After the blockbuster white-ball series, India and Australia will now have a showdown for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting with the Day-Night Test in Adelaide on December 17.
Sharing his two cents on the much-awaited series, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has opined that the first Test will be the key for the visitors in rest of the series.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Vaughan also recalled how the Indian pace battery and Cheteshwar Pujara dominated the Aussies in their last tour Down Under. But he also pointed out that the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner worked in India’s favour.
Notably, Smith and Warner were serving the ball-tampering bans when India defeated Australia 2-1 in the Test series in 2018-19.
“India two years ago were too strong for Australia in Australian conditions. They were terrific. The bowling attack of Bumrah, Shami, Ishant and Ashwin, the Wall Pujara, he was the rock in the Indian batting lineup. They were just too good for the Aussies. The main reason I believe they were too good was that there was no Smith, no Warner, no Labuschagne. The Australians are now a better Test match team. They held on to the Ashes in England. Tim Paine is improving as a Test-match captain,” Vaughan said.
Team India have played just one Day-Night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens last year, which they won by an innings and 46 runs. They are currently playing the second warm-up match against Australia A in Sydney with the pink ball under lights.
On the other hand, the home team have the experience of playing five Tests with the pink ball and they have won each one of them. Moreover, Australia have hosted three Day-Night Tests at the Adelaide Oval and won all encounters against New Zealand (2015), South Africa (2016) and England (2017).
According to Vaughan, if India lose the series opener then there will be no coming back for them as Virat Kohli will be on paternity leave in the last three Tests.
“India will have to see off that trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins, they have to nullify that the kookaburra new ball. If not, Australia will prove to be too strong and powerful. The pink ball Test is the key to the series. If Australia, as they generally do in the Adelaide Day-Night Test, they have never been beaten with the pink ball. If Australia win that Test match and then India lose Virat Kohli for the next three, this could be 4-0 for Australia,” Vaughan opined.
“David Warner missing the first Test gives India a little bit of hope. There is a little bit of confusion about who will open the batting for Australia in Tests. Will Pucovski has been concussed. But that Smith-Labuschagne combination and Travis Head getting better. Also, I don’t see many batting units that will consistently get big scores in Australia against this Australian attack. That is why 4-0,” he further remarked.
