Australia faced a massive blow when their key player Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the pink-ball Test against India in Adelaide. And, right-arm pacer Scott Boland is likely to replace him for the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy as well. The Test will begin in Adelaide on Friday. But Scott Boland is not sure whether he will get to play the Test as Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have also been added to the Test squad as cover.

Scott Boland has been Australia’s reserve pace bowler for quite some time now. He made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG against England in 2021. Since then, he has played 10 Tests, the last of which was in the Ashes in July last year as well where he has taken 35 Test wickets at an average of 20.34.

However, Team India got to see him with the pink ball in the warm-up fixture at Canberra. Boland was added to the Australian Prime Minister's XI squad well before Josh Hazlewood's side strain made him unavailable for the day-night second Test in Adelaide as well.

SEE ALSO: Travis Head names one of the greatest pacers of the game

India registered a convincing win in the first Test

Meanwhile, Australian journalist Tom Morris also questioned whether the move was right.

Speaking on SEN radio, Morris said: "Did the Australian selectors do the right thing playing Scott Boland against India? Would it have been better for him and Australia to go into this game with India not having seen him with a pink ball?" 

Scott Boland wants to play the second Test

Scott Boland also expected to play more matches a swell. He is 35 and afraid of whether he would play another Test at all. But with Hazlewood injured, Boland now has a fair chance to return in the Test squad. While Hazlewood’s sidestrain does not look too serious, he may return to the team later on.

"I probably expected to play at some stage last summer with seven Tests because of the New Zealand tour as well," Boland was quoted as saying by yahoo.com. "Obviously with those guys (Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc) being so resilient, they don't miss too many and no one wants to give up their spot at any stage."

"They were so dominant last summer, they weren't bowling a heap of overs. We were able to win most of those games, so I probably thought maybe the opportunity had passed. I've worked really hard during the off-season to get my body in a spot where I'm confident that if I get another chance I'll be able to perform for Australia again," he again shared.

Australia batter Travis Head is all set to play against Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah with the pink ball. Speaking ahead of the Adelaide Test against India, the second match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Head said that he knew what was coming. The Australian middle-order Test batter has been giving a tough fight to India over the past year.

However, Head batted well in the second innings of the first Test in Perth but he couldn't save the match for Australia. He scored 89 runs off just 101 balls before Bumrah brought himself back in the attack in the 39th over and dismissed him as well.

"I think I'm lucky that I faced him a few times" - Travis Head on Jasprit Bumrah

But, Head was confident about playing Jasprit Bumrah in the pink ball Test match and he also said that he knew what was coming his way.

"I am best when I just look for the cues when I'm, like, just preparing to watch the ball hard and staying fresh mentally. And I think I'm lucky that I faced him a few times. He comes across me a fair bit now, so it's going back to recent times and times you have played him and we've done it enough. Now we've been very fortunate to play him a lot. So, I know what's coming. It's just making sure that I'm prepared and fresh to play well," Travis Head said ahead of the Adelaide Test match.

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"It’s nice to play against someone as challenging as him" - Travis Head on Jasprit Bumrah

"Jasprit will go down as probably one of the greatest fast bowlers to play the game. It’s nice to play against someone as challenging as him," Head said. "It’ll be great to tell my grandkids that I faced him. Hopefully, I’ll face him a few more times, but he’s definitely been a tough competitor."  

The batter was also asked about the body language of the Australian team, which did not look good on Day 3 and 4 of the Perth Test match after they were bundled out for only 104 runs in the 1st innings as well. Head also said that there was no need to give focus too much into things and that they were working on the changes before the 2nd Test as well.

"It's probably the closer losses that hit you by a bit of surprise that it takes a few days, but with the way that our Test played out, like we're pretty much outplayed. So, pretty easy to realise what we did wrong. Now we get three or four days to work on them and make sure. And it's not really massive changes, but hopefully with a bit of energy and knowing what's on the line, we can crack on and play well," Head concluded. 

India are fresh after a crushing win which saw them annihilate Australia by a mammoth margin of 295 runs at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The opening combination of Jaiswal and Rahul blossomed in the absence of Rohit who was away celebrating the arrival of his second child with his family.

