India vs. Australia – Match preview of Mohali Test
India and Australia are all set to face each other at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali in the opening Test of the two-match series. Australia will step in the PCA Stadium ranked No. 4 among Test teams to play against Dhoni’s men, who are enjoying
the top spot in the list.
The Kangaroos have the prospects to improve their Test ranking by winning the series as the series win would earn them a place ahead of world No. 3 Sri Lanka. But a vice-versa result would drag the mighty Aussies to fifth position, a place just behind their
Ashes rivals England. In the eventuality of such a result, Ponting and his men would have to begin November’s Ashes series ranked lower than Strauss’s side that has just wrapped a victorious summer.
Both Australia and India have so far played 76 Test matches against each other, home and away, with the former winning 34 while the latter sealed 18 of them. 23 Tests finished without reaching a result. Off the total 18, India has won 13 at home while only
three away, as compared to Australia’s 22 home and 12 away wins.
Two years ago, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 had visited India to play the home side in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Kangaroos were sent back home after a humiliating 2-0 whitewash. This is the time for the visitors to avenge themselves by grabbing the series, though
much has changed since then.
At that time, Australia had started the tour at top of the list while the hosts were No. 3. But now, the Men in Blue are enjoying the No. 1 place while Australia is struggling at fourth position.
The home side has not lost a Test series for the last two years and despite leveling its last two Tests against No. 3 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, its batting line-up has so much potential that Australia will have to work very hard for victory.
India’s track record at Mohali is quite sound. The side after playing nine Tests at PCA Stadium has won thrice, lost only once, while five of its Test matches were drawn.
Australia can dream about http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s second defeat at Mohali but the Men in Blue are undoubtedly the favourites in the first Test. Only the Australian bowlers can make the dream come true for the visitors but the question is can Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus,
Hauritz and Bollinger claim 20 wickets?
Harbhajan Singh’s ankle sprain has cast a cloud over India’s prospects of having their first-choice spin attack back in action. 30-year old off-spinner had been struggling against fitness issues in Sri Lanka as well.
The final decision about Harbhajan’s inclusion would be taken on Friday morning. If he failed to make the cut, it would be a serious blow to India’s plans of sealing a win in the first Test.
Harbhajan’s absence in tomorrow’s game would open a door for Pragyan Ojha to spearhead the spin attack. The seam friendly track of Mohali would favour Sreesanth ahead of leg-spinner Amit Mishra.
Coming to the batting line-up of India, Cheteshwar Pujara and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Vijay-c1867 are likely to make the sidelines in the opening test of the two-match series.
Doug Bollinger and Michael Hussey, who have recently returned from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 after a successful T20 Champions League, are expected to make the playing XI of Australia tomorrow.
However, the final decision would be taken after a strict screening of them and how well both the players train after joining the team at the last moments.
The only change expected in the squad that lost against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at Leeds in July is Nathan Hauritz’s inclusion, who is all set to join the side after recovering from a foot injury. However, the inclusion of Hauritz into the squad would make Steven Smith
sit out.
The pitch at Mohali is anticipated to play a bit slower than usual due to the weather. A bit of a damp track might offer a bit of skid for the pacers and this is the reason that the visitors are likely to play with only one specialist spinner. But these
are all predictions. Let’s see how the wicket plays tomorrow.
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