Adelaide Test Preview: Don’t Write Off India

At the risk of sounding bat-shit crazy, I would still assert that India are capable of beating Australia, in the last test at Adelaide, after going three down in as many test matches of the ongoing series. Here’s how I think they can do it:

Step One: Win the toss and put Australia in to bat

The curator of the Adelaide ground has promised — or should I say threatened — to greet the visitors with a fast and bouncy track that will give the fast bowlers more than a little purchase on the first day. The wicket is expected to be at its most batsman friendly, on days two and three. For India, the ideal scenario would be to begin their innings latest by lunch on day two, and proceed to bat Australia out of the match.

Step Two: Get a substantial first innings lead

As improbable as this may sound, India can actually hope to get a sufficiently big lead, if their fast bowlers do their job on day one. Zaheer and Yadav are capable of delivering, with some support from the Indian fielders. Ishant Sharma has been a disappointment. But the fact remains that India don’t have any seam bowling options other than their main bowlers. All their part-timers are “spinners”. Can Sehwag think of dropping Laxman and playing five bowlers, including two spinners? Don’t bet on it.

If India can get the hosts all out for less than 350, it’s match on. But India’s innings will depend hugely on Sehwag’s striking form. With a big innings from Sehwag with supporting roles from Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman, India can dream of a lead of 200-plus on the first innings. With Kohli striking form in the thrid test and Saha replacing the out-of-form Dhoni, this is not as improbable as it may first seem.

Step Three: Exploit fourth and fifth day spin friendly conditions

I don’t expect India to win by an innings but an eight-wicket victory is not out of the realms of possibility. Any doubters should take a look at India’s performance at Adelaide in their last two series. They won here in 2003-04 and Australia were lucky to get away with a draw in 2008. Adelaide offers as close an approximation to Indian conditions, as India can hope for, down under.

 

 

Tags: Australia, Dhoni, Dravid, EPL, India, Preview, Sehwag, Yadav, Zaheer

Category: Australia tour, Cricket