The year is set to close with a bang as Australia and India get ready to serve up an intense four-match Test battle. The series has assumed greater significance with it being the first time Australia’s Test stars will strut their stuff on home soil since the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier this year.
On the other hand, No1 ranked India are chasing a maiden Test series win Down Under and will fancy their chances against an Australia side lacking Steve Smith and David Warner in their ranks.
Though the prolific pair might not be on display, there will be plenty of other exciting talent on show during the course of the next five weeks or so. Here, we look at three such players to watch out from either side.
AUSTRALIA
Marcus Harris
Replacing an opener of the calibre of Warner is never an easy task and Marcus Harris has big shoes to fill as he gets ready for his potential Australia Test debut at Adelaide.
The 26-year-old left-hander shares many similarities in playing style to the man he is attempting to replace, with his short stature and powerful strokes. The Victoria batsman amassed 702 runs in the Sheffield Shield last season at an average greater than 41, and continued that form into 2018-19 with an unbeaten 250-run knock against New South Wales recently.
Harris will be eager to grasp his chance in Warner’s absence with Matt Renshaw missing out due to his poor Shield form.
Harris is set to debut at Adelaide.
Pat Cummins
It has been a frustrating last few months for Australia pacer Pat Cummins, who had been sidelined with an injury since the ill-fated tour of South Africa earlier this year.
Cummins was excellent in Australia’s tour of India in 2016, a series which started his comeback from long-term injury problems. He had been going from strength to strength since then, playing an important role in Australia’s 4-0 Ashes triumph.
He was the highest wicket-taker in the series against South Africa before his most recent injury with 22 wickets in the four Tests. Now back to full fitness, Cummins has been looking extremely good in the nets and he will no doubt be a tough nut to crack for India’s batsmen.
Cummins will be itching to return from his injury layoff.
Usman Khawaja
Over the years, Usman Khawaja has developed a reputation as a fine batsman on Australia soil whose record overseas leaves plenty to be desired. The 31-year-old’s track record in Australia is excellent, with more than 1,500 runs in 18 matches at an average of nearly 60.
The top-order batsman showed that he can succeed in foreign conditions too with a match-saving 141 against Pakistan in the UAE recently before injuring his knee.
Back on home soil, Khawaja will be eager to build on his strong record and he is likely to be entrusted with the crucial number three role in the batting order.
A man for home conditions: Usman Khawaja.
INDIA
Prithvi Shaw
He might have been ruled out of the opener at Adelaide with an unfortunate ankle injury, and could be a doubt for the second Test as well, but Prithvi Shaw is primed to make an impact at some point in the series.
The 18-year-old has carried plenty of promise since his junior cricket days and has been termed as the ‘next big thing’ in Indian cricket. He showed his prowess with an entertaining ton on his debut Test against the Windies and looked to be in good touch before his injury with a fluent half-century in India’s drawn tour game.
When he does indeed come back to the side, expect some fireworks from the diminutive opening batsman.
Shaw has been earmarked as the ‘next big thing’.
Rishabh Pant
Rishabt Pant, along with Shaw, brings some much-needed young blood into the Indian Test set-up. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper batsman burst into prominence with an explosive IPL campaign for Delhi Daredevils at the start of the year and has since been given an extended run at the international level.
Pant is being earmarked as MS Dhoni’s long-term successor in the ODI format but he has already started to make his mark in red-ball cricket with a quick-fire ton and two half centuries in his five Test appearances so far for India.
His glovework might still need a little polish but with the bat, Pant can provide India with some handy lower order runs if he gets going in his maiden series in Australia.
Pant can be an explosive lower-order batsman.
Kuldeep Yadav
Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to remain India’s frontline spinner in the series but it will not be a surprise to see Kohli field Kuldeep Yadav in the line-up too. The wrist-spinner has been excellent in limited-overs cricket ever since he made his international bow and has enjoyed a fine 2018 at both the ODI and T20I level.
His sole Test outing in England at Lord’s did not go according to plan but in Australia, Kuldeep could just be the wild card India need to unsettle the hosts’ batsmen. Armed with a lethal ‘googly’, the 23-year-old has the ability to extract some sharp turn on Australian pitches.
The youngster was terrific for India in the home series against Windies and the fact that he barely bowled in the tour game could be an indication of the visitors attempting to preserve some mystery around him for the main battle.
Kuldeep has a few tricks up his sleeve.
