NEW DELHI: India have their “nose ahead” in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after taking advantage of Australia’s “brittle” top order, according to former coach Ravi Shastri, who has backed the visitors to win the Boxing Day Test.
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is “almost single-handedly” to credit for the visitors’ ability to keep the series tied at one, Shastri continued.
“I think India would take this, the way the series is poised. Any overseas team being 1-1, especially with the games being in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, they would take this.
“Going 1-1 into Boxing Day is the best case scenario. I would say India have their nose ahead,” Shastri told news.com.au.
The inability of Australia’s top order, which consists of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, and Marnus Labuschagne, to score against Bumrah has compelled them to bench rookie opener McSweeney and give debut to teenager Sam Konstas.
“It’s been pretty brittle. When you look at this Australian line-up, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an Australian line-up where the top order is that brittle. India have exploited that and continue to exploit it,” Shastri said.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also had a difficult time scoring runs. Steve Smith, Labuschagne, Marsh, and Khawaja all had Test cricket averages below 30 in the previous year.
“India is 1-1 in the series and that man (Bumrah) has almost single-handedly got India into that position,” Shastri said.
“As far as Konstas goes, I think he’s very refreshing. He’s got flair, he’s got flamboyance. But Test cricket is Test cricket. His technique will tighten up and he will be the future for Australia.”
Shastri believes it was unfortunate that McSweeney was axed after only three Test matches.
“McSweeney was very unfortunate. He did the hard yards but he’s a middle order batsman. I see him travelling to Sri Lanka when the Australian team go there and rebuild his career from there.
“But I think it’s a good move getting Konstas in because you need someone who can take the attack to the Indian team, because the punches were coming from nowhere.”
India have the chance to become just the third touring team to win three straight Test series in Australia after winning the previous two. The other two teams are West Indies (1984/85, 1988/89, 1992/93) and South Africa (2008/09, 2012/13, 2016/17).
“Massive. No team has done that in a long time. Australia hammers sides when they come here. For India to pull off three on the trot will be something special.
“But they’ll have to play good cricket. I see Australia coming hard in this Test match, especially with the bowlers. It’s the batting that’ll be the challenge for Australia more than anything else.”
Shastri feels India has come to Australia with a strong intent to win.
“India have come here to win, they haven’t come here to fill in the numbers. Even when I was the coach, our mantra was to play extremely hard, fair and to win.
“You have to think of a method to beat Australia and not just compete. You’ve got to plan properly, how to take your 20 wickets. India have done that and been very aggressive.
“They’ve been in the face of Australia and give as good as they get. It’s been entertaining and feisty stuff. The first day of the Boxing Day Test will determine which way the series will go,” he added.
