It’s almost here.
Australia vs India, one of modern sport’s greatest rivalries, reignites this Friday with the first Test in Perth — and both nations have a point to prove.
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India has held the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy for nearly a decade, defeating Australia in four consecutive Test series, including historic triumphs in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
However, Rohit Sharma’s men are also fresh off a 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand on home soil, with pundits questioning whether it’s time for India’s experienced stars to hang up the boots.
Meanwhile, there’s precious World Test Championship points on the line, and both nations will be desperate to book their spot in the Lord’s final.
Ahead of the series opener at Perth Stadium, we’ve taken a look at the key battles that could determine who lifts the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this summer.
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JASPRIT BUMRAH VS NATHAN MCSWEENEY
It’s never easy batting against Jasprit Bumrah, but you’d much prefer facing the Indian quick against a worn Kookaburra than a swinging one.
That’s the challenge awaiting Nathan McSweeney ahead of his Test debut – survive Bumrah’s opening burst and set a platform for Australia’s experience middle order.
Opening the batting can be a thankless task – you’re facing the opposition’s best bowlers against a swinging ball with no intel on the pitch conditions. You’ll often encounter an unplayable delivery that sails off your outside edge towards the slips cordon, trudging back the sheds knowing there wasn’t much you could have done to prevent it.
McSweeney, who hadn’t opened the batting at first-class level before this month’s Australia A match at the MCG, has been thrown in the deep end, tasked with nullifying Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj to ensure the Kookaburra’s lost its shine when Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith walk out to bat.
Despite his lack of experience, McSweeney possesses a batting technique that, in the eyes of George Bailey and the national selectors, could get the job done.
He’s batting out of position, a sacrifice that won’t go unnoticed by his teammates, particularly Smith, who has moved back to his preferred position at No. 4, arguably where McSweeney should be batting, after a stint at the top of the order last summer.
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“I looked at a few clips of what their bowling attacking is made up like,” McSweeney told SEN last week.
“Just trying to visualise how I’m going to go about it, and facing new bowlers can be a slight challenge, to just pick up their actions and whatnot.
“There is definitely a lot of work to go, but it’s started … I’m lucky I’ve got a whole week before I head to Perth.
“ (Bumrah) obviously has a unique action, but he’s one of the best bowlers in the world, so it’s going to be hard to mimic that (at training).
“There are certain things I can do at training to try make it similar for me and give me the best preparation, so I’ll tinker with that this week.”
RAVINDRA JADEJA VS MITCHELL MARSH
Despite batting down at No. 6, Marsh was Australia’s leading run-scorer in Tests last summer, rescuing the hosts on several occasions with counterpunching knocks after an early collapse.
Attack is the West Australian’s best form of defence, and he’s capable of winning a Test match in a session – look no further than last summer’s Boxing Day Test for evidence.
However, Marsh’s record against Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja is pretty grim, dismissed four times in 70 deliveries at an average of 2.75. Jadeja dismissed Marsh twice during his most recent Test against India, the 2018 Boxing Day fixture at the MCG.
Capable of spinning the ball away from right-handed batters, Jadeja looms as Marsh’s biggest threat for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while the Australian will also be wary of fellow tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin.
“They’re world-class bowlers,” Marsh said of India’s veteran spin duo.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge, but how much spin will play in Australia, we’ll wait and see.
“They’ve got an outstanding fast bowling attack, but there’s no doubt they’re world-class spinners, and I’ve got a lot of respect for it.
“I’ve grown a lot as a player, and I’ll take a positive mindset towards that battle.”
PAT CUMMINS VS VIRAT KOHLI
At first, it seemed as though Pat Cummins had found his bunny.
The New South Welshman dismissed Virat Kohli twice in his first four deliveries to the Indian superstar, dismissing him for 6 in Ranchi in 2017 and 2 in Adelaide the following year.
Their battles have been less one-sided in the six years since, but Cummins still boasts a phenomenal record against Kohli in Tests, dismissing him five times at an average of 19.20.
Kohli’s endured a worrying form slump over the last few years, but the 36-year-old always seems to produce his finest work on Australian soil – and the hosts will be desperate to avoid a repeat of his golden 2014/15 campaign, when he scored four centuries in four matches.
With six centuries in 13 Tests, Kohli has been the best touring cricketer on Australian shores in a generation, refusing the budge during lengthy stays at the crease.
Meanwhile, Cummins isn’t only the poster boy of Australian cricket – he’s repeatedly stepped up for his country on the big occasions when a breakthrough is needed. Dare we mention last year’s World Cup final in India?
Kohli vs Cummins is this summer’s battle of the heavyweights and promises to be fascinating viewing.
NATHAN LYON VS RISHABH PANT
Four years ago, India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy courtesy of heroic knocks from wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in Sydney and Brisbane.
After helping the tourists clinch a draw from the jaws of defeat at the SCG, the left-hander cracked an unbeaten 89 as India chased an unlikely target at the Gabba fortress.
Pant had been dismissed by rival spinner Nathan Lyon on four occasions during the 2018/19 Test tour of Australia, but the left-hander had no such concerns in 2020/21 — and Lyon will be desperate to make amends this summer.
Since the start of 2019, Pant has averaged 158.00 against Lyon in Tests. Much like Travis Head or Mitchell Marsh, the gloveman only needs a couple of hours at the crease to swing momentum back in India’s favour.
Having failed to do so four years ago, Lyon will be responsible for halting Pant’s counterpunch before it snowballs into another Gabba masterclass.
“I’m not afraid of getting hit for a six,” Lyon said last month.
“The challenge is that I can provide the batters and try and keep someone like Rishabh in his crease and potentially try and get him to defend me a lot more … and, hopefully, bring a couple of chances along the way.”
