India may play five bowlers as it strives to stay alive

Rahul could get a chance; Bhuvneshwar Kumar in contention

December 25, 2014 01:14 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 04:49 pm IST - Melbourne

Indian captain M.S. Dhoni with coach Duncan Fletcher during a practice session. File photo

Indian captain M.S. Dhoni with coach Duncan Fletcher during a practice session. File photo

Walking down from the Jolimont train station towards the imposing Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one can see marvellously carved out structures that inspire.

There is a statue of the formidable Neil Harvey in all his left-handed glory, meeting the sphere in the manner of a wizard. Further up, the legendary Shane Warne, in his delivery stride, stares at you...intense and so full of life.

Much of cricket is about history and tradition. The Boxing Day Test, steeped in old values, is a lot about celebrating the past and the present. The day after Christmas is a wonderful way to pay homage to a beautiful game and its immortal characters.

Yet, cricket, out in the middle, will be hard when the third Test begins here on Friday. Australia, 2-0 up in the four-Test series, will be seeking to land the knock-out punch. India will be fighting for survival.

For most part of this series, both India and Australia have relentlessly traded blows. Australia, though, hung in there to nail the bouts in Adelaide and Brisbane. Can India, finally, get one back?

Training hard

The Indians trained with verve here on Thursday but their star batsman in the series, Murali Vijay, only had light practice. Skipper M.S. Dhoni said this was the way Vijay prepared ahead of a Test.

Meanwhile, Vijay’s opening partner Shikhar Dhawan was seen spending some time with the trainer after his batting stint. He was put through some drills and did appear to have some difficulty with his glutes.

Interestingly, reserve opener L. Rahul, a promising top-order batsman with the right methods, had a rather lengthy net session with the side’s Director of Cricket, Ravi Shastri, and skipper Dhoni watching him closely.

Rahul took plenty of close catches too. Vijay and Dhawan could well play the Test but the team-management is not taking any chances.

And Suresh Raina, in all likelihood, will replace the out-of-form Rohit Sharma unless the team-management wants to slot Rahul in the middle-order.

Swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar is in contention but as Dhoni said, India would not take risks with the fitness of pacemen.

Dhoni said, “He is fit but Test match fitness is slightly different. You may be fit but have to see five days of load, how many overs you would bowl. You actually prepare for the worst when it comes to fitness in Test cricket.”

Given Bhuvneshwar’s value to the side and India’s pressing need to strike back in the Test, there is an outside chance that India might field five bowlers with Bhuvneshwar one of them.

Pacemen-friendly

The drop-in pitch here is likely to assist pacemen. Curator David Sandurski said there would be pace and bounce in the wicket. The batsmen could be tested with more lateral movement than what one saw at the ’Gabba. The Mitchell Johnson factor will weigh on the Indians’ minds.

In the last Test played here, same period in 2013, Australia defeated England by eight wickets with off-spinner Nathan Lyon scalping five in the second innings. There might be some assistance for spin in the later stages.

Australia has made two changes from the side that won in Brisbane. Crafty seamer Ryan Harris, recovering from a quadriceps strain, returns to replace Mitchell Starc.

And the 25-year-old Queensland batsman, Joe Burns, comes in for the injured Mitchell Marsh. Burns will bat in the middle-order.

The host will be a tad concerned about its batting. The Indian pacemen had made serious inroads at the ’Gabba before skipper Steve Smith and the lower-order batsmen rescued Australia.

Marauding opener David Warner could be a handful for India. Smith, relishing his responsibilities, is in majestic form but this line-up has a few weak links.

In fact, this has been a series of highs and lows, some scintillating fare and some ordinary cricket from both sides.

Verbal exchanges between the two teams have vitiated the proceedings too. On a big occasion and a grand stage, the game’s spirit needs to prevail.

Dhoni’s men can take some heart from history. India has defeated Australia twice in Tests at this famous venue.

Inside the ring, this contest will be a lot about heart.

Teams:

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, KL Rahul, Naman Ojha.

Match starts at: 5 am IST.

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