Predicting Australia's best playing 11 for BGT 2024-25
Australia will take on India in a five-match Test series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from November 22 to January 7. The much-awaited series will kick off with the opening Test in Perth. India A are then scheduled to play a two-day warm-up match against Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra from November 30 to December 1.
The second Test of the India-Australia series will be held in Adelaide from December 6 to December 10 followed by the third match at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to December 18. This will be followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test (December 26-December 30) in Melbourne and the New Year Test in Sydney from January 3 to January 7.
India have beaten Australia during their previous two visits Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21, so the Aussies will be keen to avoid a hat-trick of losses. On Sunday, November 10, the hosts announced a 13-member squad for the first Test in Perth. On the basis of the same, we predict Australia's best playing 11 for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Top-order: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne
The seasoned Usman Khawaja looks all set to open the innings for Australia in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 37-year-old has the experience of 73 Test matches in which he has scored over 5,400 runs at an average of 45.80. The Southpaw has had an underwhelming 2024, managing only 274 runs in 10 innings at an average of 30.44. He will be keen to get back among the big runs.
The Australian selectors have picked Nathan McSweeney as Khawaja's opening partner after the slot was left vacant following Cameron Green's injury. Amazingly, the 25-year-old has never opened at the Sheffield Shield level, but he did open the innings against India A recently in the second unofficial Test in Melbourne, scoring 14 & 25. In the first match, he batted in the middle-order, scoring 39 & 88*.
McSweeney has the experience of 34 first-class matches in which he has scored 2,252 runs at an average of 38.16, with six hundreds and 12 fifties. The right-handed batter scored 55 & 127* in the opening Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in Sydney. In the same match, Sam Konstas, one of the contenders for the opening slot, scored hundreds in both innings for New South Wales.
Marnus Labuschagne looks set to occupy the crucial No. 3 slot for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The 30-year-old has played 50 Tests and averages just under 50. He hasn't had a great time in 2024 though. In 14 innings, he has managed 325 runs at an average of 27.08, with four fifties.
Middle-order: Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Alex Carey (wk)
Former captain Steve Smith will move back to his customary No. 4 position for the Tests against India after an underwhelming performance as a makeshift opener. The 35-year-old is averaging just over 30 from 10 innings in 2024. However, he has an exceptional record against India. He has smashed 2,042 runs in 37 Test innings against India, averaging 65.87, with the aid of nine hundreds.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, left-handed batter Travis Head, and keeper-batter Alex Carey are likely to be the other key members of the Australian outfit during the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Head, in particular, loves playing against India irrespective of the format. He scored match-winning hundreds against them in the 2023 WTC final as well as the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Bowlers: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon
Australia's bowling attack for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy pretty much picks itself. Apart from skipper Pat Cummins, left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc and right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood are likely to be the main fast bowlers, with Nathan Lyon being the obvious choice as spinner.
All the four bowlers can be match-winners on their day. If we look at their record against India, Cummins has 50 wickets in 13 Tests, Starc 48 in 18, and Hazlewood 51 in 15. Veteran off-spinner Lyon has as many as 121 scalps from 27 Tests against India, which includes nine five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls.