Kangaroo vs Tiger 1st Test Preview
What
The first Test of the four-match series between Australia and India
When
December 26-30, 2011. The game begins at 5:00 am, IST.
Where
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne. In recent years, the MCG has developed a knack for producing results. All 11 Tests played at this venue since 2000 have borne results while the last drawn game here was in December 1997, between Australia and South Africa.
The Teams
Between David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey – Australia have the perfect mix of youth and experience in their batting department. Cowan’s recent century against the Indians in the warm-up tie at the start of the week should give the left-hander much confidence ahead of his Test debut. His opening partnership with Warner will be crucial to the hosts’ fortunes in the first Test.
Ben Hilfenhaus has pushed Daniel Christian and Mitchell Starc out of the hosts’ playing XI, which means that Australia will have to rely on four frontline bowlers (Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon) at the MCG. While the Indians have played Hilfenhaus and Siddle before, Pattinson’s pace and bounce could surprise them. Nathan Lyon, Australia’s frontline spinner since the Sri Lanka series this year, though, will have his credentials tested as he squares off against some of the best players of spin in the world.
India will most likely play Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav with R Ashwin as the lone spinner in the four-man bowling attack. Of the four, Yadav and Ashwin have never bowled in Australia and it will be interesting to see if they are able to adapt to the conditions straightaway.
But as always, it will be the batting that should hold the visitors in good stead. Virender Sehwag is fresh off a record-breaking ODI double century while Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman all look in good nick. The only choice for the Indians, then, is that between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the vital No. 6 slot in the batting line-up.
The Stakes
For Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, winning a Test series Down Under would arguably be the biggest achievement of their respective Test careers. The three were part of the side that won the historic Test series in Pakistan (in 2004) and in England (in 2007) and then drew a series in South Africa for the first time (in 2010-‘11). But Australia is widely considered a final frontier for Test sides and a series win over here – the first by an Indian unit – will add to the legend of all three individuals.
The selectors have picked Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey for the Melbourne Test, giving the two Australian greats a big chance to return to form. Ponting hasn’t scored a Test century since January 2010 and has only two half-centuries in 2011. Hussey, on the other hand, had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka (two centuries and two half-centuries) in September 2011, but with a highest score of 39 in his last seven Test innings, the left-hander will be very much under the scanner in the Boxing Day Test.
Trivia
Australia have won 17 and lost six out of 30 Boxing Day Tests. India, on the other hand, have won one and lost eight out of 11 Tests that begin on December 26.
Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 3151 runs is the third highest by any batsman against Australia in Tests after England’s Jack Hobbs (3636) and David Gower (3629). Tendulkar averages 60.60 against Australia as against Hobbs’ 54.27 and Gower’s 44.78
Venue Stats
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | Drawn | Win %age |
Australia | 103 | 58 | 30 | 0 | 15 | 56.31 |
India | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 20.00 |
Highest total in an innings: Australia 604 in 140.5(x8) overs v England - February 26, 1937
Lowest total in an innings: South Africa 36 in 23.2 overs v Australia – February 12, 1932
Best individual score in an innings: Bob Cowper (Australia) – 307 v England - February 11, 1966
Best bowling figures in an innings: Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) 35.4(x8)-7-86-9 v Australia – March 10, 1979
Average first innings score at Melbourne Cricket Ground: Overall - 305, since 2000 – 337
Average second innings score at Melbourne Cricket Ground: Overall - 308, since 2000 – 365
Result summary at MCG:
Matches | Won by side batting first | Won by side batting second | Draws |
Overall | 52 | 36 | 15 |
Since 2000 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Head to Head
Matches | Played | India won | Aus won | Drawn | Tied |
Overall | 78 | 20 | 34 | 23 | 1 |
In Australia | 36 | 5 | 22 | 9 | 0 |
At MCG | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Last meeting between both sides in Australia: Adelaide 24-28 January, 2008
Brief scores: India 526 & 269-7 drew with Australia 563
Last meeting between both sides at MCG: 26-29 December 2007
Brief scores: Australia 343 & 351-7d beat India 196 & 161 by 337 runs
Form guide (most recent listed first):
India: Drawn, Won, Won, Lost, Lost (2 wins, 2 losses)
Australia: Lost, Won, Won, Lost, Drawn (2 wins, 2 losses)
The Squads
India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Virender Sehwag (vc), R Ashwin, Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Abhimanyu Mithun, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinay Kumar and Umesh Yadav
Australia: Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin (vc), Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, David Warner & Mitchell Starc (12th man)
Below is a snapshot of the player head-to-head by position.
Australia- India players head-to-head | |||
Matches-Runs-Average | |||
Ed Cowan | - | 92 - 7980 - 52.2 | Virender Sehwag |
David Warner | 2 - 153 - 76.5 | 44 - 3531 - 47.7 | Gautam Gambhir |
Marsh/Christian | 3 - 284 - 56.8 | 160 - 13094 - 53.2 | Rahul Dravid |
Ricky Ponting | 158 - 12656 - 52.3 | 184 - 15183 - 56.0 | Sachin Tendulkar |
Michael Clarke | 76 - 5283 - 46.3 | 130- 8626 - 47.1 | VVS Laxman |
Michael Hussey | 66 - 5196 - 50.4 | 4 - 191 - 27.3 | Virat Kohli |
Brad Haddin | 39 - 2171 - 36.2 | 64 - 3407 - 38.3 | MS Dhoni |
Matches-Wickets-Average | |||
Nathan Lyon | 7 - 22 - 24.6 | 3 - 22 - 22.9 | R Ashwin |
Peter Siddle | 27 - 91 - 31.7 | 79 - 273 - 31.8 | Zaheer Khan |
Hilfenhaus/Starc | 17 - 55 - 34.7 | 41 - 128 - 35.8 | Ishant Sharma |
James Pattinson | 2 - 14 - 14.0 | 2 - 9 - 21.2 | Umesh Yadav |
All stats are as on as on December 25, 2011
Other Useful Links:
The Australian 1st Test squad vs India: http://indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com/2011/12/australian-1st-test-squad-vs-india.html
India - Australia Test Records: http://indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com/2011/12/india-australia-test-records.html
India Squad For Australia Tour: http://indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com/2011/11/india-squad-for-australia-series-2012.html
ICC World T20 2012 Schedule: http://indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com/2011/10/icc-world-t20-2012-srilanka.html
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