Weeks of debate will come to an end on Friday as Australia and India come together for battle in the first Test.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy always brings out the best in both sides but Australia’s inability to wrestle back the trophy from India’s grasp since 2014 has Pat Cummins’ men desperate to start the series with a bang in Perth.
Australia’s XI is all but set, with Nathan McSweeney set to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order following David Warner’s retirement.
India’s best side is a little more complicated and won’t be confirmed until the toss, but the squad oozes talent and is packed with genuine match-winners.
Who do you fancy? We run the numbers on likely line-ups before ball one at 1:20pm (AEDT) on Friday. Have your say in the reader polls below.
The openers
Nathan McSweeney (Australia): Will become the first male Australian opener to debut in Tests since Will Pucovski in 2021. Has only opened the batting on two occasions at first-class level, having scored most of his runs at No.3 and No.4.
First-class record: 2252 runs @ 38.16. 100s: 6.
Last 10 scores (first-class): 580 runs @ 72.5 (117, 6, 55, 127*, 37, 72, 39, 88*, 14, 25).
Usman Khawaja (Australia): In and out of the team from 2011 to 2019 before two centuries in the Sydney in the New Year Test of 2022 reignited Khawaja’s career. Has been a rock at the top of Australia’s order since. Only his third Test series against India.
Test record: 5451 runs @ 45.8. 100s: 15
Last 10 scores (Tests): 274 runs @ 30.44 (47, 0, 45, 9*, 75, 10, 33, 28, 16, 11).
KL Rahul (India): Has opened against Australia in the last four series for a return of 614 runs at 38.37 when at the top of the order. Is the likely replacement to take captain Rohit Sharma’s opening spot, at least for the first Test.
Test record: 2981 runs @ 33.87. 100s: 8.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 339 runs @ 37.67 (101, 4, 8, 86, 22*, 16, 22, 68, 0, 12).
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India): A new star of Indian cricket who is yet to face Australia. Made an eye-catching 171 on Test debut against the West Indies in July last year before carving out two double centuries against England in February to really announce himself on the international scene.
Test record: 1407 runs @ 56.28. 100s:3.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 379 runs @ 37.9 (56, 10, 72, 51, 13, 35, 30, 77, 30, 5).
First drop
Marnus Labuschagne (Australia): Made a hundred in India’s last Test in Australia (Brisbane 2021). At that point in his career, Labuschagne was averaging 60.8 with the bat. That number is now 49.56 after compiling just one century in his last 39 innings. Due for runs.
Test record: 4114 runs @ 49.56. 100s: 11.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 240 runs @ 30 (60, 62*, 10, 1*, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6).
Devdutt Padikkal (India): With Shubman Gill injured, Padikkal is in the frame for a Test debut, according to some Indian reports. A left-hander with a first-class average of 42.49, the 24-year-old could face a baptism of fire against Australia’s quicks on a bouncy Perth surface.
First-class record: 2677 runs @ 42.29. 100s: 6.
Last 10 scores (first-class): 329 runs @ 32.9 (92, 1, 50, 3, 16, 16, 36, 88, 26, 1).
No.4
Steve Smith (Australia): The greatest since Bradman? This could be a career-defining series for Smith. Peeled off four hundreds in as many matches in the 2014-2015 series against India and will be desperate to replicate that form.
Test record: 9685 runs @ 56.97. 100s: 32.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 213 runs @ 30.4 (38, 4*, 12, 11*, 6, 91*, 31, 0, 11, 9).
Virat Kohli (India): Boasts the best Test average of any Indian player against Australia in Australia (54.08) with 10 or more matches to their name. Unquestionably India’s most important player, who can take the game away from Australia. Hasn’t been anywhere near his best over the past five years.
Test record: 9040 runs @ 47.83. 100s: 29
Last 10 scores (Tests): 192 runs @ 21.33 (6, 17, 47, 29*, 0, 70, 1, 17, 4, 1).
Middle order/all-rounders
Travis Head (Australia): Has solidified his spot in the side and become a crucial player for Australia. Yet to score a Test century against India in Australia.
Test record: 3173 runs at 41.75. 100s: 7.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 215 runs @ 21.5 (17, 0, 10, 119, 0, 0, 1, 29, 21, 18)
Mitch Marsh (Australia): India have had Marsh’s measure in the past, with the West Australian averaging 18.33 from five Tests. Would love an auspicious start to the series in his hometown.
Test record: 2010 runs @ 30.45. 100s: 3.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 347 runs @ 34.7 (41, 96, 54, 5, 21, 10, 40, 0, 0, 80).
Dhruv Jurel (India): Could make his debut. Was India’s under-19 vice-captain at the 2020 World Cup. Scored 249 in his sixth first-class match. Also a wicketkeeper.
Test record: 190 runs @ 63.33. 0 hundreds.
Scores in Test cricket: (February and March against England: 46, 90, 39*, 15).
Nitish Kumar Reddy, a bowling all-rounder, has also been floated as a potential debutant.
Wicketkeepers
Alex Carey (Australia): Has been in sensational form this season in the Sheffield Shield, which could bode well for the summer. Will come into the series fresh and ready to take his chances behind the stumps in his first series against India on home soil.
Test record: 1339 runs at 31.88. 100s: 1.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 302 runs @ 33.56 (4, 53, 38, 15, 65, 2, 10, 3, 14, 98*).
Rishabh Pant (India): Has made a remarkable return to cricket from horror injuries suffered in a car accident. Had a great series in Australia last time and a player Pat Cummins would love to keep quiet – in front of and behind the stumps.
Test record: 2693 runs @ 44.14. 100s: 6.
Last 10 scores (Tests): 422 runs @ 46.89 (39, 109, 9, 4*, 20, 99, 18, 0, 60, 64).
Spinners
Nathan Lyon (Australia): At 37, Lyon is closer to the end but still has the hunger to lift his team in big matches. Will be looking to atone for his numbers the last time India toured when he took nine wickets at 55.
Test record: 530 wickets @ 30.28. 24 five-wicket hauls, five 10-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 1-74, 3-36, 1-36, 2-4, 2-81, 3-42, 4-43, 6-65, 0-6, 3-49.
Ravichandran Ashwin (India): India’s second leading wicket-taker of all time averages 42 with the ball on Australian soil. Has had recent success against Steve Smith, but the Australian doesn’t want to let him settle.
Test record: 536 wickets @ 23.95. 37 five-wicket hauls, eight 10-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 0-29, 6-88, 2-45, 3-50, 1-94, 0-6, 3-64, 2-97, 0-47, 3-63
Ravindra Jadeja (India): Very capable with the bat, Jadeja is also a handful with the ball, averaging about the same in Australia as India (21 vs 20). Some talk he might not even be in India’s XI due to the balance of the side.
Test record: 319 wickets @ 23.76. 15 five-wicket hauls, three 10-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 2-19, 3-58, 1-28, 3-34, 3-72, 0-28, 0-53, 3-72, 5-65, 5-55.
Pace bowlers
Pat Cummins (Australia): Tends to stand up in the big series and comes in refreshed following a good break. Yet to win a Test series against India.
Test record: 269 wickets @ 22.52. 12 five-wicket hauls, two 10-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 5-61, 1-24, 4-41, 0-25, 1-76, 0-39, 1-33, 0-40, 1-35, 4-62.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Coming off a seven-wicket haul in his last first-class match for NSW against Victoria. Has 35 wickets at 34.82 against India in Australia.
Test record: 358 wickets @ 27.74. 14 five-wicket hauls, two 10-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 2-75, 1-15, 1-37, 2-46, 4-82, 1-45, 1-34, 0-29, 3-59, 1-94.
Josh Hazlewood (Australia): A mainstay of Australia’s attack who took the second most number of wickets (17) in the last series when India were out here. Keeping Hazlewood fit will be key.
Test record: 273 wickets @ 24.82. 12 five-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 1-65, 4-16, 4-44, 5-35, 2-38, 3-23, 2-55, 2-20, 5-31, 1-70.
Jasprit Bumrah (India): Has the second best bowling average in Test history for a player with 40 or more Tests. One of the most dangerous bowlers in the world with a decent record against Australia. The quick Australia fear most. Captaining the first Test.
Test record: 173 wickets @ 20.57. 10 five-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 0-51, 2-38, 4-50, 1-24, 3-50, 3-17, 1-41, 2-29, 0-32, 0-25.
Mohammed Siraj (India): A very handy quick who took 13 wickets at 29.53 when India were last out. Always up for the battle and could get in the face of Australia’s top order.
Test record: 80 wickets @ 30.63. Three five-wicket hauls.
Last 10 bowling figures (Tests): 0-16, 0-24, 0-8, 2-30, 0-32, 2-57, 0-19, 2-84, 0-16, 0-16.
Akash Deep (India): Pace bowler who has featured in five Tests this year, including the last two of the recent series against New Zealand. In the selection mix.
Test record: 10 wickets @ 25.8. No five-wicket hauls.
Recent bowling figures at Test level: 3-83, 2-19, 0-20, 2-43, 1-20, 0-41, 1-22, 1-10.
Prasidh Krishna (two wickets @ 65) and Harshit Rana (yet to play a Test) are also both live options.