The duo amassed a record-breaking 200-plus runs for the first wicket which laid the foundation for India to post a humongous fourth-innings target for Australia. In the end, that partnership put India well on course for a huge win as Australia were demolished for 238. 

On to the day-night Adelaide pink-ball Test

With the addition of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, India's batting order is likely going to be bolstered to a much greater extent. But the management will have their work cut out in terms of structuring the batting order. Moreover, it still remains doubtful whether Shubman Gill will become fit ahead of the second Test. The 25-year-old youngster suffered a finger injury during an intra-squad practice match and is currently under the close supervision of the medical staff.

Cheteshwar Pujara believes that the Indian opening combination of Jaiswal and Rahul should not be disturbed once Rohit and Gill make their way into the playing eleven. He advises the management to persist with the same winning combination and advises against making radical changes.

"I think, for some reason if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five. If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don't tinker around with that."

It appears that Rahul has regained some form after experiencing a lean patch and Pujara insists that the right-hand batter should drop no further below the no.2 position. And by looking at how things panned out in the first Test, Padikkal had a forgettable outing with the bat scoring 0 from 23 balls and 25 from 71 balls and he is expected to make way for either Rohit or Gill subject to fitness. 

Where does Gill fit in then?

With Rohit and Jaiswal cementing their place at the top followed by Rahul and Virat Kohli later down the order, where does Gill slot in, if, indeed, he is fit for the game? 

Pujara feels that Gill could fit in at no.5 as it allows him to walk in at a time when his side has lost a few quick wickets at the top. Gill can be more than handy in situations like these and has demonstrated his potential to weather the storm against a new seaming ball time and again. Moreover, he can also prove to be a useful asset when he walks out to bat after 25 or 30 odd overs where he can then play his natural game.

"Ideally No. 5. Because it allows him to come in at a time, even if we lose two wickets early, he is someone who can negotiate the new ball. But if he walks in after, say, 25 or 30 overs, he can play his shots. He can play his natural game. And in case we lose the first three wickets early, Gill walks in and saves Rishabh Pant for the old ball. [Pant] doesn't have to face the new ball. I wouldn't want him to walk in to bat when the ball is hard and new."

Despite the Perth triumph, team India have an arduous challenge on their hands. The Men in Blue have a notoriously poor record in Adelaide and it was the same venue where they were bowled out cheaply for the lowest-ever test score of 36 all-out four years ago.  

But before that, India will play a two-day pink-ball warm-up game against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra to get themselves full into the groove.

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Exactly on this day 45 years ago, Australia and West Indies took part in a historic day/night ODI match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney. The match was a part of the Benson & Hedges World Tri-Nations series featuring the host Australia along with West Indies and England.

The clash between Australia and West Indies was the inaugural match of the tri-series which was played in coloured clothing and with a white leather ball. That day marked a new chapter in the history of ODI cricket since its inception in 1971. 

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Australia triumphed in the opening encounter of the Benson & Hedges Tri-series

In a first, the opening match of the tournament was played under floodlights attracting an enormous number of spectators to the stadium. After winning the toss, Australian captain Greg Chappell inserted West Indies to have a bat first.

Alvin Kallicharran top-scored for the Windies but missed out on his well-deserved half-century by one run. The Australian pace attack was led by Dennis Lillee and Len Pascoe who accounted for six dismissals while Allan Border finished with sublime figures of 3-36 to restrict West Indies to 193. 

The Australian skipper led from the front and constructed a well-compiled score of 74 (100) and Kim Hughes added a superb 52 (60) to help Australia chase down the target by five wickets with 17 balls to spare. 

Despite the defeat in the series opener, West Indies managed to reach the final where they faced England in a two-match final series. They won both the matches by 2-0 in the final to clinch the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup title. 

Further advancements 

In 1979, when the ICC and World Series Cricket came to an understanding, the first floodlit One Day International was introduced, starting from the tri-series in Australia. 

Further on, the influence of Floodlit cricket slowly spread to other parts of the world, although England was slow to take it up due to their climate. However, the Floodlit system made its first major breakthrough when it was first officially used in a first-class Sheffield Shield game in 1994 in Australia.

