Australia in India 2013: Second Test Preview

India enjoy a 1-0 lead in the series on the back of their win in the first test at Chennai but the memory of their experience against England would suffice to make them wary of complacency. England went on to win that series after succumbing to the Indian spinners in the first test match much like the Australians have done.

The Australians would want to take a look at their team composition after having gone into the first test a spinner short. Their batting was another worrisome factor with a manifest inability to play spin displayed by some players.

India have their own batting woes – at the top of the order. Vijay failed in both innings at Chennai and that could pave the way for Gautam to play his first test match at Hyderabad. Sehwag has been consistently inconsistent for fairly long duration and the selectors’ patients must be wearing thin (if it’s not been completely eroded).

The bowling stood up to be counted at Chennai with Ashwin the pick of the bowlers. Jadeja underscored his all-round credentials and though Harbhajan finally had two wickets to show for his efforts, Ojha could replace him in the second test. Sharma and Bhuvaneswar Kumar did not have much to do at Chennai bt are expected to be persevered with.

Australia could replace Phil Hughes with Usman Khawaja or either Steven Smith or Maxwell, to give themselves another spin option. Xavier Doherty looks likely to replace Starc to give the side yet another spin bowling choice.

But with the Hyderabad wicket likely to offer more bounce, Australia might be better served going with three seamers. As ever, the team winning the toss is likely to bat first and if that happens to be Dhoni, Australia could be looking at an indian first innings score in excess of 500.

Tags: Australia, Dhoni, England, EPL, India, Preview, Sehwag

Category: Australia tour, Cricket