While Pant has been sidelined for most of the year as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident, Indian rhythm spearhead Bumrah does not feature in India’s squad for the first two tests due to a back injury.
“Australia can win this series. India are more vulnerable at home than they have been for some time due to injuries to key players like Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah. They will rely strongly on Virat Kohli”, Chappell wrote in an opinion piece for ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.
Ravindra Jadeja, who recovered from a knee injury and made a return to the Ranji Trophy last month, is part of India’s squad for the Test series which kicks off in Nagpur on Thursday.
“Visiting teams are often fooled by a game that seems to go nowhere but suddenly changes at breakneck speed. The Indians are used to this so Australia will have to adapt quickly with the mind, the bat and the ball,” said the former India manager. .
Finger spinner Ashton Agar, who is the only Australian left-arm tweaker in the squad, should be preferred to partner Nathan Lyon on the corner tracks, Chappell said.
“If the throws favor rotation, which is more likely, I would expect Ashton Agar to get the nod as finger rotation is considered more accurate,” said Chappell, 74, who scored 7110 points on 87 tests with an impressive average. of 53.86 between 1970 and 1984.
“Anil Kumble, who took 619 wickets in Test cricket, rarely strayed from the straight and narrow. His stock of trade was fast, flat leg breaks that always threatened the stumps. The batters knew that if they missed, they were in trouble.Jadeja’s stock in the trade is also infallible.
“Agar must emulate their roles. A leak from a bowler will make the difference in a tight competition.”
Recalling his conversation with Erapalli Prasanna, he wrote that the Indian legend would spin the ball hard, often try to hit the batter on the pads, make him think of the spinning ball, then trap him in the crease with a ball LAW.
“The line, he (Prasanna) said, was optional, the length was mandatory. He explained to me that he would lay the seam a little flatter than for the traditional spinner, then give a higher number spins on the ball that would make the ball drift like a spinner but, once it landed on the leather, it skidded with the arm giving the impression that it had gone “the other way”.
“As the leader of the spin attack, Nathan Lyon will have to pull pages from his book and lead the way.”
Chappell, however, said Australia would also have some issues to deal with.
“David Warner is in patchy form and needs to improve his test record in India; Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Travis head and Cameron Green will be tested against higher quality rotation than that encountered in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“Marcus Labuschagne will face his first big test in the subcontinent; and Steve Smith’s recent batting adjustments will be scrutinized more closely than against the West Indies, South Africa and in the BBL,” he said. writing.
The series will be like a “final frontier” for the No. 1 Test team led by Pat Cummins who have been on a roll after the point guard took over from Tim Paine.
Australia have had a great run recently, winning the Ashes and then the series against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa. They will be looking for their first series victory in India in 19 years.
On their last tour of India in 2017, they started with a big Pune Test win but then lost the series 1-2. India, on the other hand, have not lost at home in over a decade and have a record 15 series winning streak.
“Australians will need to harness every ounce of their talent and experience over the next month to succeed. India is no longer the mystery it once was. Touring is more regular and the IPL provides valuable exposure .
“Attrition weighs heavily on tour teams. If India enters the contest on day five, they will win,” Chappell said.
And the practice continues….#INDvAUS https://t.co/qwRUSxcLBY https://t.co/5mECrOjWiG
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1675421650000
The former captain said the key for Australia would be to take wickets at regular intervals.
“Delhi and Dharamshala will be a stronghold for India. Nagpur is a red ground pitch where the stick is best on the first three days unless they produce a raging returner. In Ahmedabad there are red ground pitches. red and black ground and the state of the series will dictate what India orders.
“To win Australia need to get wickets with the new ball. As the ball gets softer they need to play sparingly and then reverse the old ball. Spin is more of a weapon in India than ‘in Australia, but we still have to play our top four bowlers plus Cameron Green.”
Comparing the Indo-Australian battle to a game of chess, the Australian legend quoted Austrian chess player Rudolf Spielmann who said “Play the opening like a book, the middle game like a magician and the end like a machine”.
“I have seen a lot of testing in India and it is as much a battle of the mind as it is of physical skill. What works in India is not guaranteed to work elsewhere. Winning in India takes courage, planning , patience and perseverance,” said Chappell.
(With PTI inputs)
