Among the countless pictures circulating on social media from the Perth Stadium, Ravichandran Ashwin staring at the wicket with the team’s data analyst Hari Prasad Mohan has attracted the most eyeballs.
Hari, the players’ go-to man, provides vital inputs, like a batter’s wagon wheel and ball tracking data, which are expected to help a bowler decide his variations.
Ashwin’s diligence is evident. On his fifth tour to Australia, the off-spinner is likely to play his first Test in Perth. He had been overlooked the last time India played at the Perth Stadium in 2018, a remarkable show in the previous Test in Adelaide which
paved the way for India’s victory notwithstanding.
He even skipped a scheduled news conference on Wednesday to concentrate on the process, which included a nets session and a discussion with Western Australia
Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald.
The inclusion will mark a significant shift in India’s strategy of Ravindra Jadeja being the preferred choice whenever the team fielded a lone spinner in overseas conditions.
There are also strong indications of Washington Sundar being tried out as the lone spinner. Sundar played the last two Tests against New Zealand and picked up 16 wickets, including a 10-wicket haul in Pune. A final call will be taken before the start.
An off-spinner is being preferred because of the presence of four lefthanders in Australia’s line-up for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy — Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc.
The team management also wanted to play the psychological trump card on Steve Smith, Ashwin’s big-time bunny. Smith has often spoken about “losing his hands” and then “finding” them again in his pursuit of excellence at the crease.
While going back to his favourite No.4 position, Smith is also touted to have secretly rediscovered the magical grip of 2015 which earned him the reputation of being the world’s top batter.
Nathan Lyon’s enviable record at this venue — 27 wickets in four Tests — could also
have tilted the scales in Ashwin’s favour.
An under-cooked pace attack comprising Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep will have to draw inspiration from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Late on Thursday, it was learnt that Harshit Rana was also in the mix because of his ability to extract more bounce on such hard surfaces.
The pitch is expected to offer bounce and carry, though the wet weather in Perth
during this time of the year is unusual. Curator McDonald said that 8-10mm of grass would be left on the pitch to ensure that it doesn’t deteriorate like last summer’s Australia-Pakistan Test, when big cracks opened up.
Having closely followed India’s humiliation at the hands of New Zealand recently, the Australians will be honing in on the Lyon factor.
With the opening combination of both teams unsettled — India have a makeshift pair in Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul while rookie Nathan McSweeney will partner Usman Khawaja — a lot will depend on how veterans Virat Kohli and Smith shape the team’s course.
Kohli has averaged 22.72 in his last six Tests though he has an awesome record in Australia and the conditions suit his style. The former captain needs to be his own to provide sanity to a batting order which is filled with fringe players.
“This is the toughest challenge. So I give this message to everyone: if you come and perform in this country then your cricket level will go up, and then your level will keep increasing,” Bumrah said.
A fresh chapter on their rivalry will resume on Friday and there can be no discounting the pressure, grace and the nail-biting climax which has become synonymous with their meetings.
The last Test India played in Australia, T. Natarajan and Sundar made their debut in a line-up dogged by injuries. Rishabh Pant then stormed their Gabba fortress in record-breaking fashion. India will be eyeing an encore.
