Australia v India 2nd Test: Aussie pacemen fresh and fired up to take down tourists at MCG

India may have ground the Aussie attack into the dirt on Boxing Day in 2018 but exhaustion won’t be a factor for the locals this time.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Josh Hazlewood of Australia celebrates taking the LBW wicket of Hanuma Vihari of India for 16 runs during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 17, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Australia’s three lethal weapons are primed to unleash four Tests of torture, with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc feeling unusually fresh after their Twenty20-like workloads last Saturday.

India stars Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli ground the Aussies into the dirt on Boxing Day two years ago, and the fast bowlers could barely blow out a candle by the time India’s second innings began on day three at the MCG.

But with a seven-day break before Boxing Day this year, and then a minimum eight-day break leading into the third Test, plus the arrival of 140km all-rounder Cameron Green, the Aussies are on course to sidestep the exhaustion factor.

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Josh Hazlewood took six wickets for the match in Adelaide.

The ICC rated the MCG pitch “average” in 2018, and India dug in on day one, with its first innings lasting a mammoth 169.4 overs (7-443) under the hot Melbourne sun.

Starc (28 overs), Hazlewood (31.4), Cummins (34) and spinner Nathan Lyon (48) were physically cooked as Pujara (106 off 319) and Kohli (82 off 204) batted and batted and batted the Aussies out of the blockbuster Test match.

Hazlewood (5-8 off five overs) bowled fewer balls on Saturday than overs in that gruelling 2018 innings and joked to Starc in the field at Adelaide Oval that he wanted to keep his wickets above his runs conceded.

Pujara faced 1208 balls for the 2018-19 series, literally draining the life out of the Aussies.

Lyon said on Wednesday the bowlers were “feeling really good” and hailed the arrival of Green at No.6, who the Aussies hope can be their version of Ben Stokes.

Cameron Green brings an added dimension to the Aussie attack.

“To have an all-rounder who can roll in and bowl 140kms is pretty special,” Lyon said.

Australia still has enforcer James Pattinson on the bench, meanwhile, India has lost Mohammed Shami (arm) and left Ishant Sharma (abdominal muscle) at home, burdening strike weapon Jasprit Bumrah with an even greater share of responsibility.

Hazlewood said before the first Test match that staying fresh would be critical and already fears India could face a 4-0 series whitewash are growing.

“That’s the batsmen’s goal – to score runs, but also to keep the frontline attack on the field as long as possible and get the benefits of that later in the series,” Hazlewood said.

“Which is exactly what happened last time around. We spent a lot of time in the field in Melbourne with short rests in between, and then again in Sydney.

The three Aussie quicks took India apart in Adelaide.

“In four and five-match Test series, that’s a huge goal of the batters, to not only score runs in those early games but to spend a lot of time in the middle to get some miles in the legs of opposition bowlers.”

India’s batting line-up has gone from energy-sapping to Swiss cheese as it was skittled for 36 in just 21.2 overs last Saturday.

What makes the ‘world’s best attack’ click

The friendship factor has helped elevate Australia’s awesome foursome bowling attack to the next level, with the New South Welshmen forming a bond transcending cricket.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has no doubt he is a member of the world’s No.1 attack, which has been touted as one of Australia’s best in history after knocking over India for 36 runs in Adelaide last Saturday.

It is the unbreakable friendships between the bowlers which helps them form such devastating partnerships, with Lyon and Mitchell Starc particularly close mates.

Nathan Lyon haas a particularly close friendship with Mitchell Starc.

“We’re all best mates and not a day goes by where there’s not banter being thrown around in the Whatsapp group,” Lyon said.

“In my eyes this is the best bowling attack in the world, and it’s an absolute privilege to be a part of it.

“To be able to take the field with three of my best mates is pretty amazing, especially (given) the quality of bowlers but the quality of blokes as well.

“They’re unreal people and unreal bowlers as well.

“To call them my best mates and have them in my corner every day I go out there to play cricket is pretty special.”

The NSW quartet of Lyon, Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood is quickly climbing the charts and is expected to remain unchanged for years to come.

Not even a fully-fit James Pattinson can break into the XI with the Victorian tearaway set to miss out on Boxing Day despite his habit of taking prized wickets.

Lyon, 33, is the eldest of the four and is due to play his 100th Test at the Gabba next month.

The man nicknamed the GOAT also needs just nine more scalps to join Glenn McGrath (563) and Shane Warne (708) in the 400-wicket club.

“It’s hopefully going to be a pretty amazing moment when I play my 100th Test match,” Lyon said.

Lyon is set to play a much bigger role than he had to in Adelaide.

“If I’m able to get there I’ll be the 13th player for Australia (to play 100 Tests).

“I haven’t really spoken much about it, only with my partner and family.

“It’s going to be a massive milestone and a massive feather in the cap and something they’ll be extremely proud of.”

Lyon will join Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Allan Border, Warne, Mark Waugh, McGrath, Ian Healy, Michael Clarke, David Boon, current coach Justin Langer, Mark Taylor and Matthew Hayden in Australia’s 100-Test club.

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara looked noticeably uncomfortably against Lyon in the first Test as Australia’s plans against the No.3 wall paid off.

But Lyon warned they had fresh plans ready to rock at the MCG in the event Pujara gets in and is starting to threaten.