Australia’s first-innings total of 104 in Perth is their second-lowest in home Tests against India, only behind their infamous 83 all-out in Melbourne in 1981. This also marks their third-lowest home total since 1985 and their fourth-lowest overall against India. The collapse highlights the dominance of the Indian bowling attack on a surface known to favor batters historically.

India secure 46-run lead despite modest batting performance

India’s first-innings score of 150 gave them a significant 46-run lead, the fifth-highest lead in Test history by a team scoring 150 or less while batting first. The record remains England's 71-run lead against Australia in the 1888 Sydney Test after being bowled out for just 113. This marks only the third instance of India claiming a first-innings lead after scoring 150 or less, the other two being Hamilton (2002) and Lord’s (1936).

Australia’s top order falter with lowest contribution in decades

Australia’s top six batters managed just 37 runs in the first innings—their lowest contribution in a home Test since scoring 22 runs against West Indies in Brisbane in 1978. The combined efforts of both teams’ top five batters in the first innings aggregated only 97 runs, the lowest in a Test since the 67 runs by India and West Indies in the 1987 Delhi Test.

Partnerships struggle to survive in low-scoring match

Only two partnerships in the first two innings of the match survived ten or more overs, underlining the challenging conditions. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy added a crucial 48 runs for India’s seventh wicket, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood fought hard for a 26-run stand for Australia’s tenth wicket. A staggering 18 partnerships fell for less than 20 runs, equaling the record for a men’s Test match.

Bumrah shines as captain with record-breaking 5-wicket haul

Jasprit Bumrah’s 5 for 30 in Perth was a historic spell, making him the first Indian captain since Anil Kumble in 2007 to claim a five-wicket haul in Tests. This was Bumrah’s ninth five-for outside Asia, tying him with Kapil Dev for the most by an Indian in such conditions. Notably, this was Bumrah’s second five-wicket haul in Australia, with the others spread across England, South Africa, and West Indies.

See Also: Tilak Varma scripts history with record-breaking 151 in SMAT

Lowest aggregate first-innings total in over 40 years

The combined first-innings total of 254 runs by both teams—India’s 150 and Australia’s 104—is the lowest in a Test match in Australia since the 1981 WACA Test between Australia and Pakistan, which saw a combined score of 242 runs.

The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth delivered an unforgettable opening day of Test cricket, with the drama unfolding at every turn. On a lively pitch offering grass, pace, and bounce, 17 wickets tumbled as the pacers reigned supreme. India, led by the 'temporary captain' Jasprit Bumrah, braved the conditions by opting to bat first but soon found themselves under siege. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood wreaked havoc with the new ball, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal for ducks. KL Rahul showed grit, and Virat Kohli tried to counterattack, but Hoff's precision proved too good to handle. India slumped to 73/6, but Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) fought back, steering India to a respectable 150 at Tea. Hazlewood shone with four wickets, while Starc, Cummins, and Marsh chipped in, as Nathan Lyon went wicketless on a rare off day.

Australia's reply was nothing short of a nightmare, as Bumrah delivered a fiery spell to dismantle the top order, removing Khawaja, debutant McSweeney, and Smith in no time. Harshit Rana impressed on debut by cleaning up Travis Head, while Siraj’s relentless accuracy removed Labuschagne and Marsh. Despite a dropped chance by Kohli, the Indian pacers kept Australia on the mat, leaving them reeling at 67/7 by stumps. Carey’s unbeaten 19 and Starc’s stubborn resistance were the lone bright spots for the hosts. With an 83-run deficit still looming, India holds a commanding position, setting the stage for another riveting day of cricket in this high-stakes clash.

Breaking down the Length majorly targeted 

India’s bowlers produced a masterclass in discipline and precision on the opening day of the first Test against Australia, making full use of the lively Perth pitch to seize control of the match. Armed with a clear strategy and unwavering execution, the Indian pacers exploited the conditions by relentlessly targeting the "outside off stump" line, forcing Australian batters into defensive mode. Their effort wasn't just about raw pace; it was about smart bowling, as a detailed analysis of the pitch map revealed. From good lengths to fuller deliveries, each ball had a purpose, and the results were evident in Australia’s fragile position at stumps.

