Jasprit Bumrahcelebrates taking the wicket of Alex Carey during the first Test match in the series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium on November 23, 2024
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Jasprit Bumrah threat, the alleged batter-bowler divide in the Australian camp and the number 36, seem to be the general themes during press conferences in the lead-up to the second Test in Adelaide from Friday (December 6, 2024). And it was the turn of Alex Carey to square up and answer these queries when he met the media at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday (December 3, 2024).

The Australian, all soft words and a shy grin, handled the inquisition with the same ease with which he collects the ball within his wicket-keeping gloves. As for Bumrah, Carey replied: “He is a fantastic bowler and our batters are world class as well and will find ways to come up with solutions. I have had a look at him now, so hopefully we can combat that first and second spell, get him bowling a bit deeper in the innings with an older ball. We saw Travis (Head) sort of counter punch (at Perth).”

Ever since Josh Hazlewood casually spoke about bowlers looking ahead towards the second Test while the first Test was in the balance at Perth, a rumour about a split between batters and seamers has done the rounds. It was Carey’s turn to deny these whispers: “If you ask the batters, we all want to perform better. As cricketers you go there to score a 100 and if you don’t do that, you are at times disappointed. But we are a very united group.”

Reminded about bundling out India for 36 at this same venue in 2020, Carey adopted a guarded tone: “They were obviously amazing days in cricketing history. But no, we don’t go out there expecting to do that again. We have a plan and will try to execute that, and whatever happens, happens. But I wasn’t here for that Test match. I tried to get in, but I missed it. And it happened too quickly. But yeah, we are excited and we do take a lot of confidence out of our record with pink ball cricket.”

File picture of former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting
| Photo Credit: Action Images via Reuters

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has compared the Australia-India rivalry to that of the Ashes, stating that these battles are among the most anticipated in world cricket.

The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium from November 22 onwards.

The former Australian skipper has urged both teams to maintain a competitive but fair spirit throughout the series. “Australia-England, with the history of the Ashes, but Australia-India is not far behind that and it’s built up over a long period. I think we all look forward to these sorts of battles.

“As a past player, as a commentator, I want to see these two teams go out there and play hard and fair and then see who is left standing at the end of the next five games,” Ponting said during a recent episode of the ICC Review.

Speaking about the intensity and banter expected during the series, Ponting said he anticipates the matches to be played on the edge.

“I don’t know if spice is the right word, but I expect the game to be played sort of almost on the edge, if you like, with two of the best teams in the world not wanting to give an inch to each other.”

“Not wanting to give an inch to the opposition, not wanting to lose a single contest through the course of those whole five Test matches,” the World Cup-winning captain said.

Significance of rivalry

Ponting also highlighted the significance of the rivalry. “That’s the beauty of these great rivalries in world sport. Australia-India in a Test match now is as big a rivalry as there is in world sport, not just cricket,” the 49-year-old added.

The series will begin in Perth on November 22, followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The third Test will take place at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18. The traditional Boxing Day Test will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Squads for the first Test (Perth):

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

A file image of Ravi Shastri
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

India “paid a heavy price for being a little complacent” against New Zealand and the team needs to start well in the first two Tests against Australia to put behind their unprecedented loss to New Zealand at home, believes Ravi Shastri.

The former captain and coach Shastri said India, who were caught “unawares” by New Zealand, would be hurting after the defeat which ended their unbeaten run at home that lasted over 12 years and 18 series.

“India will be smarting from that defeat in that series against New Zealand because they were caught unawares,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

“They were a little complacent and they paid the price for it. But having said that, it’s a very proud team, this Indian team.” He said. “They would be hurting and they’d like to get back on track ASAP. The best way to bounce back from such a series, is (to) start off another series in a good manner, so the first two Test matches become extremely crucial going ahead,” he added.

Shastri said India’s coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir will have to ensure that the players are in a “good state of mind” going into the five-Test affair starting on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth.

“The most important thing will be to ensure that they start off well; they keep the players in a good state of mind. That will be the most important thing for the coach,” he said.

Shastri, who was India’s head coach during their series wins Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21, urged India to draw confidence from those feats.

“It’s playing on their mind, confidence-wise. You can’t go to the negatives. Think about the positives,” he said.

“Think about what you did in Australia last time around and take it ahead from there. Put what (has) happened behind you. These are different conditions and some of the tracks in Australia when you get in are probably the best to bat,” Shastri said.

“I think it will be totally different, the conditions when they get out there,” he added.

File picture of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly
| Photo Credit: PTI

With Rohit Sharma expected to miss the Border Gavaskar Trophy series opener, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly expressed belief in pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s capabilities to lead the side in Perth against Australia.

Bumrah was appointed Rohit’s deputy when India’s squad for the five gruelling Tests was announced. Rohit and his wife recently had a second child and he is expected to join the team for the second Test.

K.L. Rahul being shipped to the opening slot during India’s intra-squad match simulation at the WACA, could be the foreshadowing of Rohit’s absence, at least for the series opener.

In the absence of the designated captain, Bumrah is expected to don the role. The 30-year-old speedster holds the experience of leading the Indian team. He previously captained the side against England in Birmingham in 2022.

Ahead of the first Test, Ganguly entrusted his faith in Bumrah to get the job done by captaining the Indian team and leading the pace attack for visitors in Perth.

“I think he will be a good leader. From what I have seen of him, he looks involved, reads the game well, and bowls in the right areas under pressure in white-ball cricket, which tells you he is thinking the right things,” Ganguly said while speaking to Revsportz.

“So Bumrah should be a good leader for sure. And needless to say, he is a very important player for India. He will be the leader of that attack, and in good bowling conditions, he can have a defining impact on the series,” he added.

If Bumrah leads India as Rohit’s successor for the opening Test, he will be present for the toss on Friday alongside Australia captain Pat Cummins.

India’s squad

Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

Australia squad

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.