In many ways, Australia’s tour of India – which starts tomorrow in Bangalore with the First Test – represents a watershed for the boys wearing the Baggy Green. Because, for the first time since the tour to India in February 1998 – yes, more than a decade ago – the Australians will go into a series as underdogs.
TAB Sportsbet has listed India as favourites at $2, and Australia $2.85 outsiders, for the four-Test series. Lasseters Sportsbook has tipped a slightly more even contest, quoting the Indians at $2.10 and Australia $2.70.
Not since Mark Taylor’s squad travelled to the sub-continent in 1998 without Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie – and the bowling stocks were bolstered by the unremarkable trio of Adam Dale, Paul Wilson and Gavin Robertson, who all made their Test debuts – have the Australians been the underdog. Before that, it was during the 1995 West Indies tour.
So most Australians in the current team will have not known a time when they were not the raging favourites. And the mantle of schoolyard bully is one that some have worn comfortably. It will be interesting to see how they fare in the foreign, sometimes-hostile arenas of India, without their go-to men Warne and McGrath.
The odds reflect the recent upheaval in the team. Warne, McGrath and now Gilchrist are gone. Symonds has been given the heave-ho, Clarke is feeling unwell and a spate of injuries have reduced the spin-bowling stocks to a rump. Neither of the available spinners, Cameron White nor Jason Krejza, has played a Test Match before, let alone one in India, the most searching examination for any bowler.
Ricky Ponting’s travails in India – and against Harbhajan Singh – have been well documented, and they have contributed to the bookies’ unease about Australia’s chances. Normally before any series, they automatically mark him up as the batsman favoured to score Most Runs. This time, such is his record in India (where he has fallen to Indian spinners in 13 of his 14 innings since 1996), Ponting is listed as equal fourth favourite behind Hayden, Sehwag and Tendulkar.
India is not without its problems, too. And they revolve around the age of their four great batsmen, VVS Laxman (33), Sourav Ganguly (36) and Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (35), not to mention their captain Anil Kumble who turns 38 this month. The local press will be unforgiving if this aged quartet, and especially Ganguly, fails to deliver.
Ponting has already indicated he plans to expose their lack of agility in the field with quick running between wickets. And he has a point: that is an awful lot of creaking bodies to be trying to hide in the field.
The batting line-ups of both sides look strong. It is the bowling attacks which will decide the series.
Australia’s chances of defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy rest with its pacemen: Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson, who will work from the successful 2004 blueprint of attacking the stumps and setting more defensive fields. The Indians have a clear advantage with their spinners, Kumble, Singh and the part-time offie, Sehwag.
I’m loathe to contradict the bookies – no good generally comes of such cavalier behaviour – but I think the Australians can cause an upset. If Ponting can produce a half-decent series, and the other batsmen led by Hayden and Clarke can keep out the spinners, I’m tipping the three Aussie quicks – with Clark to be leading wicket-taker – can lead the visitors to a memorable series win.
13 Comments
I predict a thumping for the Aussies. Our pace bowlers will struggle in those conditions. I’m surprised at the lack of “Bring back Warnie” headlines across Australian papoers this week.
It will still be compulsive viewing though…
leapster,
when you say ”a thumping for the aussies”, do you mean they’ll be thumped or they’ll do the thumping?
I think they’ll get thumped — unfortunately.
Happy to be proved wrong though…
And as a parochial Sandgroper I’d love for Shaun Marsh to make the team but I don’t think he’s in the touring party.
It’s weird watching a Test series without half a dozen West Aussies in the team…
Adam Dale! Golden days.
Apparently this wicket is like the Gabba and the Aussie pace bowlers are chomping at the bit. India has a poor record at Bangalore but I think whoever wins the toss will win if they choose to bat. The pitch will be a batsmen paradise for the first few days before it starts turning. Having said that the weather will play a big part, the ball will probably swing around a bit.
So, what’s your prediction, Australia Votes? Are you a doomsayer like Leigh (and the bookmakers), or slightly more upbeat about the chances of Ponto’s boys in the Baggy Green?
The Indians might be old, but they have the biggest home ground/country advantage of any team arguably in world sport. 2-1 series win to the Indians.
Just had a quick look at cricinfo ahead of the first delivery. It says:
” … the visitors will like the fact that the venue for the opener is the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, a ground that has brought Australia plenty of success and the home team lots of disappointments. Australia have an unblemished record here, winning their last two Tests – in 1998 and 2004 – and drawing the first.”
The first test could well be the one the Aussies win.
Even though Hayden got out for a duck I say Australia will still win. Michael Clarke seems to always play well against India. Australians on debut normally seem to do well so we might seem Cameron White come into his own here.
When I said that Hayden (and Clarke) needed to keep out the spinners, I just kind of assumed that he’d see off the quicks first ….
I’m glad they didn’t pick that drug guy. White couldn’t turn the ball with a steering wheel (actually, probably no one could) but by god he can hit the thing.
And I’m pleased for Punter that he got a ton over there. Even though he’s a prick.
Bring back Dougie.
Johnson on fire now. 2 quick wickets, India are reeling at 3/94
Kiwis in trouble against the Bangers again – 4/73 off 25 overs.
Yeah but Daniel Vettori is the Love God of cricket. Wish he’d grow his hair long again.