See Also:  Dominant England secure 3-1 white-ball series triumph over West Indies

The "short of good length" area was the weapon of choice for the Indian quicks, delivering 68 balls in this zone. This length not only troubled the Australian batters but also stifled their scoring opportunities, achieving a remarkable dot-ball rate of 89.71%. Two wickets fell to deliveries in this length, highlighting its effectiveness on a pitch offering seam and bounce. It forced the batters to decide between playing or leaving, often leading to errors under pressure.

The "good length" deliveries were even more impactful, serving as the backbone of India's bowling plans. With the seamers maintaining a steady line, this zone accounted for four wickets and an 85.11% dot-ball rate. The good length’s unpredictability—keeping the batters guessing whether to play forward or back—caused havoc, as Bumrah and Siraj used it to devastating effect. It was in this zone that Australia’s most dependable names, including Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja, met their downfall.

India also used "full length" sparingly but effectively, delivering just 11 balls in this zone while claiming a wicket. The 72.73% dot-ball rate reflected the tight leash on scoring, with these fuller deliveries often targeting the stumps or inducing edges. This adaptability showcased India’s ability to mix up lengths while maintaining control. However, the short-pitched deliveries were the only less effective length, managing a lower dot-ball rate of 54.55% and failing to produce wickets. It served as a variation to test the batters but wasn’t the primary weapon on this surface.

The overall performance was a testament to India’s disciplined bowling attack and their ability to adapt to conditions. By sticking to a plan and maintaining relentless accuracy, they left Australia reeling at 67/7 by stumps. The combination of the pitch map analysis and the scoreboard demonstrated how India’s strategy worked to perfection, ensuring they ended the day with a commanding advantage. It set the stage for the visiting bowlers to dominate further and emphasized the critical importance of bowling partnerships in creating pressure.

Veteran India batter Virat Kohli dropped an easy catch in the second slip to give life to star Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne on Friday (November 22). This happened on the last ball of the third over of Australia’s first innings, which was bowled by star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

The ball also kissed the edge of Labuschagne’s bat, when he was batting on 0 at that time, and the ball went straight to Kohli, who was fielding at second slip. The veteran collected the ball well, but then it slipped out of his hand, which gave a lifeline to the Australian batter.

The video of Kohli dropping the catch has gone viral on the internet.

Virat Kohli dropped a sitter

One of the more extraordinary drops you'll see! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LdxmEYeWQx

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024

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However, Marnus Labuschagne came to bat at No. 3 in the first Test after Jasprit Bumrah trapped debutant Nathan McSweeney before the stumps on the third ball of his second over. McSweeney managed to score 10 runs from 13 balls. After dismissing him, Bumrah, in his fourth over of the first inning, dismissed veteran Australian batters Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith on consecutive deliveries. While Khawaja was caught in the slip by Kohli for a mere 8 runs from 19 balls, Bumrah removed Smith for a golden duck.

However, the life of Marnus Labuschagne could pose trouble to the Indian team as he is known for his composed knocks. Meanwhile, he took 24 balls `to open his account. Currently, he is batting at 2 off 45 balls.

India got all out for 150

Earlier in the first two sessions of the first day’s play, Australian bowlers successfully dismissed India for just 150 runs. For Team India, debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 41 runs. However, he was the last Indian batter to get out in the first inning where he added 48 runs for the eighth wicket with Rishabh Pant, who smashed 37 runs from 78 balls after coming out to bat at No. 5 as well.

On the other hand, in his maiden Test innings against Australia, talented India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to open his account as he got out for an eight-ball duck by Mitchell Starc. 

There were a lot of expectations from the veteran India batter Virat Kohli, who came to bat at No. 4 but the former Indian captain could only manage 5 runs by Hazlewood. However, Kohli has been going through a tough phase and he failed to do well during the home Test series against New Zealand as well. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the rest of the series as well.

Extra bounce from Hazlewood - Kohli's back in the sheds for five #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6M5DjgOqrV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets for 29 runs in 13 overs, whereas Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Marsh picked up 2 wickets each.

Australian captain Pat Cummins is confident that Australia will be winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The series will see five Tests for the first time. Before the first Test on 22nd November in Perth, Cummins spoke to the media in a Press Conference where he expressed his excitement, saying, "It would be great to win the Border Gavaskar Trophy. India are a great side, but we are prepared."

