The pressure on Australia to perform is seemingly at an all time high after a soul destroying loss to the visitors in Perth.
Australia need to return to the form that has led to a lot of red ball success in recent tours and they need to do it fast.
The pitchforks are well and truly out for a lot of our big names and anything less than an Australian win here will only add fuel to the fire.
It’s shaping up to be a dramatic second test, I’ve checked the forecast, run my eyes over the markets, here is my preview of the 2nd test between Australia and India.
Australia vs India
Friday December 6 2:00pm, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
My Predicted Australia XI
- U. Kwahaja
- N. McSweeney
- M. Labuschagne
- S. Smith
- T. Head
- M. Marsh
- A. Carey (WK)
- P. Cummins (C)
- M. Starc
- N. Lyon
- S. Boland
As much as I’ve cried out for a shake up I don’t believe will we see one for this test.
The only change we will see is Scott Boland return for the injured Josh Hazelwood.
Despite calling up All Rounder Beau Webster to the Test Squad, it looks like Mitch Marsh will play purely as a batsmen.
Is that the right call? Honestly, I’m so dejected about this team at the moment I don’t think there is a right call.
Labuschagne, Smith and to a lesser extent Khawaja will be looking to find some runs here at Adelaide Oval. Is there anyone banging down the door? Sort of, kind of, not really but players have been dropped for a lot less.
Results Markets
God I want to be wrong here, I’d so very much love to be wrong but I am backing India to win here.
The tourists only get stronger here with the return of Skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and potentially Ravi Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja.
Some incredibly good headaches for India to have, they got production out of almost everyone in the first test and could seriously inflict some hurt to this Australian team once again.
A handy price for a team that only improves, the Indians are still considered underdogs.
India to Win @ $2.20
Run Scorer Markets
Travis Head seems to be in the form of his life at the moment and given that everyone else around him is out of runs AND he gets to play at his home ground, he is my pick for top Australian runscorer.
Head copped a peach of a delivery from Harshit Rana in the first dig for just 11 but was easily our pick of the batters in the second innings. Despite all the doom and gloom around him, Head played his own way and carved out a very impressive 89.
He’s my pick for the Aussies.
You’ve got a million different options for the Indian’s here but I’m sticking with the favourite Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young opening bat is playing with a lot of confidence right now, scoring big runs against us in the first test and scoring himself a near run a ball 45 in the PM’s XI tour game this week.
Australia had no answer for him in Perth and I like him for top Indian runscorer in Adelaide.
Travis Head Top Australian First Innings Runscorer @ $5.40
Yashasvi Jaiswal Top Indian First Innings Runscorer @ $4.75
Wicket Taker Markets
Day night test, the only real pick here for the Aussie’s is Mitchell Starc.
Starcy’s pink ball stats are miles infront of anyone else’s. Our left armer has 66 pink ball wickets in 12 games at 18.71. That’s 23 more than Nathan Lyon, 29 more than Hazelwood and 32 more than Cummins.
He’s the obvious pick, all of our bowling tactics in day nighters are built around him and I like him a lot at $3.60.
Bumrah is the only answer for the Indian’s too. The Australians have no clue how to play him and a freak of nature who can swing it both ways like Jasprit, who’s not burdened by captaincy now and potentially gets a pink ball under lights?
Could be disastrous for the Aussies.
Mitchell Starc Top Australian First Innings Wicket Taker @ $3.60
Jasprit Bumrah Top Indian First Innings Wicket Taker @ $2.95