Shane Warne takes a close look at the players who will battle it out at Adelaide Oval in the first Test
Who’s Mr Dependable, who’s Mr Underrated and who’ll dominate? Australian great Shane Warne runs the rule over the two teams ahead of Thursday’s first Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide.
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Shane Warne runs the rule over the Australian and Indian cricket teams ahead of the first Test in Adelaide starting on Thursday.
AUSTRALIA
Tim Paine (c)
Wicketkeeper/batsman
Age: 33
Experienced player now captain, very solid behind the stumps, pretty good tactically but needs to make some valuable lower order runs in this series.
Josh Hazlewood
Fast bowler
Age: 27
Has become Mr Dependable in the Australian side, now vice captain, has a big role to play taking the new ball. To me he’s at his best when he’s steaming in hard and bowling fast.
Mitch Marsh
All-rounder
Age: 27
Obviously a very talented and capable all-round cricketer who has lacked a bit of consistency and recent form has struggled. Must go back and dominate in the Shield to force his way back into the side.
Pat Cummins
Fast bowler
Age: 25
Mr Under-rated for me. I think he’s a superstar, got a huge heart, and always takes the big wicket. Is the go-to man and expect another great series from him.
Aaron Finch
Batsman
Age: 32
Opening the batting in white-ball cricket he has dominated, let’s hope he brings the same flair, imagination and skill to the top of the order in Test match cricket. If he gets a big score early, expect a huge series. Also has a wonderful temperament.
Peter Handscomb
Batsman
Age: 27
Has started to find some form again and has got the nod for the first Test ahead of Mitch Marsh. Hopefully can take that form into the series and cement a place in the team.
Marcus Harris
Batsman
Age: 26
Lot of talk about Marcus, that he’s a mixture between David Warner and Matthew Hayden so his aggression at the top with Aaron Finch will be great to watch. He’ll be nervous but let’s hope he grabs the opportunity with both hands.
Travis Head
Batsman
Age: 24
Has shown he’s more than capable at this level, it’s now time for him to take the next step and be a valuable middle-order player to this Australian team. The hometown boy would like to deliver a hundred in his first Test on Australian soil. Dreams are free.
Usman Khawaja
Batsman
Age: 31
A very talented player and probably Australia’s best in this current line up. So expectation and responsibility are big on his shoulders and batting at the crucial position of No.3.
Nathan Lyon
Off-spin bowler
Age: 31
One of the best spinners in the world, loves bowling here in Adelaide and has success against the Indians. So I would be expecting Lyon to dominate again.
Shaun Marsh
Batsman
Age: 35
Another player with a lot of talent and to me I think the penny has dropped. I think he will be their leading run scorer for the series and show his true class.
Mitchell Starc
Fast bowler
Age: 28
His left-arm variety and pace could unsettle the Indian top order and Australia need Starc at his best and bowling quick to knock over the Indians in this series.
Peter Siddle/Chris Tremain
These guys are the back up quicks and are performing brilliantly in Shield cricket, they need to keep doing this to put pressure on the big three.
INDIA
Virat Kohli (c)
Batsman
Age: 30
Hungry for runs, is a joy to watch, has all the talent, skills and shots that anyone could wish for. He’s also great fun to watch play as he’s carefree and has a smile on his face.
Murali Vijay
Batsman
Age: 34
Has batted in numerous positions for India but will probably open the batting and has different gears. He can smash the ball but also play long, disciplined innings.
KL Rahul
Batsman
Age: 26
Behind Kohli, he is India’s best batsman and like Vijay has all the shots and can play the team role, if India needs quick runs he can do that but also has a solid defence. I think the Australian public will enjoy watching this guy bat.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Batsman
Age: 30
The rock of the Indian batting line up, he’s a wicket that Australia will want because he bats long periods of time. Has form and is the new Rahul Dravid.
Ajinkya Rahane
Batsman
Age: 30
A very determined young man with a great temperament and India rely on him heavily to bat time. Has an all-round game and plays the quicks as good as the spinners.
Rohit Sharma
Batsman
Age: 31
Has been around the Indian teams for a long time, is pure class and very easy on the eye when in full flow with the bat. Hasn’t quite shown the consistency but when he’s on, is as good as anyone in the world.
Rishabh Pant
Wicketkeeper/batsman
Age: 21
Super talented wicket-keeper/batsman, can play some innings that you think ‘wow how did he do that?’, so patience he needs to find and that balance between attack and defence, but expect the unexpected.
Ravichandran Ashwin
All-rounder
Age: 32
Tremendous record at home and on the sub continent, his record away and in this country is pretty average. This is something he will be looking to put right in this series starting here in Adelaide. Has a lot of tricks but will be under pressure to perform.
Hanuma Vihari
All-rounder
Age: 25
Middle-order batsman who has played just the one Test which was against England in September where he made 56 in the first innings. Also made a half century against the CA XI in Sydney last week.
Ravindra Jadeja
All-rounder
Age: 29
Super talented cricketer, gun fielder with a rocket arm. More than handy left-arm spin and a dangerous lower order batsman. Could play a big part in this series in all departments of the game.
Kuldeep Yadav
A young, spirited left-arm wrist spinner with a very good wrong’un that the Australians have struggled to pick. If I was selecting the Indian side I would be playing this young man.
Mohammed Shami
Fast bowler
Age: 28
Very clever bowler who has some pace and first spell is as quick as his last. He also has a big heart and does the hard yards for India. Will trouble the Aussie batsmen.
Ishant Sharma
Fast bowler
Age: 30
Looks like he should be in the band Twisted Sister, but bowls a very good length and is tough work for the right-handers as he angles in and moves away.
Umesh Yadav
Fast bowler
Age: 31
He has serious pace and loves a contest. Very much the new wave of Indian fast bowlers and expect some fireworks when he has the ball in his hand.
Jasprit Bumrah
Fast bowler
Age: 23
Unorthodox action with no real front arm and off a short run, but can knock you over with his pace, accuracy and his ability to sum up a batsman’s weakness is very good. He has a good cricket brain.
Bhuvenshwar Kumar
Fast bowler
Age: 28
Very clever bowler, can swing the ball both ways at a decent pace and will trouble both the right and left handers. He will find swing when no one else can, will test the techniques of the Aussie top order.
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