The much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is set to commence on 22nd November in Optus Stadium, Perth. Travis Head, the vice captain of Test side has similar shades like Legendary wicket-keeper batter Adam Gilchrist. Travis Head in ICC WTC 2021-23 final against India had struck a blistering ton and since the last 3-4 years, he has been a pivotal part of the Australian batting line up.
Indian bowlers will have to try short ball barrage for Travis Head as the batter’s ultra-attacking game-plan can backfire for him. All eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah who is set to lead the side in 1st Test match given the unavailability of Rohit Sharma due to personal reasons. India will have to carefully manage the workload of Bumrah as in Australia, the bowlers have to bowl long & effective spells to get productive results.
I don’t think Australia played into the fifth day last summer- Travis Head
Travis Head was having an interaction with AAP and emphasized that the surfaces in Australia aren’t quite easy for batters as compared to the previous BGT 2020-21 series. According to a report by Perth now, before the 2020-21 Australian Test summer, a wicket has fallen in every 66.6 deliveries but in the last 3 seasons, the average has come down to 52. Travis Head pointed out that Indian batters would be thoroughly tested on Australian pitches.
“You look back at those series, cricket in Australia, the Tests we have played have changed a little bit. The style we need to play has changed with the wickets we have been dealt. It’s been tough the past couple of years. That will be the big difference between the last time India came. Most of the Tests got to the fifth day. I don’t think we even played into the fifth day last summer. There were real up and down Tests on some tougher wickets,” said Travis Head.
“Their batters in different conditions, it will be tough for them. They played South Africa a little while ago and they won one and lost one on some dicey wickets. It’s uncomfortable. It’s like us going to India and playing on theirs. It probably helps us a little bit. If it was us and England on juicy wickets you would probably say it benefits England. But their bowlers are so good, it takes the spinners out of it a little bit. It takes the spinners out of it a bit maybe,” he added.
Stern Test for India
India will have to bring their ‘A’ game to defeat Australia. There’s no doubt that India had won last two Test series in Australia in 2018-19 & 2020-21 by 2-1 in both occasions, but this time Aussies would be well prepared. The side under the leadership of Pat Cummins has looked threatening and has shown a never-to-say-die attitude.
Once again the onus will be on the star batter Virat Kohli to amass big tons. The batter has smashed 6 centuries in 13 Test matches in Australia as he very well knows how to grind Australian bowlers & conditions. Virat Kohli though had a forgettable Test series against New Zealand and was seen a bit clueless against spinners; Nathan Lyon would be keen to fox the Indian batter.