Ahead of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Fox Cricket experts have looked taken a stab at predicting how the five-match series will transpire, including their tips for leading run-scorer and highest wicket-taker.
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Looking back at Kohli’s career in Aus | 04:48
ALLAN BORDER
Who will win and why?
“I think Australia (have) just got the edge on firepower with the ball, so that’ll be getting your 20 wickets. And obviously I’m backing the batsmen in.
“But it will be a tight series (and it is) pretty hard to pick a couple of weeks out. Even a day’s cricket might give you some indication, but it’s going to be a tough series.
“I think at home, we should win, although those are famous last words, aren’t they? The last two series India have won. It may be a bold prediction, but I think our guys will be really, really up for it to win at home and reverse that cycle of losing. But I think it will be real tight.”
Who will be the leading run scorer?
“I think Steve Smith will be for Australia. I think he’s really due. He hasn’t played well for the last little while, but there has been a lot of white-ball cricket in there. I just think he’s been setting himself for something special and he knows Indian bowling very, very well. I think our surfaces suit him and if he is anywhere near his best form, he is in for a big series and he is our best player. But if Smith doesn’t fire, I think we might come back to the field a little bit and be in a bit of trouble, but someone else might step up. Who knows? It might be McSweeney at the top of the order.”
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How about the bowlers?
“It is difficult to choose. There hasn’t been that quartet around for a long, long time, if ever. I mean, 250 plus wickets each. That speaks volumes for why we have been so good and dominant, apart from an odd series here and there, we have had a (great) group and that is why we have done a good job. They just do the job time and time again, so nothing changes.”
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BRETT LEE
Who will win and why?
“I’m really hoping it gets down to the last Test in Sydney and we’re all locked up. I think that’d be great for cricket and spectators. But I think Australia will win though, whether it’s 3-2 or 3-1 with a draw in there somewhere.”
Who will be the leading batter?
“Shubman Gill for India. For those who haven’t seen him play, watch this space. He’s a quality, quality batsman. And Steve Smith with the bat for the Aussies.”
Who will be the leading bowler?
“Bowling wise, it is going to be hard to go past Jasprit Bumrah. I would have gone Mohammed Shami, but obviously, he’s not fully fit yet. But I hope he plays some part of the series. And Pat Cummins for the Aussies.”
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MICHAEL VAUGHAN
Who will win and why?
“The Aussies will be too strong. I think Pat Cummins, you know, if you look at his record as captain, he doesn’t lose much. And the one thing I’ll say about this on this Indian side, and I’ve looked at the last two times they’ve been here, they have had charismatic, aggressive leaders. They had Ravi Shastri in the dressing room – and he will be sat next to us and we are lucky to have him – but he’s such a charismatic person. Indian cricket now doesn’t have that. And to play against an Australian side in your own backyard, you need that. You need those characters in your dressing room.
“This is the toughest challenge for India, to come here and play this Australian side, against this attack, without a Virat Kohli-style captain and without a Ravi Shastri-style coach.”
Who will be the leading run scorer?
“Steve Smith. I saw enough in the one-day series to suggest that his movement was back. The Indians will target that hip, like they did last time, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to overcome that. So I go Smithy at No. 4.”
Who will be the leading wicket taker?
“I think Pat Cummins. But I will be interested to see if the Aussies rotate though this time around. I thought last year they looked tired towards the back end and it will be interesting to see whether they’re going to look to rotate throughout this series. Potentially someone like Spencer Johnson, if you can play that day-night state game and come through that, then someone like Spencer Johnson might get a Test match.”
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RAVI SHASTRI
Who will win and why?
“(I’ll give my) prediction after the first two Tests because, like I’ve said, whichever team takes the upper hand in those two Test matches will dominate the series, and both teams have an opportunity. And that’s the reason why I say in that first two Test matches, because the Australians haven’t played too much of Test cricket (and) when you look at that batting lineup, it doesn’t have the same experience as they had, 2015, 2019, 2021, so therein lies an opportunity, and the same works for Australia when you look at India’s batting order and their injuries.”
Who will be the leading run scorer?
“I’ll go with the two big boys, Kohli and Smith.”
Who will be the leading wicket taker?
“Bumrah and Cummins.”
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