NEW DELHI: All eyes will be on spinners as they may have a subtler, but significant, role in the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, starting on November 22 in Perth, where pace-friendly conditions typically dominate.
Australia’s Nathan Lyon could be a game-changer, leveraging bounce and turn on dry, deteriorating pitches late on. For India, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar — who was given the chance ahead of left-arm spinner Axar Patel — will need to be spot-on with their skills to extract bounce and maintain accuracy.
Australia batters will find it difficult and have issues of their own
While the primary impact is likely to come from fast bowlers, spinners can still influence outcomes by breaking partnerships and exploiting rough patches on days four and five. Their effectiveness will depend on the pitch conditions and match situations throughout the series.
Team India has preferred Jadeja over Ashwin on foreign tours in recent years, but the time has come for Team India to change their plans in Perth and come up with an out-of-the-box thinking and bring Ashwin in to outplay the mighty Aussies on their home ground.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly recently voiced his opinion on the key selection debate, suggesting that Ashwin should feature in India’s playing XI for the opening Test in Perth. Ganguly backed Ashwin due to Australia’s heavy reliance on left-handed batters, against whom the offie has proven highly effective. His record of exploiting left-handers with sharp off-spin and tactical variations could provide India with a critical edge in the series opener.
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Without a doubt, Jadeja and Sundar are stronger batters compared to Ashwin. However, Ashwin’s exceptional ability to claim wickets during critical moments sets him apart as a match-winner. His mastery over spin bowling coupled with his tactical variations, make him an indispensable asset in challenging conditions.
Ashwin and Jadeja have contrasting records in Australia, showcasing their unique strengths. Ashwin, with 39 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 42.15 and a best of 4-55, has been a consistent performer. Meanwhile, Jadeja’s record stands out for its efficiency: 14 wickets in just four Tests at an impressive average of 21.78, with a best of 4-62.
Sundar, who recently delivered impressive performances against New Zealand at home, has also made a strong case for inclusion in the playing XI. His Test debut at the Gabba in 2021 was nothing short of remarkable, showcasing his prowess with both bat and ball.
Sundar picked up four wickets in that match, his only Test appearance in Australia to date. More notably, he played a crucial match-winning innings, scoring 62 runs in a vital 123-run partnership with Shardul Thakur.
Off-spinner Lyon, who has the ability to pose a significant threat to Indian batters, recently revealed that he has been closely analysing footage of Ashwin’s bowling to gain valuable insights.
“He’s taught me a lot. I’m a big believer in the players that you play against are your best coaches that you eventually come across. I’ve watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, see if I can pick up anything,” Lyon told Fox Cricket.
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Lyon, who has had considerable success against India over the years, sees Ashwin’s tactical brilliance as a source of inspiration.
“There’s so much to learn in this great game, and there’s so much for me to learn off Ash. He’s a world-class bowler. He’s taken over 500 Test match wickets and he should be extremely proud of that,” the 36-year-old added.
Lyon has an outstanding record against India, with 121 wickets in 27 Tests, including nine five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls. His ability to consistently trouble India’s batters underlines his dominance in this high-stakes rivalry. In home conditions, Lyon has been even more formidable, amassing 259 wickets in 67 Tests played in Australia.
Australia will be keen to make amends for their previous defeats to India in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having lost at home in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series.