Australia vs. India Cricket Series: Five Key Issues Featuring Smith, Kohli, and Lyon

The highly anticipated cricket series between Australia and India is approaching, with players like Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, and Nathan Lyon facing significant considerations. India, as the visiting team, has secured notable 2-1 series victories in their two most recent tours and stands as the sole team to have won a Test series in Australia since South Africa achieved it in 2016. However, Rohit Sharma’s team enters this five-Test series, scheduled for this winter, following an unexpected 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand. Below are five crucial aspects that may influence the outcome of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, commencing at 02:20 GMT on Friday, 22 November. Following David Warner’s retirement in January, Australia initially chose to elevate Steve Smith from the number four batting position to an opener. Despite an average of 28.50 and only one half-century across eight innings in that role, which did not yield outstanding results, Smith expressed confidence that he “could still do a job there.” Nevertheless, due to all-rounder Cameron Green requiring back surgery, Australia identified a vacancy in their middle order and subsequently decided to reinstate Smith at number four. This decision creates an opening alongside Usman Khawaja at the top of the batting order, leading to considerable discussion regarding potential replacements, including speculation about Warner’s possible return. Australia has ultimately selected Nathan McSweeney from Queensland, who has an average of 97 in two Sheffield Shield matches this season, though these runs were scored from positions three and four. In a warm-up match against India A, McSweeney opened and recorded scores of 14 and 25. Australian batsmen have also had limited exposure to red-ball cricket; Smith and Travis Head participated in only one Sheffield Shield game, scoring three and 40 runs respectively. Marnus Labuschagne and Khawaja performed marginally better, both averaging 48 in two and three matches respectively, but concerns persist regarding their readiness. While it may appear self-evident, India’s superior run-scoring in the last two series against Australia was a critical distinguishing factor. During the 2018-19 series, India’s average first-innings total of 327 significantly surpassed Australia’s 253. This difference narrowed to 15 runs (288 for India to 273 for Australia) in the 2020-21 series. India’s top six batsmen averaged 37.5 in 2018-19, in contrast to Australia’s 27, although the host nation reduced this margin in the subsequent series. India’s middle order (positions five to eight) consistently outscored Australia’s in both series, with averages of 34 to 24.9 in 2018-19 and 33.4 to 26 two years later. Nevertheless, India’s batting performance raises concerns following their recent series against New Zealand. In that series, they achieved only two scores exceeding 250 and were dismissed for 46, 156, and 121 across the three matches. Rishabh Pant, a key contributor to India’s past victories against Australia, is currently in good form, averaging 43.50 in the New Zealand series. However, captain Rohit Sharma averaged only 15.16, and Virat Kohli averaged 15.5. Yashasvi Jaiswal (31.66), Shubman Gill (36), and Sarfaraz Khan (28.5) also faced difficulties, with Pant being the sole player to record more than one half-century in the series. Kohli and Rohit’s Test averages in 2024 stand at just 22.72 and 29.4 respectively, making an Indian victory challenging unless these figures improve. Rohit will be absent from the first Test due to the birth of his second child, necessitating a new opening partner for Jaiswal. Bowler Jasprit Bumrah will captain India in Rohit’s absence. India’s pace attack has been another vital element in their past successes. They have developed a strong group of fast bowlers, spearheaded by the exceptional Bumrah. This has established them as a formidable team across various conditions, not exclusively on home soil, where their recent loss to New Zealand marked their first in 12 years. Bumrah shared the top spot for wicket-takers in the 2018-19 series, securing 21 wickets at an average of 17. He received effective support from Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, collectively outperforming Australia’s fast bowlers. In that series, India’s fast bowlers maintained an average of 23 and an economy rate of 2.64 runs per over, contrasting with Australia’s 31.7 average and 2.73 economy rate. This dynamic shifted in 2020-21 when Bumrah took only 11 wickets and Shami was unavailable. India’s pacers averaged 30.9, while Australia’s averaged 26.2. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep also faced difficulties in the recent New Zealand series, collectively taking seven wickets, compared to 20 for the New Zealand seamers. Nathan Lyon has accumulated 530 Test wickets, which is six fewer than Ravichandran Ashwin. This series will feature the seventh and eighth-most successful bowlers in Test history, with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin competing against Australia’s Nathan Lyon. The performance of each team’s batting lineup against this duo, along with India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, could significantly influence the series outcome. Lyon secured 21 wickets in the 2018-19 series, but this tally decreased to nine two years later as India effectively countered the off-spinner. While Ashwin and Jadeja have not consistently been part of India’s touring squad in Australia, they have performed well when chosen. India’s spinners averaged 28.6 with an economy rate of 2.27 in 2018-19, in contrast to Australia’s spinners who averaged 36.2 with an economy rate of 2.82. The disparity in averages became even more pronounced two years later, standing at 26.8 for India’s spinners compared to 59 for Australia’s. However, Lyon might assume a more prominent role, given that India lost 37 wickets to spin bowling during their series against New Zealand. Cricket Australia has revised the schedule and sequence of venues for the Test matches. The Optus Stadium in Perth, where Australia has triumphed in all four Tests since its inauguration in 2018, is set to host the opening match of the series. This will be followed by matches in Adelaide and Brisbane, venues where Australia has recorded nine wins out of 10 Tests and eight wins out of 10 in the last decade, respectively. Notably, India accounts for one defeat at each of these venues. Melbourne will host the traditional Boxing Day Test, preceding the series conclusion in Sydney. Over the past 10 years, India has secured two victories at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while Australia has won six Tests there. The Sydney Cricket Ground has seen six draws during the same period. Australia appears to have structured the series by scheduling matches at grounds that favor them early on, a strategy that could assist them in securing a spot in the World Test Championship final. The reigning champions require five victories across this series and a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in January and February to guarantee their qualification. Depending on other results, four or even three wins might suffice. India’s prospects of reaching a third consecutive final were diminished by their significant loss to New Zealand, and they now travel to Australia needing four wins from the five Tests to assure their place in the final at Lord’s in June. Ball-by-ball commentary for all matches will be accessible via BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website and app, exclusively for users in the UK. ABC Grandstand will provide the commentary in Australia. The commentary team features regular TMS contributors Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell, and Harsha Bhogle, alongside Australia’s leading Test pace wicket-taker Glenn McGrath, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann, and former Australia batter Phil Jaques. Additionally, video highlights of all significant moments will be available on the BBC Sport website and app shortly after they occur and at the conclusion of play. The website and app will also offer daily reports, analysis, and reactions. Consistent coverage will also be provided on the BBC Cricket Instagram and WhatsApp accounts. In the UK, the series can be watched live on TNT Sports.