Australia v India Test series: Ravi Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara among players Aussies need to watch closely
Virat Kohli is India’s walking headline and demi-God but his supreme record in Australia masks many dangers within for Tim Paine’s Aussies. From Ashwin to Pujara, here are some of the players to watch
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Virat Kohli is India’s walking headline and demi-God but his supreme record in Australia masks many dangers within for Tim Paine’s Aussies.
The Indian attack is pop-gun no more having snared 20 wickets in all but two Tests played this year.
India arrives here with the ‘next Sachin’ Prithvi Shaw (although injury will rob Adelaide fans of a chance to see him in action), a top shelf off-spinner in Ravi Ashwin, a rock star in Ravi Jadeja and prolific Cheteshwar Pujara.
RICHARD EARLE pinpoints some Indians to watch ahead of the first Test in Adelaide.
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Prithvi Shaw
Three decades after Sachin Tendulkar’s Test debut Indian cricket was trumpeting the arrival of its next Little Master, Prithvi Shaw before an untimely ankle injury against the Cricket Australia XI in Sydney last week.
The second youngest Indian, at 18, to register a ton after Tendulkar and youngest on debut against the West Indies last month confirmed special status on Shaw and fan reverence.
Shaw has carried great expectations on the sub-continent since recording the highest score, 546, of any batsman in organised Indian cricket five years ago.
Ravi Ashwin
Ashwin – who last year surpassed Dennis Lillee as the fastest bowler to 250 wickets – could prove the barometer for India this series. Ashwin looms as a menace against an Australian order with potentially four left-handers in the top six if he replicate career form of 336 wickets at 25.
However Ashwin’s form in Australia where his 29.5 batting average is double his bowling return will force the veteran to prove a point. Ashwin’s 21 wickets have cost 54 runs a piece across six Tests in Australia compared to 234 at 22.6 in India.
ICC player of 2016 Ashwin’s toil in Australia highlights Nathan Lyon’s value in the baggy green.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara’s Test average of 50 places the No.3 in the sights of Australia’s attack regardless of a publicised preoccupation with skipper Virat Kohli. Pujara – the joint fastest Indian to 1000 Test runs in matches played - enjoys gargantuan concentration and thirst for runs.
Pujara – whose first pads were made from foam mattress cut- outs – is a reminder of a bygone time when batsmen ground down attacks and put a premium on their wicket.
Pujara prefers to escape rather than embrace the IPL. Three tons in 2012 including an unbeaten 206 against England at Ahmedabad won the confidence of selectors.
Ravi Jadeja
Labelled a ‘rock star’ by legend Shane Warne, Jadeja lived up to the hype by tormenting Michael Clarke and Australia on the 2013 tour of the subcontinent with 24 wickets at 17.45 including the skipper five times.
Jadeja’s left-arm orthodox spin mesmerised Australia again in February last year with 25 wickets at 18.56. However the 39-Test all-rounder has never played a Test in Australia where his natural variation might not gain the traction that sub-continent strips offer. Jadeja averages 36 outside of India.
LISTEN: The first Test side, Alyssa Healy from our all-conquering women’s team and a deep dive into the super talented India squad features on this week’s episode of Cricket Unfiltered.
Rishabh Pant
Five-Test keeper Rishabh Pant is the latest charged with filling MS Dhoni’s void behind the stumps. Adam Gilchrist hopes “Pant gets a nice run in the Test side”. Pant’s 92 against West Indies in India’s second Test win last month at Hyderabad bolstered the left-hand strokeplayer before struggling in the three match Twenty20 series against Australia. Moved around India in search of opportunity at first-class level and doesn’t want to let his big break slip.
Bhuvi Kumar
Bhuvi Kumar announced himself by becoming the first bowler to claim Sachin Tendulkar for a first-class, domestic duck. Sidelined from the northern summer series in England by a back injury, Kumar is renowned for extracting accurate inswing on any surface which will be well suited to Australia’s plethora of left-handers. Operates at a modest 130km/h but has 63 wickets at 26 in 21 Tests primarily with late movement through the air while the ball has shine.
Umesh Yadav
Son of a coalminer Yadav only took up fast bowling aged 19. Nagpur native Yadav, 31, became the third Indian fast bowler to take a 10-wicket haul at home against West Indies last month. Indian skipper Virat Kohli rates raw pace a key weapon on Australian pitches. A fit and firing Yadav took seven wickets at 25 on his first tour of Australia in 2011 and 18 wickets at 17 in the 2015 World Cup.
Ishant Sharma
Ishant is a rare India pace presence with towering height and nippy pace that should work in Australia. However Ishant’s bowling average in Australia is double that of career return of 256 wickets at 34.73.
Ishant is still a key part of India attack despite turning 30 and amassing 87 matches played predominantly on back-breaking subcontinent surfaces.
Ishant was the first of a new breed of India speedsters ticking 145km/h when he shook up Australia in 2007-08 and will be a handful if replicating 18 wickets at 24 against England during August/September.
Mohammad Shami
Sizzled in the 2015 World Cup in Australia with 17 wickets at 17. Shami can gain reverse swing with the old ball which will be vital with the Kookaburra ball. Took 15 wickets at 35 last visit but is capable of emulating his 21 wickets in five Tests at 24 on South African soil.
Ajinkya Rahane
Dropped for the initial two Tests of India’s South African Test tour but Rahane reclaimed his place and the vice-captain has fond memories of Australia.
Rahane averaged 57 in Australia four years ago including half centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane before 147 in the Boxing Day Test. Solid top order force for India.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuleep, 23, started cricket as paceman before wisely switching to left-arm wrist spin. Legend Sachin Tendulkar says Kuldeep has the ‘repertoire’ to succeed at Test level having taken 19 wickets in five Tests. Australia will be content to defend against the dangerous tweaker with a gun wrong’un.
Murali Vijay
Vijay will cover for injured Shaw and open with Rahul but has a superb record in Australia. Vijay’s back foot game is suited to conditions Down Under where averaged 60 over four Tests in 2014.
Warmed up for the first Test in Adelaide with a sparkling ton against the Cricket Australia XI in Sydney.
Lokesh Rahul
The elegant top order batsman made a maiden ton in Sydney against Australia four years ago. However he went almost two years without a ton between his 199 against England at Chennai in 2016 and 149 at The Oval in September.
Rahul needs more consistency to push his 37 Test average above 40.
Originally published as Australia v India Test series: Ravi Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara among players Aussies need to watch closely