Discussing the upcoming 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Australia nice Matthew Hayden right here mentioned that the Australian crew is in a transition interval and susceptible on the prime, with the necessity for a brand new opening batter to switch David Warner.
“Properly, it’s a time in Australian cricket the place it’s a transition interval. And so, we’re susceptible on the prime. I used to be very forthright in saying this, Steve Smith ought to by no means have been the opening batter for Australia. And I nonetheless consider that’s the case.
“So, we’re looking out for, I consider, one other opening batter to switch the good David Warner, who’s had an distinctive profession. He actually, I really feel, constructed on the legacy that JL (Justin Langer) and I created in our interval. He went higher. Whereas our strike fee was 65 to 70, Dave Warner was 80 and typically extra,” he mentioned in the course of the panel dialogue on the India-Australia cricket with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar and former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on the launch of the Australia-India ‘Summer time of Cricket,’ organised by the Australian Consulate in partnership with Cricket Australia (CA) and the Centre for Australia-India Relations.
“It’s actually a battle of the highest order. And Australian cricket has put itself ready the place it’s form of obtained no additional video games to actually anticipate what it’s going to seem like forward of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So, that’s the one query mark. If I have been to do a SWOT evaluation on us as a bunch, that will be my solely query mark,” he added.
India is ready to play 5 Assessments on the Perth Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG), and Sydney Cricket Floor (SCG) from November 22 to January 7.
“I’ve performed in three-match sequence and that’s not sufficient. 4’s an ungainly quantity. You may’t get your enamel into it. However 5 has simply obtained all of it on the road.
“You will get behind within the sequence. You may come again within the sequence. And that’s why the Ashes, which has now been lowered to 5 or 6, remains to be a terrific sequence. As a result of it sways in roundabouts. And you must be up for it as a result of it’s an extended tour,” mentioned Hayden.
Requested for his want record for the sequence, Gavaskar mentioned: “My want record is, clearly, India ought to proceed to be successful us three in Australia – twice they’ve received now, and so for the third time as properly.
“Hope it’s a very good, shut sequence with the matches going into the fifth day. Loads of Take a look at matches end in three-and-a-half, 4 days. A five-day Take a look at could be improbable for everyone involved. I simply hope that occurs as a result of that signifies that it received’t be one-sided. It can imply that the steadiness of energy will transfer from day one to day two.
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“Take a look at matches within the earlier days was once like an Indian cleaning soap. So, on the primary day, the mother-in-law is the boss; on the second day, the daughter-in-law is the boss, and on the third day, the mother-in-law is the boss. That’s what occurs in Indian TV serials. One thing like that you simply need to see, the place Australia and India carry on dominating for 4 days alternately, and perhaps on the fifth day the crew that has actually obtained that better need goes out and wins. That might be, clearly, the want record, and all 5 Take a look at matches ought to have a consequence. That might be completely improbable. Within the 1977 India-Australia sequence, Australia received 3-2. You simply need that form of a state of affairs the place you’ve a lead to each recreation.
“On a person degree, perhaps for Virat Kohli, who’s obtained 4 centuries on 4 totally different venues, that he turns into the third abroad participant who’s scored a century in all of the Australian venues. I believe he doesn’t have one on the Gabba. I believe he’s obtained it in all places else. So if he will get a century on the Gabba, which means he joins me and Alastair Prepare dinner because the third abroad batter to have gotten a century in any respect the Australian venues. That might be improbable. As a result of, if he will get runs, India will get lots of runs as properly.”
When requested for his prediction for the sequence, Hayden mentioned: “Simply to sum this up, I’ll paint out what it’s going to seem like. Australia is gonna win the primary Take a look at in Perth. So, drop-in wicket, nevertheless it’s about 12 mm grass that your (Indian) top-order can stay up for; 12mm of very brilliant inexperienced grass. (Josh) Hazlewood, (Pat) Cummins, and (Mitchell) Starc will trouble you with tempo. And for (Nathan) Lyon, I suppose, the ball will actually bounce there as properly.
“Come throughout to Adelaide, Kuldeep will flip it. It’s a drop-in wicket as properly. It additionally begins slightly grassy, however what tends to occur is it tends to get footmarks and so that you’ll win that recreation.
“After which, you’ll come throughout to Brisbane and Australia will win that Take a look at match, as a result of it’s simply a kind of venues which is classically in favour of us.
“So, now you’ve come to Melbourne, and India comes again exhausting. You noticed the fervour and the rivalry at that (2020) Take a look at match. That venue is dwelling to properly over 700,000 expats. That’ll be Australia’s away recreation. It’s the one away recreation that Australia will really play.
“So, now you’re 2-all up, then you definately go to Sydney and that’s when eyeballs begin to meet and rivalry begins to occur. As a result of everybody’s tight. Circumstances not being drop-in, they begin to then develop into fierce. Whoever begins that Take a look at match very well, will discover it exhausting to additionally lose the Take a look at
match as a result of when you get into day three, day 4, and specifically day 5, it’s a batting graveyard. It turns into actually exhausting to attain. Typically, it’s difficult within the center couple of days, however typically it’s very exhausting to attain.
“So, I’m going to simply depart it 2-all, and I’m going to hedge my bets into that fifth Take a look at match as a result of I can’t wait to see that one. That’s my favorite Take a look at match when India excursions Australia as a result of it does flip and the wicket turns into slightly difficult to bat on as properly.”