Australia v India 2018/19: Mitchell Starc v Virat Kohli and other key battles

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  • Virat Kohli will be up against Mitchell Starc.

    The next five weeks or so promises to be a treat for fans of Test cricket as Australia and India go head to head in a four-match series.

    Tim Paine will lead the Australian Test team for the first time on home soil against Virat Kohli’s men who come into the series as the No1 ranked team in the world.

    While Australia will be looking to bring the smile back on the home fans’ faces after a dark period triggered by the ball-tampering scandal, India will be chasing a maiden series win Down Under.

    Here, we look at three key battles which can prove decisive.

    PUJARA V LYON

    While Australia’s fearsome pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will pose a threat to India’s batsmen, they will have to be equally wary of the threat posed by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

    The 31-year-old has always been a consistent performer on Australian pitches and complements the pace attack with his ability to tie down one end. He was the highest wicket-taker when India last toured Australia in 2013-14 with 23 wickets in the series. In fact, Lyon has been the highest wicket-taker in the last three Test series between Australia and India.

    To stop Lyon from dominating, India will look towards Cheteshwar Pujara who is one of the best players of spin in the side alongside Kohli. With his quick use of the feet, Pujara has the ability to unsettle spinners from their lengths but he will have to be at his very best given he has never scored a ton on Australian soil.

    The Pujara v Lyon battle will be decisive.

    The Pujara v Lyon battle will be decisive.

     KOHLI V STARC

    India’s top order will have to bear the brunt of Australia spearhead Mitchell Starc’s thunderbolts. With a career strike-rate under 50 and an average just under 29, Starc is as elite a pacer as they come in Test cricket.

    The 28-year-old had been sidelined due to injury but is now back to full fitness. Starc has warmed up nicely for the series after his recent limited-overs outings against South Africa and India.

    He will be leading the charge against Kohli who will no doubt be the prize wicket for Australia. The India skipper loves playing in Australia and became the first visiting captain to score three centuries in a single series Down Under in 2014.

    The No1 ranked Test batsman is in stupendous form in 2018 and he will be eager to end the year with a bang. For that, he will need to first pass the Starc examination.

    Bonhomie will now give way to rivalry.

    Bonhomie will now give way to rivalry.

    BUMRAH V FINCH

    India’s pace attack is being the considered the very best in its history and it is hard to argue otherwise. There is great depth in the tourists’ fast-bowling battery but it is Jasprit Bumrah who could be their most effective weapon on Australian soil.

    Equipped with an unorthodox action, Bumrah has wasted no time in establishing himself at the Test level since making his debut during India’s tour of South Africa. He looked really good in England too and has the ability to generate some awkward bounce.

    Bumrah will pose a big test for Australia’s opening batsman Aaron Finch who has only recently made his debut in the format. Finch looked tidy as an opener in Australia’s 0-1 loss to Pakistan in the UAE and has been performing well at the first-class level over the last two years.

    The limited-overs stalwart will fancy himself in home conditions but he will have his work cut out against the deceptive pace of Bumrah.

    The battle at the top: Finch v Bumrah.

    The battle at the top: Finch v Bumrah.

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