After a thrilling series opener, Australia and India are set to lock horns in the 2nd Test, starting December 17 at Brisbane Cricket Ground. The contest is likely to test Indian batting line-up once again, but this time on a fast and bouncy wicket.
Where to watch 2nd Test, Day 1 Live Streaming & Live Score Updates
The Australia vs India 2nd Test is scheduled for a 05:30 pm IST (10:30 local | 00:00 GMT) start at Brisbane Cricket Ground. The live score updates of the match will be available HERE, HERE & HERE. Catch the live streaming of Australia vs India, Day 1 HERE & HERE.
This is the very same ground where the England batsmen were left bruised by speedster Mitchell Johnson with his fierce pace and rising deliveries. Indians can expect similar treatment from the Australian pacers, as they are unlikely to show any remorse.
India have already faced chin music in the opening Test, with stand-in skipper Virat Kohli getting on the helmet, while Wriddhiman Saha also left wondering with the rising balls. And, India’s weakness of playing the short deliveries is no hidden secret.
On a contrary, India have registered overseas win on fast pitches, namely Perth and Johannesburg, so it is not something the touring party is not familiar with. And, the addition of regular skipper MS Dhoni is only a blessing for the Indian team.
“The last couple of tours we haven’t played here,” Dhoni said. “We have won at some of the fastest Test wickets – Johannesburg and Perth. There will be something extra for the bowlers, especially the fast bowlers.”
The good thing for India is the luxury of having genuine pacers, such as Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. They can consistently clock 140 km/h and it could come handy for the visitors on a Gabba green-top.
However, pace alone would not win you matches as hitting right areas consistently will be something the quicks will have to concentrate on. Ishant bowled with control in the last game, but this cannot be said about Aaron and Shami.
Aaron and Shami need to be consistent to pick 20 wickets in the match for giving India a chance of winning the rubber. Dhoni, meanwhile, can also think of including Umesh into the playing XI, as he has been in good form lately.
More or less India’s pace department is ok, but the problem is with the spinners. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma had a tough debut in the Adelaide Test, raising voices of including off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the 2nd Test.
“Ashwin is definitely someone who can bat lower down the order,” Dhoni said. “We feel it is very important, at times we have lost No.8, 9 and 10 (batsmen) cheaply.”
Australia Squad: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steven Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathon Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
India Squad (probable): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav.
