Australia and India will square off against each other for the second Test match of the ongoing series on 6th December at Adelaide.
Match Preview:
After winning the first Test by a margin of 295 runs, India will head into the second encounter of the series with much confidence.
The best news for India is that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are back. Nevertheless, Sharma confirmed that both KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open for the side, and he will bat “somewhere in the middle.”
It is also expected that India won’t change their bowling unit. After losing a series to New Zealand, India will look to win this series against Australia and the remainder of their Test games to cement their place in the final of the World Test Championship.
The comeback of Sharma will be crucial for the side, as the captain’s top score in the last ten innings was just 52. All the hopes and dreams will rest on one main player who has been the cornerstone for India in recent times—Jasprit Bumrah.
Talking about Australia, the big blow is, of course, Josh Hazlewood’s injury. Beyond that, the list of concerns for Australia is extensive. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were short of runs, Travis Head’s comeback wasn’t fruitful, the spin attack didn’t work for the home side, and the captain looked out of sorts.
The form of Marnus and Smith, in particular, has been the talk of the town. Regarding Marnus, captain Pat Cummins said, “He wants Marnus to be more proactive.”
If Australia wants to win the second Test, their number 3 and 4 batters will have to step up together.
Playing XI:
Australia (confirmed): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Nathan McSweeney, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland
India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rohit Sharma (capt), 6 Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Nitesh Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Pitch and Weather Report:
The upcoming day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval promises to be a captivating encounter, with the pitch expected to present a stern test for batsmen. The pink ball’s propensity to swing and seam under lights will add an extra layer of complexity, making it challenging for batsmen to adjust.
While the Adelaide Oval pitch is typically a haven for batsmen, the twilight hours are expected to bring additional assistance to bowlers. The pitch preparation, featuring a healthy grass cover, will further accentuate conditions for seam and swing bowling.
As the match unfolds, the contrast between the batting-friendly daytime conditions and the challenging twilight hours is likely to create a thrilling contest between bat and ball.
Head-to-Head Record:
India and Australia have faced each other in 103 Test matches. India have won 34, while Australia have emerged victorious on 43 occasions.
Prediction:
Although India clinched a clinical victory over Australia in the first Test match of the series, Australia is expected to bounce back and win the second Test, given their strength as a team and the advantage of playing at home.
Where to watch:
India: Disney+Hotstar app and website
Pakistan: Tapmad
Others: Willow TV
