BGT NOT SO FAR AWAY, WHAT CAN BE THE TEAM COMBINATION AND STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS OF BOTH THE TEAM

 Only 9 days left for the start of the most epic rivalry between India vs Australia, all the cricketing experts have already started giving their opinion and predictions. In this blog we will try to cover every possible aspect related to the BGT, from Series prediction to player analysis and also the team combination. Before we start make sure to follow me on Instagram for all the cricket related content (cricketanalyst_ak).

The very first question is what can be the team combination of both the teams? I had already given my predicted 11 for India in the previous blog (Read here), are we ready to play Nitish Kumar Reddy? He is an allrounder and can definitely help in both batting and bowling, but Dhruv Jurel is in some terrific form, can India try to fit him in as a pure batter? The only way Jurel can play is by letting Nitish warm the bench. So the next big question arise is what will be the ideal bowling combination? anyone of Jaddu or Washi will have to sit out to make Jurel play. 

If Nitish sits out who will be our 4th pacer? Especially in Perth you need someone has that pace and bounce. Looking at the current form I would have loved to see Mukesh getting the place but he is not in the main squad, he is been to Australia as reserved player. So the only 2 options left are Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. Prasidh will get some help of the deck but we all know the fact that he has been to South Africa and he wasn't good enough their, he took only 2 wickets in the 2 matches they played their with an average of  65. Can't predict about Harshit Rana but I don't know why is he even selected in the main team before Mukesh Kumar. Harshit is a good bowler but selecting him so early is not a good sign. It's better to select the 4th pacer based on who bats better, I know that's sounds a bit silly but what other options do you have to judge the player. 

and the final concern for India is about availability of Captain Rohit Sharma. I think it is clear with the team now that he might be unavailable for the first test, he haven't travel with the team that left for Australia on 11th. Gambhir made it clear in his press conference that Bumrah will captain team India in his absence, and the openers will be either Rahul or Easwaran. I would prefer Easwaran to open looking at the current form.

Considering all the factors mentioned above the probable playing can be:

1) Jaiswal

2) Easwaran

3) Gill

4) Kohli

5) Pant (WK)

6) Jurel

7) Jaddu

8) Akash deep

9) Bumrah (C)

10) Siraj

11) Harshit Rana

Do we have the guts to play only 7 batters after what happened against New Zealand? Maybe, I understand our batting is the main concern in the recent times but we have to take some tough decision to get the result we want from the series. For making our batting stronger I was rooting for Nitish to play but that would have compromised our bowling for sure. Jaddu have to make some allround performance to make sure Washi doesn't take his place. 

So by looking at the squad it is clear that our strong point is our bowling and weakness is our batting. But take a minute and have a look at Australian squad, I think they are having the same problem recently. They have rooted for a new opener McSweeney. Smith was opening the batting after Warner's retirement but now he will be again at his original position i.e no. 4. He might struggle initially due to changes in his batting position. Let us 1st look at Predicted or almost confirm Australian 11.

1) Usman Khwaja

2) McSweeney

3) Labushagne

4) Smith

5) Marsh

6) Travis Head

7) Alex Carey (WK)

8) Pat Cummins (C)

9) Starc

10) Hazlewood

11) Lyon

For the first test only 3 Australian batters can be nightmare for us and they are Khwaja, Head and Labushagne. Yeah I know all the other batters are good and can score big against India but this is what I feel, they might be flop in the first test. We have to make man to man planning for every Australian batter and Jasprit Bumrah will play some key role to dismiss some of their batters. Also Akashdeep and Siraj are players to look out for India. No need to get scared of the Australian just make sure to follow the basics and every player must play their role well. Expecting a great first test at Perth. The whole series will depend on the first test match performance, Perth is a difficult ground and if India manages to win or at least draw the first test India will have the upper hand on the series. I am not looking at the border prospect like WTC Final, I just want India to continue the streak of winning the test series in Australia. So first test ending in Draw is not a bad option for India. 

Virat Kohli has some great record in Australian conditions, especially in Perth. He has an average of 70 in the Perth. Expecting him to go big in the first test. Let's see some player records in the Border Gavaskar Trophy History regardless of the venue.

Note: Only players in current squad and good BGT records are included.

Looking at the records above, it makes clear about which player performs the best on the biggest stage. My predictions for individual performance i.e best batter and bowler from the series are; Rishabh or Jaiswal from India and Khwaja or Labushagne for Aussies. In terms of bowling it's Bumrah for India no doubt in that, for Australia it will be Hazlewood. 

Just in: I just saw an article that India is going to play 3 day intra squad test match and viewers will not be allowed to see the match. (Read full article here)

Which player are you guys rooting for in this series? Let me know in the comment section below and let me know if I missed any aspect of the series.

THANK YOU,

ADVAIT KADAM

(Sports Management Student)