When he was asked about the series, Pat Cummins shared that while India is a tough team, Australia are well-prepared for the much-awaited challenges. The BGT is always a big contest, and winning it would be a huge achievement for Australia. 

“Having five Tests for the first time here is big,” he said.

Bumrah and the rise of pace bowlers leading teams

However, Pat Cummins shared his view on pace bowlers taking the lead role in teams. He strongly believes that pace bowlers should play a key role in leading teams, especially in Test cricket. On Jasprit Bumrah captaining India in the first test, Cummins said, “It should happen more (pacers leading teams),”.

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Pat Cummins also spoke about the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, claiming that he will bowl in this Test series as well. Marsh’s role will be important to Australia’s balance during the series. He also praised Alex Carey.

“He’ll definitely bowl in this Test. He’s an all-rounder. With four pacers, we didn’t want our all-rounders to bowl a lot of overs,” he said. “Alex Carey has been brilliant. He has been really impressive and in a good place.”

Pat Cummins praised Nitish Reddy

He also shared his thoughts on the talented youngster Nitish Reddy as well. He said that Reddy is a talented cricketer who can swing the ball and has great potential as well. Notably, both have played together in IPL team SRH in 2024.

“He is an impressive youngster, he can swing the ball.” Pat Cummins said.

IND vs AUS Match Preview

Following a crushing 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand, India now faces the daunting task of a five-match Test series in Australia. With their spot in the World Cup final in jeopardy following the loss, India will be under pressure to turn things around. On the other hand, Australia is going to be eager to reclaim its pride after losing its final two home Test series to India. The action begins in Perth, which is known for its fast and bouncy surface. Given India's current form and Australia's stronghold at home, the hosts are expected to have the advantage in the series opener.

IND vs AUS Match Details

India vs Australia – 1st Match, Test Match

Venue: Perth Stadium, Burswood

Date & Time: 22nd November 2024 at 07:50 AM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

IND vs AUS Venue Stats

IND vs AUS Pitch Report

The pitch is expected to have a thick grass cover, which will benefit quick bowlers in the first test.  It should offer good pace and additional bounce to trouble batsmen on both sides. Bowlers will also notice good seam movement, especially with the new ball in play.

IND vs AUS Weather Report

The weather is expected to be sunny, warm, and clear for the five-day test, with light winds at times. It should be a pleasant morning session.

IND vs AUS Last Five Matches

IND vs AUS Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Wyatt-Hodge backs England to revive fearless after T20 World Cup criticism

IND vs AUS Probable Playing XIs:

Australia Probable Playing XIs

Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India Probable Playing XIs

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

Topmost Picks for IND vs AUS Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Rishabh Pant – Rishabh Pant, who averages 62.40 in Australia is expected to continue his excellent form after his return to international cricket.
• Mohammed Siraj – Mohammed Siraj had a disappointing outing, going for runs and collecting just 1 wicket in the whole match.

Top Picks – Australia

• Travis Head – Travis Head, another standout player, has delivered consistently in Tests, averaging 42 with a strike rate of 78 in his last 30 matches.
• Josh Hazlewood – Josh Hazlewood’s 51 wickets against India at an average of 26.94 make him a potent weapon. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND vs AUS Dream11 Team:

Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli(C), Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins(VC), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND vs AUS Dream11 Team:

Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Steve Smith, Travis Head(C), Ravindra Jadeja(VC), Mitchell Marsh, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Siraj

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Virat Kohli, Travis Head

Vice-captain – Pat Cummins, Ravindra Jadeja

Wicketkeeper – Rishabh Pant

IND vs AUS Probable Winners:

Australia has yet to lose a game at the Optus Stadium in Perth. They're the home team, and they cover the majority of the bases. India, on the opposite hand, would have been shaken by their home series defeat to New Zealand. They are also missing two of their top batters. The guests have their work cut out for them. Their greatest chance will be if their fast bowlers can get through Australia's inconsistent batting lineup. However, based on both teams' strengths and weaknesses, we believe Australia will dominate this contest. Considering the team combination, India is expected to win this match.