously. Whenever the team has played a practice game, it was always considered the game to be worse than an exhibition game. 15 players can bat, 11 bowlers can bowl etc etc. When a game is played in such a fashion, it loses all kinds of respectability. Such games are not taken seriously and as a result, neither does the batsmen get adequate game time nor does the bowlers get to understand where to bowl, what length and which line is required to bowl in alien conditions.
This Indian team is so arrogant that they seem to think that all they have to do is they will have to travel to the test ground and they will perform well. This is such a flawed thinking which have often resulted in humiliation. The last 3 series to England, we lost 4-0, 3-1 & 4-1 and we have lost all the series in South Africa. The last couple of tours to New Zealand was a disaster as well. Except for the Smith-less Australian tour, we were annihilated in every series in Australia.
Practice games are very important
A good number of practice games does have its benefits. England always have ensured that they play sufficient number of side games. A few years back, they played 3 proper first class games and won the series in India. Similarly, they played 3 games before the first test in Australia and won the series in 2011.
With the pandemic induced slowdown, I don’t see anyone visiting India or we travelling anywhere. This must give the team adequate time for planning and preparing. I propose to land in Australia atleast 5 weeks in advance. The first 10 days will be spent only practice sessions, strategy, getting use to the changed time and weather. Next 20 days, 3 proper 11 a side, 4 day games will be played with the local Australian teams. The last 5 days, only rest and think about the first test. I am not saying that if this method is followed, it will definitely result in success but it will definitely improve our chances of winning the first test and possibly the series.
Good team selection
The importance of a balanced playing eleven cannot be overstated. There are certain players who are automatically selected and a few others who may not be automatic. Australia is a country where we have traditionally struggled quite a lot. Hence, a good team is not only basic but it is essential.
The team must consist of 2 proper openers followed by 4 middle order batsmen, a keeper and 4 bowlers.
Who are the contenders for opening the innings?
Rohit Sharma, Prithvi Shaw & Mayank Agarwal
I will have Mayank Agarwal as one of the opener because the last time he made his debut in Australia, he did reasonably well. Also, he went onto score 3 hundreds including a couple of double in a short career. He deserves a longer run.
I will have Rohit Sharma as his partner because Prithvi Shaw seems to be having quite a lot of technical shortcomings. His struggle in the tour of New Zealand was pretty horrible. He is young and has time on his side. He can really be a good test opener for the team. Rohit seems to be playing the best cricket of his life coupled with the good aggressive innings in the first test last time around which proved vital. It certainly helped India win that test eventhough it was only a half-century. He will have to play over Prithvi Shaw.
As for the middle order, wicket keeper and the bowlers, I will write about them in part two.