3 things Australia need to do right to beat India in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test at The Gabba
India and Australia head into the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series at The Gabba in Brisbane, with the series tantalizingly placed at 1-1. Both teams have their fair share of positives and concerns heading into the all-important contest that could give one of these teams a valuable headstart ahead of the business end of the series.
Australia issued a strong reply in Adelaide after a wave of criticism following the defeat in Perth. The Men in Yellow looked assured across departments, and flexed their pink-ball prowess to rake in a win inside three days. With the top-order slowly finding some touch, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc at their menacing best, and Josh Hazlewood returning to the lineup, the hosts look a threatening proposition.
Australia hardly put a foot wrong in Adelaide, and the priority for them would be to make the most of the momentum from that win. On that note, here are three things Australia need to do right to beat India in the BGT 2024-25 third Test at The Gabba.
#1 Persist with the short-ball ploy
Australia tapped into India's lack of game time on Australian soil by inviting them to play the series opener on a fiery pitch in Perth. The major difference between the conditions Down Under and the subcontinent is the extra pace and bounce, and India were rattled right from the word go, and the lack of adaptation was evident.
The only reason India had a series lead was because of the bowlers' brilliance, and the luxury of eased-up conditions in the second innings in Perth. After already being tamed by the bounce in Perth, India were caught out again at the Adelaide Oval, where there was even more bounce, with the pink ball playing a role as well.
Pat Cummins made the most of the conditions by unleashing a short-ball barrage, which troubled the visiting batters to a great extent. The ploy reaped rewards across both innings as the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and the entire lower order perished against it.
The Gabba might be the last time India truly feels alienated given that the subsequent matches will be played in Melbourne and Sydney (where India have a promising record in recent tours). Australia need to be at their most hostile and make the batters feel as uncomfortable as possible, and the short-ball tactic is the best way to ensure the same.
Cummins is the best exponent of this particular approach, while Hazlewood's extra height compared to Scott Boland, also makes him a viable candidate to extract extra bounce off the surface.
#2 Take advantage of India's first-innings frailties
India's first-innings woes in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle have been well-documented. Regular batting collapses, stemming from a dearth of partnerships, the lack of grit to spend some time at the crease, and diabolical shot selection have attributed to some alarming numbers regarding the same.
From Australia's point of view, they have hit the nail on the head on both occasions. They have been intense with the new ball in the first innings across both Tests, bowling out India for 150 and 180 in Perth and Adelaide respectively.
The hosts need to maintain the same intensity and prowess, particularly Mitchell Starc with the new ball, and Hazlewood with his relentless accuracy. Another poor first innings total would pile the pressure on the bowlers (read Jasprit Bumrah) to churn up something magical yet again under intense pressure.
A poor first innings total would also put India under duress when they come out to bat in the second innings, whether it be in the form of a deficit or while attempting to chase a target.
#3 Unsettle India's support bowlers
One of the major differences in Australia's batting displays from the first and the second Test is the way they dealt with India's bowling group outside of Bumrah. In Perth, the batters gave too much respect to debutants Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy.
However, in Adelaide, especially after dealing with the new pink ball, Australia built momentum by taking on the support bowlers. Harshit Rana had a forgettable Test, and ended up wicket-less while going at over five runs an over.
With capable aggressors in the batting unit, who have found some timely form, there is no reason for Australia to move away from the same approach. There is also the confidence from the hosts' standpoint that India will not be able to apply pressure from both ends consistently.