The Australian squad analysis

The inspired team. (Image: Cricinfo)

On Thursday, when Australia announced the squad that’ll come to the Indian shores to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, majority number of opinions from ‘experts’ dismissed the line-up as a weak and ‘inexperienced’ squad. Yes, it might not have the heavyweights like Hayden, Langer, Warne, McGrath, and Ponting, but it has players who have been performing well and are in good form. The names aren’t intimidating, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Those who have followed the growth of Australian team under Clarke, will know the ground reality.

Australia, unlike India, are a team that are rebuilding in the right direction. They haven’t been blown away by retirements. A good selection policy and inspiring leadership has brought hope in the Australian camp. India, on the other hand, has juggled with players and made some real illogical selections. To add to it, the captain hasn’t led from the front in the longer format. The Aussie batting might be ‘inexperienced’, but it is mighty. The names aren’t big, but they have proven records and recent good performances to brag about. Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Wade and Khwaja, led by the dangerously in-form Michael Clarke, form a dangerous combination of players who can play out sessions and can also demolish economy rates. Most of these players can score big hundreds, clobber boundaries and steal quick runs. Also consider the weak Indian bowling. We don’t have even one bowler who’s a permanent fixture in the side! Ojha, on the basis of sheer form, stands out. If the English batsmen, known most likely to collapse on spinning tracks, can play out Indian bowling, then don’t underestimate this talented line-up from Down Under. Coming to Indian batting, a weak opening pair, and an ever-void lower middle order slot are some glaring shortcomings. Only Pujara and Kohli, to some extent, provide a glimmer of hope.

At least the batting can be compared between these two countries, but when it comes to bowling, India’s wardrobe is bare. Australia, meanwhile, continues to crop up new world class pace-bowlers. Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, and Jackson Bird. Where does the Indian retort stand in comparison? They can put together only a set of talented medium pacers, who rely on swing to do the trick. Only when it comes to spin department, India might be marginally better placed with with two spinners who have good track record at home. Australia has tried to cover ground here, by bringing four spinners for the long tour. Nathan Lyon has improved a lot and can spin webs around Indian batting. If Steven O’ Keefe would have come in place of Xoherty, it would have been a better  mix of spinners for the Aussies.

The fielding department is also Australia’s forte. India can be guilty of hiding some slow movers in the field; the Australians on the other hand, have agile bodies all around the park. Some stunning catches can turn the course of match, so Australians have a huge edge when it boils down to checking runs, taking catches and affecting run-outs.

In a nutshell, the Indians fans and media should write off this squad at their own risk, because this team can give India a good run for their money and can even pull off a series win. Against the popular comparison of squads on paper, if we do a comparative form analysis, Australia edges out India as favourites. India need much inspiration to be tigers at home again!

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