(Cricket news) Australia are gearing up for possibly their biggest challenge which is a Test series in India. The whole vibe in and around the Australian side is that this is the best Australian team to tour India in a while. However their chances to start the series with a win have taken a massive blow due to injury issues. Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green have been injured since December and their involvement in the first Test was always going to be very difficult. But now Josh Hazelwood has also been ruled out of the first Test. All 3 of these players were likely to play the 1st Test and without them Australia is significantly weaker.
Cameron Green’s absence is a big one as he can contribute with both bat and ball. He has shown that he can handle turning tracks in the past when he played an incredible knock in Sri Lanka. Without him Australia don’t have another proper all-rounder in the squad who can be his like for like replacement. They have to choose between Peter Handscome and Matthew Renshaw to bat at number 6. Australia have an advantage as both Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne can bowl good spin. If Green is out then Australia will most probably have to play 3 seamers and Nathan Lyon which means that Head and Labuschagne will be bowling a lot especially in the last 2 days.
The problem with that is that visitors are without Hazelwood and Starc. Scott Bolland and Lance Morris are the other two options but both of them have no experience of playing in India across formats. That will definitely put extra pressure on skipper Pat Cummins who will have even more responsibility. It definitely isn’t a situation where Australia are in deep trouble but their chances have taken a massive hit. The Aussies will be hoping that the key trio gets fit for the 2nd Test in Delhi.
Australia squad:
Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
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