Picking an 11 of Australia's all-time best Test performers against India ft. Ricky Ponting & Nathan Lyon
It is that time of the cricketing season when Tests down under take center stage and there is a palpable excitement in the air. The energy, enthusiasm, and intensity among fans and the media are at an all-time high this year as the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy is less than 10 days away.
The mind games and back-and-forth between former players perfectly set up the marquee India-Australia five-Test series over the next couple of months. The two teams have a long and often bitter history of highly competitive matches in the red-ball format.
Playing each other since 1947, Australia holds the upper hand by a 45-32 margin in 107 Tests. Yet, recent history has been all India in the bilateral Test series between the sides.
The Asian giants have upstaged the mighty Aussies in the last four red-ball series, including prevailing in the previous two series down under.
Seeking inspiration to avoid an embarrassing hat-trick home Test series defeat to India, Australia will look to star performers from the past that have helped the side dominate Team India historically in the Test arena.
While some have got the better of the Indian batters and bowlers at home, others have weaved their magic even in alien conditions in India.
On that note, let us pick an all-time Australia Test XI based on performances against India in the build-up to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Openers - Matthew Hayden & David Boon
Two batters with contrasting styles but similar impact - Matthew Hayden and David Boon, will open the batting for the Australia Test XI against India. Boon sent down shivers in the Indian ranks with his remarkable consistency in the mid-1980s and the early 1990s.
The right-hander scored over 1,200 runs and averaged an incredible 70.82 against India in 11 Tests with six centuries. Boon was among the few Aussie batters to thrive on the spinning pitches in India, averaging 65 in his three Tests on Indian soil.
Meanwhile, Hayden is widely remembered for single-handedly standing between India and victory several times in the famous 2001 series in India. The tall left-hander amassed almost 1,900 runs against India in Tests, including over 1,000 runs in India.
Hayden averaged an outstanding 59 in Tests against India with six centuries and eight half-centuries in 18 outings.
Several Indian bowlers of the 2000s have termed Hayden the best Aussie batter against spin for his relentless ability to play the sweep shot.
Middle Order - Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke
Australia has produced a plethora of middle-order giants in their rich Test history but none more accomplished than former skipper Ricky Ponting. Not only is the man famously referred to as 'Punter' Australia's all-time leading Test run-getter, but he also boasts the most runs by an Aussie batter in Tests against India.
With 2,555 runs at an excellent average of 54.36, Ponting is second behind only Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in India-Australia Tests. While his average of under 27 in India isn't all that impressive, Ponting more than made up for his struggles against spin with seven centuries in 15 home Tests against India.
Another former captain Allan Border comes in at No.4 and the fact that the India-Australia Test series is named after him should tell an entire story by itself. An equally dominant batter against fast and spin bowling, the southpaw enjoyed tremendous success against India at home and away.
Border scored over 1,500 runs against the Indians at an average of 52.23 with almost half the runs coming in India at an equally impressive average of 51.06.
The array of former captains dominating the Aussie middle order continues with modern great Steve Smith coming in at No.5. Smith is one of only eight batters with over 2,000 runs in India-Australia Tests and his average of 65.87 is the best among those in that elite club.
Smith, like Border, has dominated the Indian bowling attack in home and away Test matches. Three of his nine centuries against India in Tests have come on turning wickets in India and an average of over 50 in alien conditions speaks volumes about his ability to tackle world-class spinners.
It is only right that the final batter in Australia's legendary middle-order is another former captain - Michael Clarke. The right-handed batter is Australia's second leading scorer in Tests against India with 2,049 runs at an average of 53.92.
The now-43-year-old made his mark as a force to be reckoned with in world cricket during Australia's famous 2-1 series win in India in 2004, showcasing his brilliant footwork against spin.
Clarke averages over 40 in India with three of his seven centuries against the arch-rivals coming on the turning Indian tracks.
Wicketkeeper - Adam Gilchrist
When wet talk about wicketkeepers in Test cricket, only one name immediately comes to mind - Adam Gilchrist.
Yet, ironically none of the Australian glovemen, including Gilchrist, were at their absolute best against Team India in Tests. In saying that, Gilchrist's 809 runs (most for an Aussie wicketkeeper against India) with two centuries makes him the obvious choice for the position.
Despite averaging only 27.89 in Tests against India, his two centuries came in winning causes and an overall strike rate of over 76 against the Asian side speaks volumes of his ability to counter-attack and change the flow of the contest.
Furthermore, Gilchrist helped Australia achieve their 'Final Frontier' in 2004 when he led the side for most of the 2004 series in India as they secured a 2-1 win.
Bowlers - Richie Benaud, Graham McKenzie, Nathan Lyon, Glenn McGrath
Before turning into the voice of cricket behind the mic, Richie Benaud bamboozled batters with his leg-spin bowling. Among the 18 bowlers to have picked up 50 or more wickets against India in Tests, Benaud boasts the best average of 18.38.
Incidentally, he played all eight of his Tests against India in India, finishing with 52 wickets and five five-wicket hauls against them. Benaud was also a more than capable lower-order batter, evidenced by his career Test average of 24.45 in 63 outings.
We head to the 1960s for the next player in the Australian all-time XI for India Tests - speedster Graham McKenzie.
The now-83-year-old tormented the Indian batters in the red-ball format with 47 wickets in only ten games at a stunning average of 20.57. Most notably, McKenzie averaged under 20 in Tests in India where pitches are usually considered as graveyard for pacers.
The second spinner in the Australian XI will be the all-time leading wicket-taker in India-Australia Tests - Nathan Lyon. The 36-year-old has enjoyed success against some of the best Indian batters of this generation at home and in India.
Lyon is the only Australian bowler with over 100 Test wickets against India and his 121 scalps have come at an average of 31.56, including nine five-wicket hauls. The champion off-spinner has been particularly impressive in several challenging tours of India, picking up 56 wickets at an average of 27.35.
The final spot in Australias's 11 goes to former pacer Glenn McGrath, who did to Indian batters what he did to almost all batters around the world in his illastrious career - dance to his tunes.
McGrath picked up 51 wickets in only 11 Tests against India at an extraordinary average of 18.64. He was one of the rare pace bowlers to also thrive in Indian conditions, averaging 21.30 in eight Tests.
The legendary pacer played a massive role in Australia's last series win in India in 2004 with 14 wickets.
Australia's all-time Test Playing XI vs India
Matthew Hayden, David Boon, Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Richie Benaud, Graham McKenzie, Nathan Lyon, and Glenn McGrath.
12th Man: Pat Cummins