Can Dhoni win this Test Series atleast?
With the first Test between two teams in transition, India and Australia, starting in less than 24 hours, everyone is thinking about the playing eleven and the tactics that can beat the opposition. Australia have already released their playing eleven for the first Test while India have kept it surreptitious. The touring Australian team is playing with a lone spinner alongside three pacers and a fast bowling all-rounder, which is a gamble as the pitches are supposed to be very flat and deteriorating. With the first Test being in Chennai where temperatures are expected to be on the higher side, the possibility of movement at the start of the day is almost zero. The only possibility is that of reverse swing and most of the regular Australian fast bowlers were not able to get any reverse from the old ball in the tour matches, with Henriques being the only exception.
There is a conflict in selecting the composition of the playing 11 for the touring side as they are caught in two minds, between playing a team better suited to the local conditions or a full strength team. In England’s tour of India, the visitors played with full a strength team in the first Test, which they lost, while in the second Test they played according to the local conditions i.e. playing two spinners, and won the match. This is an example of playing according to the local conditions and getting the most from them.
So, selecting a team for a match in the subcontinent has always been difficult for touring sides and it’s the same now. Patience has always been the main factor for any fast bowler to get wickets in India with Jimmy Anderson the latest example. Johnson and Siddle, having experience in playing in India, should help their fellow bowler Starc who had a great Australian summer with the ball and was handy with the bat also. If the trio believes in their strengths and if they will be patient, they will be able to get their scalps.
Nathan Lyon, the lone spinner in the Australian line up, will be very confident with the conditions assisting spin and he will be the main factor in the fourth innings when the pitch will start deteriorating. Skipper Clarke’s left arm spin will be handy for the team as well. With Moises Henriques able to reverse swing the ball in the tour matches, it will make him confident and allow a handy option for the skipper with the old ball.
Playing with three spinners against England back fired for India but the inability of Australian batsmen against spin in the tour matches may cajole the Indians to play with three spinners. Harbhajan, playing his 100th test, will have a lot of pressure on him. With the effect of T20 cricket, all the spin bowlers around the world have started to bowl flatter and faster, rather than giving flight, which will make it easy for batsmen in the longer format of the game. Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar gave perfect examples of getting wickets by giving flight and bowling a constant line, which Indian spinners missed by trying a lot of things instead of sticking to a line and length. It will be an added advantage for Matthew Wade who struggled with the gloves against Sri Lanka as they are just playing one spinner and will help him play freely and express himself.
With David Warner and Michael Clarke recovering from injury, it will make Australia a better team. With Watson scoring two half centuries in the only tour match he played, it showed glimpses of him getting into form which will be great news for Australia. With Ed Cowan being solid in both the practice matches, it should have helped his confidence as he is touring India for the first time. With Michael Clarke having an amazing 2012, it will help him to lead his team with more confidence as he is in good form.
Murali Vijay is expected to open the innings with Sehwag. Indian opening duo will be under pressure to perform to cement their place. Sachin had been out of form for the past 12 months but his unbeaten century in the Irani Trophy might have boosted his confidence.
A lot is expected from both the middle order youngsters. With Indian players having advantage of playing at home, it may boost the confidence of the Indian youngsters. For the Australian youngster, as the coach said, they will have to play the spinners more aggressively than they have in the tour matches. It all depends on Clarke and Watson as to how they help youngsters to perform well in this series.
Dhoni will be under pressure for losing majority of the Test matches in the past 12 months and according to critics this may be well his last chance to prove his ability to lead the team. Dhoni being under pressure may affect his batting form but he is known for performing under pressure. We have to wait and see how Dhoni is going to handle this pressure.